Who are The Moro?

zambo
By zambo

Author's Note

The casual visitor, stopping in Zamboanga or Jolo between boats, sees the Moro as a slightly grimy individual with a bad reputation. Faintly disturbing stories of the prowess of this villain with the razor-edged kris, sometimes reach the tourist's ears. Most of the stories are true. The visitor may also hear something of the enmity which exists between the Filipinos and the Moros. This is also true, as the Filipinos may discover when America leaves the islands.

What the tourist does not realize is that this sinewy, brown man, gaudily dressed in brilliant silk trousers and colorful turban, has an astounding history.

There are many men better qualified to write the military history of the Moros than this author. I know one man who could have done so and it would have been a wonderful book. He knew more about the Moros than any man in the world, I believe. He is dead now. Just before he died, I said to him, "Papa, why don't you write the story of these Mohammedan wards of ours?"

He was a Colonel in the United States Army but everyone called him "Papa".

Papa said, "Someday I will, Vic. It will have to be after some of the high rankers have gone to their rewards. I'd step on too many toes now."

But Papa passed on, as all good soldiers do, and that history of the Moros remained unwritten.

Almost, once, a newspaper man did the job. He was editor of the first newspaper in Mindanao, and he was eminently qualified. But he became busy with other things and the material turned yellow in the trunks of his basement and the book remained one of those nebulous things "that ought to be done".

So I have tried to do it. And when I look back to the seven years' association I had with the Moros while collecting the material, I wish I could have done a better job.

For the Moros are a grand people. Everything written about them, almost, has been authored by their enemies. They are feared and hated by the Filipinos. They were feared and hated by the Spaniards.

They spoiled a conquest.

Every one of them is valiant. There never was a Moro who was afraid to die. Death on the field of battle is a privilege, and they guard their privileges jealously.

History can never forget the Moros, for they did something in the 1500's, and the 1600's, and the 1700's and clear down into the 1800's, that was supposed to be impossible. They proved too strong for the Spanish conquistadores!

G. V. H.

San Diego, California
May, 1936

By Apple• 6 Aug 2008 16:40
Apple

I suggest you do more research about the Island, people in that place are not related to each other. Trust me when I say that. And like the saying goes, there are 3 sides of the stories. What they say, what I say and the truth. Actually there are 4:)))) What the Media says, lol!

By 3sure-hunk3r• 6 Aug 2008 16:30
3sure-hunk3r

Moro reputation is tainted and tag as bandits,

rebels and perhaps now as harbouring jamaaa islameh...

well thats as what Apple said media side and opponent's side .... true it maybe for some but it all started as a way of depending the nation from intruders...the only difference is that before it was against the spain and american but now it is with the Gov't.....but of course the resistance is done only by the separatist group like MNLF and MILF....the rest are living the normal life! but it dream of every moro to have and gain back the old political glory.

but as the author of the book, the prologue, which really a worth to read.... extolled by the enemies...

I think this book is a must read!

"Born optimist nothing can keep me too low for so long"

By zambo• 5 Aug 2008 19:47
zambo

ever wonder why they are called moros by the spaniards?

well as the book says thats bec. the spanirds who came to philipines was same spaniards who fought against the moores or the muslims from morocco and neigboring muslim country so when these spaniards saw this inhabitants of the island they come to realized that these people are practising same faith and resisted same will, thus they too called them moores later moros...that they were enraged so much,they revanged and they hate them to the fullest....it took them 300 years b4 they were able to control the Luzon and Visaya but never the mindanao even the americans did not...

By zambo• 5 Aug 2008 19:31
zambo

Little have been written about them except in the old books and if there is it is always on the favor of opposite.even present filipinos has less knowledge about them, their history was seldom told...it was only in year 2000 when the phil. celebrated its centinial year..that the moros has ever included in national celebration or at least mentioned as part of great past.

at present of 85m filipino more or less 10% are moros remain today who live in the southern part of the philippine. In year 1500 they were against the spaniards,in 1800 they were fighting against the american, japanese and in the 1900 they are fighting against the government to gain back what was them b4. and yet they endure....they were grabed of authority yet they were never lost the fight!

By zambo• 5 Aug 2008 19:10
zambo

Moro is a derogative term used by the spaniards for the people of the philippine long time ago uhmmm... that was 1521...b4 that philippine had already peaceful government ruled by sultan and datus engaged in various international trade and basking political glory.To date the most famous Sultante of sulu and mindanao.that is in the southern part of mindanao.

By thexonic• 5 Aug 2008 18:26
thexonic

I dont know about the moros, but I do know who the locos r..

--------

"One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" - George Galloway.

--------

By Xena• 5 Aug 2008 18:26
Xena

uh?

"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME

 

visit www.qatarpets.org

By Platao36• 5 Aug 2008 18:21
Platao36

Red Poe: Nice spanish ;)

"Eh, Moro, los corronees de to padre y tua madre era una ....." ;)

Only God Can Judge Me

الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي

I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer

أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ

By Apple• 5 Aug 2008 16:16
Apple

"""Apparently, everyone that lives on that island owns a gun, a bunch of outlaws."""

I hate guns! and we dont have it:(

I totally agree with other issues. But hey! media is media, there maybe lack of facts or maybe over of the facts.

There is no such safe and 100% polite people in a certain place on earth. Tell me if you know any?:)))

By anonymous• 5 Aug 2008 16:11
anonymous

Last week Al-jazera had a review of the Island of Sulu.

Apparently, everyone that lives on that island owns a gun, living the life of outlaws. No respect for live, property or the law.

Every clan or gang are making their own rules as they wish. Including the governor of that province is suspected of gang related incidents, he is the worse of its kind according to the news reviews.

What was pathetic, If you had a dispute with someone behind some stupid crap such as love affairs, property disputes or money, the conversations are conducted at the end of the barrel of a gun.

Every day or night, there is a fire fight and someone is getting killed or wounded.

Surely is a great place for a Filipino Marine to perform his duties or government official from Manila to conduct his business.

Is bad enough that everyone on that Island is related to each other.

Benditos Moros! Al carajo los cabrones insectos pateticos que conducen crimenes feudales.

By Apple• 5 Aug 2008 15:31
Apple

There are lots of killings or should i say crimes going on in every corner of the Philippines, not only in Mindanao. Though in different types and forms:((

The most peaceful city in the Philippines can be found in Mindanao and that is Davao city(my vote) BUT the most unsafe for foreigners can also be found in Mindanao, unfortunately SULU:(((

Kudos to the owner of this site www.mindanao.com

By 3sure-hunk3r• 5 Aug 2008 13:55
3sure-hunk3r

The best prologue I ever heard about the moro, worth reading the history....a blast from the past

the future of mindanao lies on you!

yes 400 years of bitternes from the hands pf spaniards,american, pro spanish filipinos yet,its existance endures.....the grand and the valiant moros

long live....ALLah is the greatest!

"Born optimist nothing can keep me too low for so long"

By Apple• 5 Aug 2008 11:58
Apple

not morons but.... MORO

By Apple• 5 Aug 2008 11:56
Apple

......they are the MORO'S

The Tausug, Maranao, Maguindanon, Yakan, Iranon, Siyamal, Kalagan and alot more.... Mostly, living in the Southern part of the Philippines--> "The Mindanao"

For more infos, please visit my friend's site:

www.mindanao.com

By anonymous• 5 Aug 2008 02:55
anonymous

short for "Marlboro", hehehe... ^_^

By FranElizabeth• 5 Aug 2008 02:20
FranElizabeth

Aren't they the days after Today? ;)

Zamba, your avatar is sooooo cool.

By flanostu• 5 Aug 2008 01:05
flanostu

alexa!!!!!! welcome back.

By Dracula• 5 Aug 2008 01:04
Dracula

i am a moroi! :)

Details here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroi

By flanostu• 5 Aug 2008 00:50
flanostu

who are the morons?

By zambo• 4 Aug 2008 22:50
zambo

http://www.bakbakan.com/swishkb.html

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