Bangsamoro is a region that has been historically defined by resistance, struggle, and violence—rooted by centuries of conflict and deeply wounded by colonization. As a reformed region that has gone undergoing changes before and since the independence of the Philippines, Bangsamoro mines through their hunger for self-determination and establishing their ancestral lands back to their rightful owners. Yet the people should also know the history behind the unfair power play of colonizers that took the homelands of the Moros away. To understand the nature of the situation of the past is to understand the outcome it has brought today.

The Arrival of Islam and Spanish Colonization

The arrival of Islam in the region has deeply intertwined itself with the roots of the Moros, thus the Spaniards calling them “Moros” as they are akin to their North African and Middle Eastern counterparts. With Islam spreading throughout the region as early as 1380, starting in Sulu and extending itself into mainland Mindanao, the influence of the religion has shaped their traditions, morals, rituals, and societal values and standings. There is, without a doubt, a strong sense of religion deeply embedded into the Moro culture and tradition. Their Islamic roots highly distinguished them from their predominantly Christian counterparts in Luzon and Visayas. Furthermore, with their Islamic roots are prided with maintaining and practicing pre-colonial practices that the rest of the Philippines may have lost and forgotten. 

As the era of Spanish colonialism rolled into the Philippines, Christianity began to spread rapidly under Spanish rule. Luzon and Visayas have converted into Christian communities, which led to the isolation of Mindanao as they fiercely denied the attempts of the Spaniards. As their isolation from the rest of the country continued, a conflict between Christian Filipinos and Moros divided their communities altogether. In the end, Moros have identified themselves as a separate society and community from the Philippines.

American Colonization and the Erosion of Moro Land Rights

Despite their fierce opposition from Spanish colonialism, the Americans came with a different approach towards the Moros. Their arrival in 1898 came with an iron fist as they pursued with modernization and an administrative control that allowed them to have a hold over the entire country. Through this, the Americans were able to take hold over Moro lands through the Kiram-Bates Treaty in the year 1898, allowing them to intervene with Moro lands and create a separate province for the Moros and dubbing them as a minority. With the treaty, this gave them power to administer divisions that undermined Moro authority. The Americans imposed a series of land laws that systematically deprived the Moros from their ancestral lands and favored Christian settlers from other regions. These laws include: 

• Land Registration Act (Act No. 496) – the loss of communal lands under the jurisdiction of the Moro people. 
• Public Land Act No. 718 – declaring Moro land grants invalid by Moro leaders
• Public Act No. 926 – all unregistered lands were considered for sale or for lease
• Mining Law of 1905 – public lands were all opened for exploration and occupation 
• Cadastral Act of 1907 – facilitated the registration of landholdings and its acquisitions (this is in favor of non-Moro settlers) 
• Acts 2254 and 2280 – where Filipino settlers are given larger land grants (16- hectares) if they relocate in the region, whilst Moros were only given 8 hectares
• Public Land Act 2874 (1919) – Filipino migrants were given 24 hectares of land while Moros were given 10 hectares 
• Legislative Act 4197 (Quirino-Recto Colonization Act) – declared settlement as the only lasting solution to the “Mindanao and Sulu problem” 
• Commonwealth Act 141 (1936) – declared that all Moro ancestral lands as public and wholly non-Moro corporations were allowed up to 1024 hectares of land

The dispossession of the Moros from their ancestral lands  led to significant demographic changes as the Filipinos became a part of colonialism under the American influence. With this, the identity of the Moro people separating from the Filipinos intensified. 

A Continuing Struggle for Autonomy

Historical injustices faced by the Moros have fueled their ongoing struggle for autonomy. As the growth of the country continued, so did the milestones of the Moros. Milestones worth noting is the signing of the Framework of Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2012 and the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro in 2014, which paved the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019. This gave a significant step towards recognizing the Moro people’s rights to self-determination and their sovereign autonomy. Yet despite the advancements and improvements, the legacy of land disposition and historical marginalization still has an impact on the Moro community. It is crucial to address the issues and ensure the lasting peace and development of the Moros.

Looking Forward

The Moro people still continue to navigate their path towards recognition and autonomy. Understanding their historical context of struggle is essential as the efforts of colonialism that sought to undermine their identity has left a lasting impact. Yet the Moros resilience and determination remains unwavering towards their journey to full autonomy. With the equitable development and lessons of history serves as a guide for future generations towards efforts on understanding and reconciling with a deep part of history. As long as the future exists, the Moro people’s quest for self-determination, identity, and justice can be and will be achieved.