Historical Awareness, Historical Awareness, Social Conscience, Social Conscience,

Dialogue And Justice: Dialogue And Justice: Bases For Lasting Peace Bases For Lasting Peace

In MindanaoIn Mindanao

Juvanni Yahya A. CaballeroJuvanni Yahya A. CaballeroDepartment of History

MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

The ParadigmThe Paradigm

Mass-Based

Historical

Awareness

Mass-Based

Historical

Awareness

A Quick Journey A Quick Journey through through MINDANAO MINDANAO HISTORYHISTORY

Pre-colonialPeriod

SpanishPeriod

AmericanPeriod

Commonwealth Period

JapanesePeriod

Post-WarPeriod

?

PRE-COLONIAL PERIODPRE-COLONIAL PERIOD 1380 – Islam arrives in the Sulu 1380 – Islam arrives in the Sulu

archipelagoarchipelago 1450 – Sulu Sultanate was born1450 – Sulu Sultanate was born 1515 – Islam arrives in Mindanao1515 – Islam arrives in Mindanao 1619 – Maguindanao Sultanate 1619 – Maguindanao Sultanate

emergesemerges 1898 – Two sultanates remained 1898 – Two sultanates remained

independentindependent

SPANISH PERIODSPANISH PERIOD Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in

1565 and started colonization 1565 and started colonization efforts thru Divide and Rule Tactic.efforts thru Divide and Rule Tactic.

Christianization of subjugated Christianization of subjugated natives followed.natives followed.

Utilization of Christianized natives Utilization of Christianized natives by Spanish colonizers against by Spanish colonizers against Islamized people of Mindanao and Islamized people of Mindanao and Sulu.Sulu.

Conception of the “Moro” and Conception of the “Moro” and “Christian” Images“Christian” Images

AMERICAN PERIODAMERICAN PERIOD Deterioration of Spanish-American Deterioration of Spanish-American

relations which culminated in the relations which culminated in the Spanish-American War.Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American war was ended Spanish-American war was ended by Treaty of Paris.by Treaty of Paris.

Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were ceded to the United States by were ceded to the United States by Spain for $20,000,000.Spain for $20,000,000.

AMERICAN PERIODAMERICAN PERIOD 1899 – 1903 1899 – 1903 Americans tried to Americans tried to

neutralize the neutralize the Moros by their non-Moros by their non-intervention intervention policy.policy.

1903-1913 1903-1913 Organization of Moro Organization of Moro Province Province and subjugation of Moros and subjugation of Moros

1913-up 1913-up Filipinization of colonial Filipinization of colonial administrationadministration

1902-up 1902-up Passage of Public Laws Passage of Public Laws discriminatory to non-Christiansdiscriminatory to non-Christians

Some Discriminatory Some Discriminatory LawsLaws

Act 496 of 1902 – Land Registration ActAct 496 of 1902 – Land Registration Act Act 718 of 1903 – Declaring null and Act 718 of 1903 – Declaring null and

void all land grants made by Moro void all land grants made by Moro Datus/sultans and chiefs of non-Datus/sultans and chiefs of non-Christian tribes.Christian tribes.

Act 2874 of 1919 – allowed Christians to Act 2874 of 1919 – allowed Christians to homestead 24 hectares while non-homestead 24 hectares while non-Christians were only allowed 10 Christians were only allowed 10 hectares. Corporations were allowed hectares. Corporations were allowed 1,024 hectares.1,024 hectares.

COMMONWEALTH COMMONWEALTH PERIODPERIOD

Pres Quezon also put an end to Pres Quezon also put an end to government recognition of Royal government recognition of Royal titles of Moro and Lumad chiefs.titles of Moro and Lumad chiefs.

Continuation of Filipinization Continuation of Filipinization and Moro disarmament.and Moro disarmament.

Discriminatory land laws made Discriminatory land laws made under the Americans were under the Americans were continued by Pres. Quezoncontinued by Pres. Quezon

COMMONWEALTH COMMONWEALTH PERIODPERIOD

Moro leaders sent various Moro leaders sent various petitions to the US and petitions to the US and Philippine government not to Philippine government not to include them in the grant of include them in the grant of Philippine independence.Philippine independence.

These petitions unfortunately These petitions unfortunately were ignored!were ignored!

JAPANESE PERIODJAPANESE PERIOD Moro and Christian Filipinos fought Moro and Christian Filipinos fought

side by side against the common side by side against the common enemy.enemy.

Government recognition of Moro Government recognition of Moro contribution in the fight against the contribution in the fight against the Japanese led to increased Moro Japanese led to increased Moro participation in government.participation in government.

Japanese occupation also resulted to Japanese occupation also resulted to proliferation of loose firearmsproliferation of loose firearms

POST-WAR PERIODPOST-WAR PERIOD In 1946, US returned one independence In 1946, US returned one independence

for Muslims Christians and Lumadsfor Muslims Christians and Lumads 1946-early 50’s – The Mindanao/Moro 1946-early 50’s – The Mindanao/Moro

problem remained dormant.problem remained dormant. Jabidah massacre of March 17, 1968 Jabidah massacre of March 17, 1968

triggered Moro secession /rebellion.triggered Moro secession /rebellion. Datu Udtog Matalam formed the MIM Datu Udtog Matalam formed the MIM

on May 2, 1968.on May 2, 1968. Ilaga, MNLF, MILF emergesIlaga, MNLF, MILF emerges

POST-WAR PERIODPOST-WAR PERIODLumads started articulating Lumads started articulating

their aspiration to self-their aspiration to self-determination beginning 1986.determination beginning 1986.- Lumads are the first nations in Mindanao - Lumads are the first nations in Mindanao - They want no less than their own - They want no less than their own autonomous region within the Republic of autonomous region within the Republic of the Philippines the Philippines. .

ChallengeChallenge How should we deal or How should we deal or

address the Moro and Lumad address the Moro and Lumad aspirations to self aspirations to self determination?determination?- all out war /genocide?- all out war /genocide?

Cost of Conflict & WarCost of Conflict & War 1971 More 1,000 people killed1971 More 1,000 people killed 1970-1996 MNLF vs AFP:1970-1996 MNLF vs AFP:

100,000 -120,000 slain, 50% MNLF, 100,000 -120,000 slain, 50% MNLF, 30% AFP, 20% civilian30% AFP, 20% civilian

73 billion pesos spent73 billion pesos spent MILF vs AFP in Central Mindanao:MILF vs AFP in Central Mindanao:

1997 - 30,000 evacuees 1997 - 30,000 evacuees 2000 - 1,014,654 evacuees 2000 - 1,014,654 evacuees 2001 - 24,000 evacuees 2001 - 24,000 evacuees 2003 - 75,419 evacuees2003 - 75,419 evacuees

As educators, peace As educators, peace advocates/workers, your advocates/workers, your

role is crucial in changing role is crucial in changing Mindanao History as you Mindanao History as you

mould and influence mould and influence various stakeholders in various stakeholders in

MindanaoMindanao

ChallengeChallenge Our major challenge is actually to Our major challenge is actually to

change History.change History. This does not entail we should This does not entail we should

change what was written and change what was written and recorded in history books; rather, it recorded in history books; rather, it entails the making of history now by entails the making of history now by identifying lessons in the past and identifying lessons in the past and repeat not the mistakes! repeat not the mistakes!

I do not care if we live under one I do not care if we live under one republic, or divide this country into republic, or divide this country into several republics; I simply want to several republics; I simply want to see a Mindanao whose people are see a Mindanao whose people are happy, contented, reconciled and happy, contented, reconciled and

enjoying the tranquility and enjoying the tranquility and harmony with their brothers or harmony with their brothers or

neighbors; neighbors;

A Personal Dream

A Personal DreamA Personal Dream

I simply want to see a Mindanao I simply want to see a Mindanao whose stakeholders (i.e. whose stakeholders (i.e.

government, rebels, civilians government, rebels, civilians among the tri-people, etc.) among the tri-people, etc.)

would not use guns, bombs and would not use guns, bombs and other weapons of destruction in other weapons of destruction in

solving their problems.solving their problems.

Thank YouThank Youwawa

SALAAMSALAAM