Ransoming Slaves and Current Terrorisms-Resonances of the Hispanic Past in Mindanao and Sulu

by Faina C. Abaya-Ulindang, Ph.D

Abstract

Historical encounters between the Muslims and the Roman Catholics in the islands of Mindanao and Sulu proceeds from a relation of mutual antipathy that was characteristics of religious fanaticism. Thus, violence and hatred although intermittent became the dominant theme of Muslims and Catholic relations during the three hundred thrity five years of Spanish rule in the Philippines. What was unique in these encounters, however, was the overweening racial prejudice of the arrogant conquistador to the native whose conversion became his ultimate obsession.

It has been said that wherever the "cross goes there follows the sword". This paper narrates a history of failed Spanish moro conversion by citing cultural and historical bases of their hostile relations focusing not so much on the religious efforts but on the failure of the Spanish civlian government to implant its political institutions into Mindanao.

By comparing civilizational influences on the Moro and Filipino native at present, this paper intends to see how closely they both resemble the past Moro-Christian Catholic relations during the Spanish period. Citing contemporary issues such as kidnapping, the author interrogates history thus-are these not mere reminiscent of slave-catching, which were retaliatory of the Spanish agressive conversions? If so, where and when and under what circumstances?

While the author does not aim to enlighten nor proseletize, she does however believe in seeing the light at the end of the tunnel through documentary research, especially utilizing the several volumes of Jesuit letters and correspondences between the moro nobilities and the conquistadores compiled by the Mindanao Studies Program/Center (now defunct)of the CIDS, UP Diliman and the Mindanao Studies Resource Collection in Mindanao State University, Marawi City. For contemporary sources, interviews and newspapers and other sources will be utilized.