History of Muslims and IPs in MINSUPALA

Module 1: Why Study the History of the Filipino Muslims and Indigenous Peoples of MINSUPALA?

• The module aims to address the creation of the Mindanao State University System.
• It also aims to address how History 3 became mandated in the MSU System.
• Finally it identifies the relevance of studying the History of the Filipino Muslims and IPs.

The Story of Kamlon

• From 1948 to 1955, Hadji Kamlon, a WWII veteran from Luuk, Sulu, rebelled against the Philippine government.
• Kamlon defied government authorities for eight years, evading capture and considered a national security threat after the Hukbalahap communists.
• Many Tausugs viewed Kamlon as a folk hero, similar to Robin Hood.
• By 1951, Kamlon's uprising gained momentum, with him and 100 followers inflicting casualties on government soldiers.
• The government used 5,000 ground troops with naval, air, and mortar support, costing P185 million, yet couldn't defeat Kamlon and he only gave up due to age.
• In August 1955, Kamlon and 40 followers routed a government platoon, causing significant casualties.
• The cause of Kamlon's rebellion was attributed to a desire for a lawless life or conflict among local leaders,
• The land registration law, which caused a clan feud after land title disputes, was also a factor. Kamlon suspected the government favored his enemies.
• Kamlon was also charged with multiple murder and kidnapping with a death sentence affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1963, it was never carried out.
• Locals respected Kamlon, refusing to cooperate with military despite rewards for his capture.
• The government investigated the causes of unrest and a Special House Committee was formed.
• The committee found was isue not due to military ineptitude or Kamlon's talisman, rather, the Moros felt alienated from the Philippine nation.
• The Committee recommended that the government integrate the Moros into the Philippine nation.
• The government then created programs like the Commission on National Integration (1957) and the Mindanao State University (1961).

Creation of the Mindanao State University System

• The Commission on National Integration (CNI) was the first agency meant to integrate non-Christian Filipinos.
• The CNI struggled due to limited funding and poor administration, eventually failing and was abolished.
• The Mindanao State University (MSU) was created September 1, 1961 to provide educational integration, succeeding the CNI.
• MSU was conceived by Senator Domocao A. Alonto as a response to the "Mindanao Problem," with integration as its core as a social laboratory.
• The 1954 congressional committee conceptualized MSU as a social laboratory for national integration.
• MSU is mandated to perform university functions, provide skills for MINSUPALA's economic development, and integrate Southern Philippines, especially Muslims and minorities.
• MSU had a policy of roommates from different backgrounds in dormitories and forming mixed-membership groups to encourage unity through diversity.

History 3 as a Mandated Course in the MSU System

• Some contested the term "integration" in MSU's mandate, fearing assimilation.
• Integration was seen as entailing assimilation and the absorption of Moro belief and culture into the Christian group.
• MSU does not entail assimilation of local culture of Moros and IPs.
• MSU's mission statement emphasizes preserving and promoting the region's cultural heritage while integrating groups into the community.
• The idea of requiring History 3 stemmed from the the struggles and history of the Moros and Lumads as an integral part of Philippine history.

Relevance of Studying the History of the Filipino Muslims and IPs

• Studying history helps learn from past mistakes, it improves the future
• History 3 aims to correct distorted perspectives on Moros and Lumads.
• Moros and Lumads are often depicted as villains, so their side should be told.
• Studying Moro and Lumad history broadens understanding of Muslim-Christian-Lumad dynamics, and impact of government/war.
• Broader understanding inspires essential values for reconciliation, and help each other.
• Reconciliation will eventually minimize violence and instill a culture of peace.

Peace Challenge

• Students of Mindanao History are meant to be among the chosen few meant to comprehend the past.
• Students should translate learning into initiating positive change for cognitive learning.
• Students should strive for peace, and take action in their daily lives.

Module 2: MINSUPALA AND ITS PEOPLES AT PRESENT

• The module aims define Minsupala in the present day, it's population and categorize the people.

Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan in the Present Day

• Mindanao refers to the second largest island in the archipelago, it is stands for the island grouping comprising mainland Mindanao with adjacent islands.
• With a land area of 94,630 km², Mindanao has great agricultural, industrial, commercial and tourism potential.
• With the island chains of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi provides 25% of rice, 67% of cattle and tuna, more than 50% of corn/fish/chicken, and 100% of pineapple/rubber/banana exports.
• Mindanao is also home to 18 ethnolinguistic groups, 13 Moro groups, and 9 migrant ethnic groups of "Christians" from Luzon/Visayas.
• The island group is divided into six regions, which are subdivided into 25 provinces.
• The island is bounded by the Bohol Sea to the north, Philippine Sea to the east, Sulu Sea to the west, and Celebes Sea to the south.
• The Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), formerly Western Mindanao, consists of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, ZamboangaSibugay, and the two cities of Zamboanga and Isabela.
• The Northern Mindanao (Region X) consists of the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, plus the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.
• The Davao Region (Region IX) consists of Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Compostela Valley, plus Davao City.
• The SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) consists of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani plus Cotabato City.
• Caraga (Region XIII) are Agusandel Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
• The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM): covers territories populated by Muslims.
• Palawan stretches from Mindoro to Borneo, lying between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea.
• Palawan is part of the southern Tagalog region (region 4), while geographically, Palawan is part of the Visayas group of islands.
• In the times of the great sultanates, some parts of Palawan, especially the southern portion, used to be under the jurisdiction of the Sultan of Sulu.
• Also, the presence of Islamized tribes in Palawan culturally link the island to Mindanao.

Peoples of Minsupala and How to Categorize Them

Migrants and Their Descendants

• Migrant populations of Mindanao are not originally inhabitants of the island, they are natives of Luzon or Visayas who arrived in the early 20th century.
• Arrival was a result of American encouragement to settle in Mindanao through government-sponsored resettlement or voluntary efforts.
• Significant migrant populations: Cebuano, Ilonggo, Bol-anon, Waray, Siquijodnon, Tagalog, Bicolano, Kapampangan, and Ilocano.

The Indigenous Groups

• Indigenous groups are the ones who inhabited Mindanao since time immemorial,
• Three categories: 1.) Indigenous “Christians”, 2.) Moros and 3.) Lumads.

Indigenous Christians

• When, Spaniards arrived in Mindanao they noted Visayan-speaking peoples in the north and east.
• Significant populations like Davaweño in Davao, Butuanon in Butuan, Camiguinon in Camiguin Island. Cagayanon in Cagayan de Oro, Iliganon in Iligan, and Dapitanon in Dapitan.
• These people eventually became the Christian communities in the Spanish controlled territories of Mindanao whose population was noted to be 191,493 in 1892.

Moros

• Moro: 13 Islamized tribes in Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan.
  • Panimusan: Mainland Southern Palawan
  • Molbog: Balabac Island (East of southern Palawan)
  • JamaMapun: Cagayan de Sulu (South of Palawan)
  • Sama'a: Tawi-tawi cluster of islands
  • Tausug: Jolo cluster of islands
  • Yakan: Basilan
  • Badjao / SamaDilaut: Entire Sulu archipelago
  • Kalibugan: Zamboanga peninsula
  • Iranun: Illana bay area
  • M'ranao: Lanao provinces
  • Maguindanaon: Cotabato provinces
  • Sangir: Sarangani and Samal island
  • Kalagan: Davao provinces
• Moro comes from the Spanish term Mauru/s referred to the Muslims of North Africa, in Spain.
• Spaniards used the term to the Muslims in Mindanao and Sulu, the Christianized natives were made to collect the "payment" by forcing them to become soldiers of Spain's warof aggression.
• Christians then started hating on the Christianized natives who, eventually, became the brunt of their retaliatory raids.

Lumads

• Lumads: tribes who were neither Islamized nor Christianized upon the arrival of the Spaniards.
  • Manobo: Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao Provinces, Cotabato provinces, Sarangani Province, Sultan Kudarat
  • Subanen: Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental
  • B'laan: Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Sarangani Province
  • T'boli: South Cotabato (Lake Sebu, Siluton, Lahit)
  • Mandaya: Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Surigao del Sur
  • Tiruray/Teduray: Maguindanao, North Cotabato
  • Higaonon: Bukidnon, Rogongon in Iligan, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental
  • Bagobo: South and East of Mt. Apo, Eastern part of Cotabato, Davao del Sur
  • Bukidnon: Bukidnon province
  • Mamanwa: Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte
  • Talaandig/Tigkalasan: Bukidnon province
  • Ata Manobo: West and Northwest of Mt. Apo, Davao del Norte, Davao City
  • Tagakaolo: Davao del Sur, South of Mt. Apo, Sarangani Province
  • Dibabawon: Compostella Valley, Davao del Norte, Agusan del Sur
  • Mangguwangan: Compostella Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental
  • Mansaka: Davao del Norte, Compostella Valley
  • Banwaon: Agusan del Sur
  • Matigsalug: Bukidnon (Tigwa-Salug Valley)
• Many tribes may have articulate their wish to exercise their right to self determination.
• Tribes were lacking in organization, then in June of 1986, representatives from fifteen tribes convened and decided to organize the “Lumad-Mindanao", and achieve “self-governance within their ancestral domain in accordance with their culture and customary laws".

Population of MinSuPala as of 2012

• Population data comes from the National Statistics Office and other censuses.
  • Moro Tribes:
    • Tausug: 1,155,000
    • Samaa: 381, 300
    • Badjao: 116,000
    • Yakan: 168,000
    • Kolibugan: 26,700
    • Maguindanao: 1,220,000
    • Iranun: 176,000
    • Maranao: 1,167,000
    • Kalagan: 33,300
    • Sangil: 8,560
    • Molbog: 10,600
    • Jama Mapun: 50,800
    • Panimusan / Palawani: 13,000
  • Lumad Tribe
    • Manobo: 436,060
    • Subanen: 356,400
    • B'laan: 280,600
    • T'boli: 122,000
    • Mandaya: 53,850
    • Tiruray: 61,800
    • Higaonon: 41,800
    • Bagobo: 145,000
    • Tagakaolo: 125,000
    • Bukidnon: 186,900
    • Dibabawon: 21,300
    • Mangguwangan
    • Mansaka: 74,100
    • Mamanwa: 1,922 (1990)
    • Talaandig: 5,190
    • Ata Manobo: 33,400
    • Banwaon: 8,200 (1992)
    • Matigsalug: 37,100
  • Migrant Groups
    • Tagalog
    • Ilonggo
    • Ilocano
    • Cebuano
    • Boholano
    • Kapampangan
    • Bicolano
    • Waray
    • Siquijodnon
    • Other Migrants

Concluding Peace Value / Statement

• Philippines has cultural diversity but has ambivalence about differences.
• In the Philippines Exploited tribalistic and regionalistic tendencies, it is conditioned to be unwelcoming/hostile to other groups.
• Filipinos View diversity often as a weakness with hindered community.
• "There can be harmony in diversity" has to be said to boast, but also see the commonalities
• Many ethnic groups belong to the same racial stock, languages come from Malayo-Polynesian language, common vocabularies, material culture and values.
• Do not forget the commonalities, which may be weightier than the dissimilarities if the goal is peace.

This lesson discusses the creation of the Mindanao State University System and the mandate of History 3. It also explores the story of Hadji Kamlon, a WWII veteran who rebelled against the Philippine government and was viewed as a folk hero.