HISTORY: HOW THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT AND CHURCHES FORCED MUSLIMS OF PHILIPPINE TO CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY Source: www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~aps1/graphics/300_Mahdiyah.htm As early as the thirteenth century, if not earlier, settlements of predominately Muslim merchants introduced the first glimpse of Islam to the Philippines and raised Muslim families. Later Muslim descendants had social and political prominence, bringing political institutions, laws, and madrasahs(Islamic schools). Islam spread rapidly throughout the Philippines, reaching as far north as Luzon with Muslim settlement in Manila and Tondo. Most traces of Muslim presence were eliminated when the Spanish arrived and made Manila the capital of the Spanish colony. In 1565 the Spanish officials of Cebu wrote the King of Spain requesting permission to enslave Moros: We beseech his majesty and your highness in this royal name, that, inasmuch as the said Moros and others take all the gold, pearls, jewels, precious stones and other things of which we have no information—thus injuring the natives, both by giving us no opportunity to plant out holy faith among them, and by taking the said gold, they should, if they continue the said trade, lose their property and be made slaves, for they preach the doctrine of Mahoma.18 In reply, the Spanish King gave the officials in Cebu power to seize land from and enslave Muslim Filipinos, either by blood and by conversion. They were charged with hindering the spread of the Christian Holy Gospel and of not taking Spain as their sovereign. The Spanish King also stated that those newly converted to the doctrine of Mahoma should not be enslaved, but persuaded to convert to the holy Catholic Church. The Spanish encountered great opposition among the Muslim natives, who soon became a major obstacle for the Castillans. Muslim Filipinos allied themselves with Muslims in surrounding areas, such as Borneo, fighting vigorously to preserve their way of life. This greatly concerned the Castillans, who sent a letter to the sultan of Borneo, Sharif Ur-Rijal: What you are to do is to admit preachers of the holy gospels, who may preach the law of the Christians in your lands in all security; and likewise that any person whatever of your country may have entire liberty and permission to attend the preaching of the law of the Christians, and the he who wishes to become a Christian may do so without any ill befalling him. Further, I desire that you shall send no preachers of the sect of Mahoma to any part of these islands nor into other parts of your own islands-inasmuch as the doctrine of Mahoma is a false and evil law, and the religion of the Christians alone is the true, holy, and good. It is reasonable to assume that, along with their political and economic goals, the Castillans sought to extend the imperial regions of Spain in order to extirpate Islam and spread Catholicism. The Muslims and the Castillans battled one another for a very long time.19 It is reasonable to assume that, along with their political and economic goals, the Castillans sought to extend the imperial regions of Spain in order to extirpate Islam and spread Catholicism. The Muslims and the Castillans battled one another for a very long time. There were five stages in the Moro struggles and the Spanish effort to subjugate the Moro people. In the first stage, occurring around 1565, the Spanish came to the Philippines to establish a Spanish colony and to Christianize the area. During this stage the Castillans fought with Muslim Borneans who were allied, due to relations in lineage and faith, to Muslims from Sulu. In this stage the Castillans were able to eliminate Borneo influence from the Archipelago. Once the Spanish gained control of an area and established it into a colony, natives were force to pay taxes. These taxes constituted a kind of tribute, usually one peso, to fund both the Spanish Church, and efforts in keep Muslims, whether native or foreign, from influencing people in their new colony. The second stage of subjugation entailed that the Castillans reduce the Muslims in the Philippine islands of Sulu and Maguindanao to a people dependent on the King of Spain and his holy Catholic Church. So, in this stage no Spanish colonies were formed. Instead the Castillans concentrated their efforts on containing the Moros. Muslims were discouraged from traveling outside their own islands and were instructed to trade amongst themselves and with the Spanish. The Muslims were then forced to accept Catholic missionaries on their islands and to stop any incoming Islamic influences to their land. In the third stage, which lasted a span of thirty five years from 1599 to 1635, Muslims from Maguindanao began to undertake more aggressive efforts to resist the further development of the Spanish colonies. The Muslims consolidated their allies and support, however the Castillans were successful in defeating their efforts. The Muslim Filipino territory began to recede and their numbers decreased. A major turning point for the Castillans came in the fourth stage, with the establishment of Fort Zamboanga in 1635. In 1637 Castillan invasions in Maguindanao were successful, followed by more success in Sulu a year later. The Castillans were greatly encouraged about prospects of conquering the remaining islands of the Philippines. For a short time period the Castillans were forced to abandon the fort due to the possible threat by the Koxingas, allowing the Muslims in Sulu and Maguidanao to experience relative peace for about half a century. The return of the Castillans return to the fort initiates the fifth stage. The sixth and last stage of the Moro struggles parallels the decline of Sultanates, reflected in the Spanish Campaign of 1851 against Sulu. The end result was Spanish domination in the Philippines.20 The Castillans were wary that their efforts in the Philippines might be disrupted by the British and the Dutch, who were making their way through Asia at this time. The Castillans may have agreed to this treaty to try to secure the existing colonies in Muslim areas of the Philippines and to gain more territory before other western powers could. During the last stage of the Moro Wars many Muslims were subjugated. They turned to Spain as their sovereign and their descendants upheld the Christian faith. Though the Castillans were successful in subjugating many Muslims and their colonies, as well as non-Muslims, they were not able to eliminate revolts against them. Filipino Christian and Muslim settlements that were under the supervision of the Castillans were forced to follow a feudal system. Filipinos, Christian and Muslim, were required to fulfill a quota of commodities that they would produce, only to have it confiscated by the Castillans. Soon after the Campaign of 1851, the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish opened the eyes of a few historical figures that are today considered national heroes of the Philippines. They tried to recruit help from the Muslim community. The Hongkong Junta once declared that the Filipinos were forced to fight the Muslims of Sulu and Mindanao who in reality are our brothers like us fighting for their independence.21
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 19:27:15 +0000
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