The documentary entitled ‘Raiders of the Sulu Sea’ tells about the slave-raiding activities of the

groups of Muslims, specifically the Balangingi Tribe and Ilanun people headed by the Tausug
warriors. The film’s introduction started by the discussion of an attack lead by Maguindanao’s
King Dalasi with the Sulu Sultanates to Fort Pillar—a fortress built to protect the people from the
attacks of the enemies—in Zamboanga City last December 8, 1720 against the Spaniards. It was
explained that there are various causes why the series of conflicts between the Moros and
Spaniards happened, and some of these are still relevant within this day. The conflicts between
the Moros to the country that I can see includes the oppression of Muslims against the country in
terms of religion. Muslims wanting to preserve their culture in terms of people and property.
Lastly, Muslims wanting to establish an Islamic State. When Spaniards came to the Philippines,
they became subjugated people, started preaching their religion, Christianity, to the different
parts of the country which the Muslims did not approve of. Some locals lived by this religion,
and for those who didn’t, they became people who are continuously defending their way of life.
Hence, the start of wars. We are fighting for what we believe in, fighting for our rights, freedom
from injustice, freedom for our identification (Abubakar, 2018). It was not only the religion of
others that Muslims does not want to follow. When Spaniards came, they wanted to dominate
over the country, have their way of life be practiced by the locals, had their tribal beliefs
replaced, and this is one of the reasons why the Moros wanted to fight for their people, land, and
culture. Yet according to Andaya (2018), calling these people ‘Pirates/Moros’ is confusing as the
word does not envelop the definition of raiders or the locals who took action in behalf of their
tribes. It is a matter of perception how one would call these indigenous people. Lastly, the
Muslims want to build a place of their own, an Islamic State. According to Bautista (2018),
Spaniards colonizing the country gave them the power to rule over the people and the Sultanates
of the South are not in favor of this. They wanted to keep their position over the people, if not,
increase it. In years and years of continuous war between the Muslims, President Rodrigo
Duterte finally signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law or BOL. The BOL, now called Organic Law
for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OLBARMM) is the outcome of
long-term peace agreement between the rebel groups in Mindanao and the Philippine
Government (Marcelo, 2018). With this new law approved and as its constitutions stated, both
Muslims and Roman Catholics have compromised. Peace can now happen. The Muslims no
longer have to fight for what they believe in specifically being Islam, the rights of their people
and property are recognized, and they are being ruled by their chosen chief minister together
with the Philippine Government.