THE FILIPINO

CULTURAL
HERITAGE AND
OTHER TOPICS FOR
ANALYSIS AND
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

• 1898 – The Filipino-American relations commenced when the United States declared a war
against Spain on April 25, 1898.

• Spain was defeated in the war which lasted only for less than four months.

• The Spain was defeated and the following happened:

-U.S claim Cuba
- ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to United States
- transferred the sovereignty over the Philippines to the United States

• Treaty of Paris – It was signed between the Spain and United States on December 10, 1898 to
transfer the sovereignty of Philippines.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

• When American-Spanish War broke out, Emilio Aguinaldo was not in the Philippines
because he was on exile to Hong Kong.
• Pact of Biak-na-Bato – It was signed on December 14, 1897. This pact
provisionally stopped the armed conflict between the Filipinos and Spaniards.
• While in exile, Aguinaldo had meetings with two American diplomats in Singapore.
But why was Aguinaldo in Singapore and no in Hong Kong?
• To fully understand this, let us revisit the Pact of Biak-na-Bato (page 140-144) of
your book)

• Reading No. 34 - “The Pact of Biak-na-Bato”

 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

• The Hong-kong exile brought Aguinaldo in contact with U.S. Consul Edward
Spencer Pratt.

• They had two secret meetings wherein Aguinaldo impressed Pratt.

• Later on, Pratt arranged Aguinaldo’s return to Philippines with Commodore George
Dewey and the American Squadron.

• Because, Aguinaldo was confident of his return and eventually freeing the
Philippines form the Spaniards through the support of the Americans he gave
Rounseville Wildman (U.S. Consul in Hong-kong) a money to buy arms but
unfortunately, the arms were never delivered.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

• Dewey left Hong-kong without Aguinaldo upon receiving an order to

proceed to the Philippines immediately and destroy the Spanish fleet. In
this Dewey won and he did not lose a ship and any of his men.
• The Spaniards turned to the Filipinos for support but Filipinos were no
longer interested to provide support to them because they were not
enticed by the promise of reforms they wanted freedom.
• Reading No. 35 - “PROCLAMATION OF THE HONG-KONG COMMITTEE MARKING THE
END OF THE FILIPINO-SPANISH UNDERSTANDING AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT TO THE
AMERICANS”
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

America’s True Intention; the Filipinos’ Struggle for Recognition

• May 19, 1898 – Aguinaldo was returned to the Philippines.

• He immediately conferred with Admiral Dewey who was delighted to see him. They
were delighted to meet each other because they need each other.
• Aguinaldo called on the Filipino people to rise in arms and help Americans win the
battle against the Spaniards.

• Reading No. 36 – PROCLAMATION OF EMILIO AGUINALDO URGING THE

FILIPINOS TO UNITE AND FIGHT FOR THE VINDICATION OF THE
COUNTRY, DATED MAY 21, 1898
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

America’s True Intention; the Filipinos’ Struggle for Recognition

• Aguinaldo offered Governor Agustin terms for an honorable surrender but the latter
rejected the offer. He was expecting form Spain but no reinforcements came.

• At that time, the following countries had interests to protect in the Philippines –
England, Germany, France, and Japan. They sent their fleet to Manila Bay to protect
their respective interests.
• Germany had the interest to grab the Philippines. Dewey was infuriated and gave the
Germans ultimatum that if they would not behave, a battle would ensue between
them.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

America’s True Intention; the Filipinos’ Struggle for Recognition

• May 24, 1898 – Aguinaldo established Dictatorial Government as a temporary only

until the establishment of a republic.
• June 12, 1898 – Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines. He also
stated laying down the foundation for the establishment of a republic.
• July 1898 – Reinforcements from the United States came wherein American troops in
the Philippines had 11, 000 men under the general command of Major General
Wesley Merritt.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

America’s True Intention; the Filipinos’ Struggle for Recognition

• Spain sent Fermin Jaudenes as a new governor-general. He was warned by Dewey and
Meriitt to evacuate the civilian population of Manila and to surrender the city.
• Jaudenes entered into a secret negotiation with Dewey and Merritt through Edouard
Andre. He would surrender but after a little fight in order to save the honor of Spain.
• August 18, 1898 – The Battle of Manila began in the 9:30 in the morning and ended
at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon.
• American and Filipino were already signs of fiction. This fiction would finally result
to open hostility between them.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

America’s True Intention; the Filipinos’ Struggle for Recognition

• Not long after, the Filipinos found themselves under new foreign master – the United
States of America.
• And the new master was not benevolent as it presented itself earlier. But it not take
long for the Filipinos to embrace the new master, easily forgetting the previous one.
• December 10, 1898 – the fate of the Philippines as a colony of the United States for
the next almost five decades has been sealed through the Treaty of Paris.
• Treaty of Paris was signed between the United States and Spain, without the
participation of a single Filipino.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

America’s True Intention; the Filipinos’ Struggle for Recognition

• Reading No. 37 – PRESIDENT WILLIAM McKINLEY’s SPEECH TO

METHODIST MINISTERS ABOUT THE US ACQUISITION OF THE
PHILIPPINES, NOVEMBER 1899.
• Reading No. 38 – “Conflict of Two Interests”, and “McKinley and Divine
Providence”
• Reading No. 39 – Felipe Agoncillo’s Memorial to the Senate of the United States in
Protest of the Action of the United States Ignoring the Independence Aspirations of
the Filipinos.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

America’s True Intention; the Filipinos’ Struggle for Recognition

• February 6, 1898 – Treaty of Paris was to be voted. The treaty was ratified – 61 votes
in favor and 27 against.
• Reading No. 40 – Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s Preface to his Book
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

The Bitter End

• Filipino-American War – It was started on February 4, 1899 and ended on July 2,

1902.
• In this period, Filipinos showed their strong resolve to become a totally independent
country. But the path for independence was not that smooth for the Filipinos.

• Under the leadership of Aguinaldo fought hard to assert its right over the Philippines
Islands.
• For more than two years, they did not surrender to the might of the Americans; the
once thought-of-friends and redeemers pursued them.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

The Bitter End

• March 25, 1899 – they fled from Malolos, the seat of the first Philippine republic.

• When Apolinario Mabini resigned he was replaced by Pedro Paterno.

• The Paterno Cabinet decided to confer with the Americans to work out an honorable
peace.

• Antonio Luna opposed it and labelled the members of the Paterno Cabinet traitors.
Surrender was not in Luna’s mind. He would fight and claimed full independence for
the archipelago.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

The Bitter End

• November 13, 1899 – Aguinaldo disbanded the republic.

• Gregorio del Pilar – paved the way for Aguinaldo passage. He killed at Tirad Pass
with his men.
• September 6, 1899 – He reached Palanan, Isabela where he established his
headquarters and directed the Filipinos troops.

• September 1901 – Cecilio Segismunodo (Aguinaldo’s courier) surrendered to the

Americas and turned over to them all the letters he was to deliver from the Palanan.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

The Bitter End

• General Frederick Funston – plotted the capture of Aguinaldo.

• March 23, 1899 – they were able to enter the camp of Aguinaldo

• March 28, 1899 – Aguinaldo arrived in Manila. He was presented to General

MacArthur.
• April 1, 1899 – Aguinaldo swore his allegiance to the United States.
• July 2, 1902 – the Secretary of War of the United States proclaimed the end of the
“Philippine Insurrection” against the United States and the termination of the office of
the military governor.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

The Bitter End

• July 4, 1902 – An amnesty proclamation was issued by President Theodore Roosevelt

and all Filipinos who participated in the hostilities against the Americans were granted
complete and full pardon.
• Later on, the blossoming of a relations that at times sweet and at times bitter.
• Reading No. 41 – AN INTERVIEW OF ANTONIO LUNA WITH LA
INDEPENDENCIA
• Reading No. 42 – GREGORIO DEL PILAR’S DEATH FROM AN ACCOUNT OF
AN EYE WITNESS RICHARD HENRY LITTLE.
• Reading No. 43 – PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY EMILIO AGUINALDO ON
APRIL 19, 1899 AFTER HE HAD TAKEN HIS OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS FROM MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT

• How is the Philippines-U.S. relationship characterized?

• After the hostilities both countries engaged in during the Filipino-American War, the
healing wounds started with the United States replacing the military government with
a civil government in the Philippines.
• July 4, 1901 – the Civil Government was inaugurated in Manila with William H. Taft.
• The military regime thus, had been replaced by the civil regime.
• The Philippine Commission functions as the legislative body with the commissioners as
the first secretaries of departments.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS FROM MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT

• Comparing the status of the Filipino under the Spanish colonial regime and under the
American regime the Filipinos:
- enjoyed far greater freedom, recognition and involvement
- the Filipinos shared power with the Americans in the administration of the country
- many opportunities was opened
- public education was implemented
- suffrage was introduced
- freedom of the press not suppressed
- political parties were allowed
- promise of independence was made
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS FROM MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT

• William H. Taft - he proved that he is a benevolent and kind leader to the Filipinos
• Philippine Bill of 1902 – this bill extended the Bill of Rights of the Filipinos with the
exception of the right of trial by jury.
• Other salient provisions are:
- the appointment of two Filipinos resident commissioner to Washington
- establishment of an elective Philippine Assembly
- retention of the Philippine Commission as the upper house of the legislature with the
Philippine Assembly acting as the lower house
- conservation of the natural resources of the Philippines for the Filipinos.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS FROM MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT

• 1912 – the Democratic Party won the national elections in the Unites States
• Francis Burton Harrison – He was appointed as governor general of the Philippines.
Under him the Filipinos enjoyed more autonomy.
• 1916 – the Jones Law was passed.
• Jones Law – provided for the grant of independence to the Filipinos as soon as a stable
government could established in the country.
• October 16, 1916 – under the Jones Law the new bicameral legislature was inaugurated
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS FROM MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT

• When the United States entered the First World War (1914-1918), Filipinos showed their
gratitude to the Americans.

• But not all the times were rosy for the Filipinos and the Americans.

• General Leonard Wood – he became Governor-General in 1902 and tension started to

develop between the Filipinos and the Americans.
• General Wood gave the legislature a difficult time and repealed many of the privileges
were enjoying under the Harrison administration.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS FROM MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT

• The independence sentient of the Filipinos was fired by the way Governor Wood treated
the Filipino leaders.

• The smooth relationship between Malacanang Palace and the Philippine Legislature was
restored with the appointments of succeeding Governor-Generals who pursued a policy
between “the liberalism of Harrison and the conservatism of Wood.”

• Reading No. 44 – ON THE EARLY AMERICAN TEACHERS AND EDUCATION

IN THE PHILIPPINES
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

A NEW EPIC IN PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS

• When the Second World War broke out, the Philippines once again proved its loyalty to
the United States.

• United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) – were 100,000 Filipino soldiers

• During the World War II, Japanese bombed Davao and other part of the country.

• The Japanese landed in other areas of the country, captures Manila, and General Douglas
MacArthur could not do anything but retreat to Corregidor with President Manuel Luis
Quezon and other officials of the Philippine Commonwealth.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

A NEW EPIC IN PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS

• Manuel Luis Quezon – took his second oath of office as elected President of the
Commonwealth under the amended 1935 Constitution in Corregidor.

• The Filipinos together with Americans resisted the Japanese. The struggle they had
during the Second World War started a new epic in the Philippine-American relations.

• MacArthur left the Philippines with a promise that he “shall return.”

• April 9, 1942 – Bataan fell to the enemies.

 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

A NEW EPIC IN PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS

• The fallen Filipino and American soldiers were subjected to inhuman treatment – they
were made to march from Mariveles Bataan, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga.

• A Japanese-puppet government referred to as the Second Philippine Republic was

inaugurated in the Philippines in 1943 with Jose P. Laurel as President.

• October 20, 1944 – Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his promise to the Filipino people. He
returned to the Philippines,
• Reading No. 45 – BATAAN HAS
FALLEN
• Reading No. 46 – OUR FAITH IN AMERICA ID
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

A NEW EPIC IN PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS

• Reading No. 47 – REMEMBER THE

PHILIPPINES
• After the Second World War, the United States granted full independence to the
Philippines as provided foe under the Tydings McDuffie Act.
• The Philippines at last, had taken back what was stolen from her in 1898 when the
Americans instead of leaving the Philippine shores decided to colonize the country.

• Reading No. 48 – THE PROCLAMATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE

 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS IN CONTEMPORARY TIME

• The tie that binds the Philippines and the United States is strong.
• July 4, 1946 – the Philippines had been granted full independence by the United States

• The Philippines-U.S. relations have been strengthened by the many treaties agreed upon
by both.

• A review of these agreements between the two countries follows:

 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS IN CONTEMPORARY TIME

1. In 1947, the Philippines and the United States signed the Military Bases Agreement.
2. In 1950, President Harry S. Truman sent and economic mission to the Philippines to
study and report on the pressing economic problems of the Philippines.
3. In 1951, the Mutual Defense Treaty was signed by the Philippines and the United
States, supplementing the Military Bases Agreement signed earlier between the
United States and the Philippines.
4. During the twenty-year administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, the US-
Philippine tie grew stronger.
5. In 1999, the Visiting Military Forces Agreement was formalized and ratified.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS IN CONTEMPORARY TIME

6. In November 21, 2002, the U.S. and the Philippines signed the Military Logistics
and Support Agreement, thus expanding U.S. military role in the Philippines.
7. Once again, the U.S.-Philippine relations were marred when five members of the
U.S. Marines were accused of gang-rape by a Filipina.
8. In 2011, when tension between China and the Philippines was rising over the
disputed territories in the in the South China Sea, an endorsement of the Military
cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines was done.
9. Criticisms on the presence of U.S. military vessels in the Philippines once again
were fuelled with the crash of the U.S. Navy ship, USS Guardian into the Tubbataha
Reef.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS IN CONTEMPORARY TIME

10. In 2014, the United States and the Philippines signed the Enhanced Defense
Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINES-U.S RELATIONS
FROM 1907 TO THE PRESENT

RP-US RELATIONS UNDER THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION

• Three months after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had taken his oath office, he
expressed his intention to follow a foreign policy which is different from those of hiss
predecessors.

• He wanted an independent foreign policy. He suggested separating from the United

States and establishing a closer relationship to China.

• President Duterte also made a pronouncement of his intention to terminate the

Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. However, the Duterte administration’s
defense secretary expressed strong support for the mutual defense treaty.
 THE Filipino-American relations
THE START OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

RP-US RELATIONS UNDER THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION

• Reading No. 49 – STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRAUMAN OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ANNOUNCING AN ECONOMIC SURVEY
MISSION TO THE PHILIPPINES

• Reading No. 50 – STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT ELPIDIO QUIRINO ON THE

REPORT OF THE BELL ECONOMIC SURVEY COMMISSION

• Reading No. 51 – THE TRANSITIONAL SOCIETY

 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Three principalities existed in the southern part of the Philippine archipelago during
the third quarter of the 16th century – SULU, MAGUINDANO, AND BUAYAN.

• The Jolo, Tawi-tawi, Kagayan and Basilan including other neighboring islands and
points in Mindanao included Zamboanga were under the Sulu principality/sultanate.

• Lower valley of Pulangi and the Iranum settlements around Illana and Sibugay Bays
were under the principality/sultanate of Maguindanao.

• The upper valley of Pulangi and part of Talayan were controlled by the Buayan
principilaty/sultanate.
 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• When the Spaniards came to the Philippines in 1565, they were able to control most
of the barangays in the Luzon and Bisayas areas whose inhabitants were mostly
pagans.
• Spaniards failed to succeed in Mindanao, which had already been Islamized.

• Why did the Spaniards fail in their attempt to conquer and covert Muslim into
Christianity?
• The Spaniards came with a deep hatred of Islam and determination to extirpate it
from the islands.
• The series of wars between the Spaniards and the Muslim were motivated by religion
and economic interest both on the part of Muslims and the Spaniards.
 THE Filipino-American relations
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Reading No. 52 – PHASES OF THE “MORO” WARS

 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
NO LONGER KINS BUT ENEMIES

• The Spaniards failed in their vigorous attempts to dislodge Islam in Mindanao.

• The result is the Muslim communities suffered regression and stagnation.

• The Muslims refused to recognized the authority of the revolutionary government

form by Aguinaldo, thus conflict between the Muslims and the Christian Filipinos
started.
• When the Filipino-American War escalated in Luzon and in the Visayas, the
Americans faced strong resistance from the natives of these islands.

• Americans took advantage to prevent the Muslims from joining the forces of the
Filipinos in Luzon and the Visayas.
 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
NO LONGER KINS BUT ENEMIES

• August 20, 1899 – Bates-Kiram treaty was signed between Sultan Jamalul Kiram II
and U.S. General John C. Bates.
• Bates-Kiram Treaty – In this treaty U.S. promised to respect and guarantee the
integrity of the Moro states if the Moros would remain neutral.

• The Americans, however did not respect the agreement, they abrogated the treaty and
proceeded with the conquest of Mindanao but the Moros did not give up easily.

• When the Filipino-American War was over, the Americans executed their plans for
Mindanao. They introduced new laws, these are the followings:
 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
NO LONGER KINS BUT ENEMIES

• Public Act 718 – voided all property and acreage of Mindanao sultans unless these
pieces of property had been recognized as the sultanates by the colonial government
• Public Act 926 – declaring all unregistered land tracts as pubic domain and open for
homestead

• Public Land Act of 1919 – appropriated a maximum of 10 hectares in homestead

lots to Muslim Filipino, and 24 hectares lots to non-Muslim Filipinos
• Homeless families from Luzon and the Visayas were encouraged to migrate to
Mindanao which intensified the hatred the Muslims had been harbouring against
their Christians brothers since the Spanish colonization. Since then, the Muslim and
the Christian Filipinos treat each other as enemies.
 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
NO LONGER KINS BUT ENEMIES

• Public Act 718 – voided all property and acreage of Mindanao sultans unless these
pieces of property had been recognized as the sultanates by the colonial government
• Public Act 926 – declaring all unregistered land tracts as pubic domain and open for
homestead

• Public Land Act of 1919 – appropriated a maximum of 10 hectares in homestead

lots to Muslim Filipino, and 24 hectares lots to non-Muslim Filipinos
• Homeless families from Luzon and the Visayas were encouraged to migrate to
Mindanao which intensified the hatred the Muslims had been harbouring against
their Christians brothers since the Spanish colonization. Since then, the Muslim and
the Christian Filipinos treat each other as enemies.
 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
A NEVER-ENDING SEARCH FOR PEACE

• As a result of the discrimination and marginalization felt by the indigenous Muslim

population in this southern Philippine island of Mindanao, an independence
movement was founded in Mindanao aimed at separating the Muslim majority-Moro
areas from the rest of the country.
• Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) – was founded by Nur Misuari aimed
at establishing a self-determining Moro identity in the Bangsamoro or a Muslim
Nation.
• MINDANAO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (MILF) – It continued the
resistance which resulted in thousands of deaths and displacement of more than three
million people.
• BANGSA MORO ISLAMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS –they made the Mindanao
situation more serious
 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
A NEVER-ENDING SEARCH FOR PEACE

• From President Ferdinand Marcos to President Rodrigo Duterte, peace for Mindanao
has been a dream that remains elusive.

• Each administration reached out to the Muslim insurgents but the conflicts in
Mindanao seems never to end. But hope springs eternal.
• Thus, peace negotiations were conducted with the end in view of reaching an
agreement which would give lasting peace to Mindanao.

• Under the Marcos administration, peace negotiations resulted in the signing of the
Tripoli Agreement between MNLF and the Government of the Republic of the
Philippines.
 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
A NEVER-ENDING SEARCH FOR PEACE

• Under the administration of President Corazon Aquino – the Organic Act for the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was passed

• Under the Fidel Ramos presidency, peace negotiations resumed. Seeking the
assistance of Gaddadi who was instrumental in the signing of the Tripoli Agreement.
• Under the presidency of Joseph Estrada he adopted a policy of all-out war against
the MILF.

• Under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo she reversed the all-out war into
all-out peace policy against the rebel groups in Mindanao.
 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
A NEVER-ENDING SEARCH FOR PEACE

• Under the presidency of Benigno Aquino III he signed the Framework Agreement
on the Bangsa Moro, a document which provided for a general framework for the
actual peace negotiations.
• March 27, 2014 – the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsa Moro, which
would pave the way for the creation of a new Muslim autonomous entity called the
Bangsa Moro under a law to be approved by the Philippine Congress.

• Mid-2015 – a CAB-complaint BBL was supposed to be approved in the Philippine

Congress but the infamous Mamasapano tragedy happened when forty-four (44)
members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police and
twenty-four individuals including women and children lost their lives during the
execution of OPLAN exodus.
 CHRISTIAN FILIPINO-MUSLIM
RELATIONS
A NEVER-ENDING SEARCH FOR PEACE

• That tragic incident made the members of the House of the Representatives
withdraw their support to the first version of the CAB-complaint BBL.
• June 2016 – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte promised that he would address the
‘historical “injustices” against the Bangsa Moro by expediting the passage of the
BBL.
• Bangsamoro Transition Commission – it was created to tasked a new draft of the
BBL.
• When a new version of the BBL was about to be submitted, the Marawi siege
happened. Martial Law was declared in Mindanao. As a result of this incident, the
new BBL version suffered lukewarm support form the Philippine legislators.

• August 6, 2018 – ceremonial signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law was done in
Malacanang.