2018-04274 Jasmin Mae Rama

ARTS 1 2:30-4:00 WF

MUSLIM STUDIES IN THE PHILIPPINES

HISTORY

The Philippines, the 12th largest country in the world with a population of 100
million, is a predominantly Christian country. This is the result of 333 years of
Spanish colonial rule followed by 42 years of American rule. Nevertheless, there
is a significant Muslim population in the Philippines, which is estimated to make up
5.5 per cent of the total population of the country (or approximately 5.5 million
Filipinos).

The introduction of Islam to the Philippines is accredited to Tuan Masha’ika,

supposedly an Arab religious leader or missionary, who landed on the island of
Jolo in what is today the Province of Sulu in the southern Philippines, in the mid to
late-13th century. Other researchera point out that it is likely that Islam was actually
introduced much earlier, perhaps as early as the 10th century, through Arab
traders who subsequently settled down and married local inhabitants and spread
their religion in that manner.

The major Muslim ethnic groups in the Philippines are: Tausug, Maranao,
Maguindanao, Yakan, Samal, Sangil, Jama Mapun, Palawani, Molbog, Illanun,
Kalibugan, and Kalagan. They speak different languages, pursue different
occupations, and traditionally have distinct ethnic differences. Nonetheless, they
still share the same Muslim identity, united under the same religious identity
combined with their ethnicity. This distinction may be blurred to the eyes of non-
muslims.

Over time, the Spanish colonizers made inroads into the territories of both
Sultanates. It is a fact, however, that the Spaniards were not able to exert effective
control over the Muslim areas, inhabited by “Moros,” as the Spaniards called them
after the Moors who had invaded the Iberian Peninsula beginning the 8th century.
It was left to the Americans, who defeated Spain in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898
and acquired the Philippines under the Treaty of Paris executed that same year to
effectively take control of the Muslim areas in the Philippines.

One clear objective of the 333 years of colonial rule of the Spaniards in the
Philippines was the conversion of the natives to Christianity—specifically
Catholicism—and in spreading its authority to the southern reaches of the
archipelago the Spaniards pitted Christian Filipinos against the “heathen” Muslims.
MORO PROBLEM
What started the Moro problem?

The prevailing negative image of the muslim caused them to be exteriorated from
the other groups and it clearly reflects on the History where there is minimal to no
memtion of the Mindanao state.

Many instances are shown during the American colonization, for example, in June
of 1921, a group of 57 influential leaders from Sulu issued a lengthy petition
addressed to the President of the United States, Warren G. Harding, asking that
the Sulu Archipelago not be incorporated into an independent Philippine nation but
instead be made a permanent territory of the United States. This caused many
moros to loose their land to the foreign invaders which subsequently was given to
Christians in power or foreign residents.

Numerous treaties were forged between the Muslim and Americans to try and
acquire freedom by independence like on 1935,120 leaders from Lanao Province
signed a petition addressed to the US President asking that the Muslim areas not
be included in the proposed independent Philippine nation. But despite all account,
they were never appeased. Prejudices between Christian and Muslim Filipinos, a
significant degree of bias still exists among Christian Filipinos relative to Muslims.
Muslims living outside of their traditional areas, such as those who have migrated
to the Metropolitan Manila area, who experience difficulty in finding work once it is
discovered that they are Muslims.

One result of the 375 years of Spanish and American colonial experience of the
Philippines— many Muslims would say that the colonial experience extends even
to the present day with the predominantly Christian Government of the Republic of
the Philippines—is that Muslims (and Lumads, the non-Muslim indigenous
peoples) have become minorities in their own homeland of Mindanao. After 300
years of Moro war, the Spaniards’ negative image of the Moros became fixed.
Misrepresentation

Anotherr key factor of the Moro Problem is the misrepresentation of muslims as

we see on media and art. Inaccurate conveyance of the muslim culture and
practices has led the popular audience to misunderstand the muslims and left their
culture unappreciated. Although movies may flare to exaggeration, it is still crucial
that they uphold the muslim image well in movies and dramas. The typical
stereotypes of muslims being terrorists or rebels is actually still prevalent in today's
media. There are little to no movies or television series about muslims in the
philippine media and this is actually another proof of muslim separatism.
MUSLIMS AND THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

Since 1946, there have been many disputes between the government and the
Islam community. Largely cause of this is the government-sponsored land settling
of Christians on Muslim lands. The neglect of the government towards the Muslims
and disrespect to their ancestral areas and rights led to mutually negative
perceptions between both parties. The muslims felt exteriorated and aliented from
this “Christian Government” and began to point economic disatisfaction to the
discriminations from the bureaucracy.

As a response to all this, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was
established on 1969. Defining this as a revolutionaARTmovement to establish an
Islamic state in the southern Philippines. By the time of the declaration of Martial
Law, the organization yas been well founded and connected with a sparring
support to other Muslim communities like in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Upon tye
establishment of martial law, an all out war that caused big casualties on both sides
and took a toll on the Christian-Muslim relationship in the country.

In resolution to this dispute, policies were made in attempt to consolidate the

opposing sides. Presidential decrees to recognize Muslim culture were enacted
like Muslim Holidays and Muslim advance studies.

An awareness of this historical and social background is essential to understanding the

roots of the problems in the Philippine South. Since the Muslim culture is significantly
distinct and older it is crucial that it is accepted and jived with other cultures in the
Philippines.

For one we can start by appreciating the culture and art of the Muslims as a step to a
more cohesive relationship with them.

MUSLIM ART & CULTURE

Before we can understand muslum art and culture, we must first dig into
understanding islam, their religion, which serves as the centerfold of their identity.

Tawhid is the most important Islamic belief and it implies that Allah, who is the
Sustained of the universe and the sole Source of its Guidance, creates everything
on this earthDecorative and Industrial art. Muslims apply their belief of Tawhid in
their everyday life by following the five pillars of Islam, from which Shahadah is the
first central belief. This pillar allows the believer to declare their faith and submit to
their creator
 In a paradigm framework the muslim faith revolves around this concept of tawhid
and the Etic and Emic parts of space are converged towards this concept.

In the 13th century, traders and missionaries have introduced the religion of Islam
in the Philippines. Islamic art meshed with ethnic culture and produced a Filipino
Muslim art that reflects the ethnic background and Islamic identity of the people.
During the Spanish colonization and American occupation, Islam has been
concentrated mostly in the South but this did not halt the flourishing of Islamic art.

DESIGN AND INDUSTRIAL ART

Ukir (Maranao) or ukkil (Tausug) means to carve or engrave
Naga design is characterized by stylistic form of a mythical dragon or snake

Moro artistry is applied to woodworking, from decorative carving to boat-building

to house architecture and construction

Skill and artistry in metalwork is applied to tools, weapons, jewelry, and brassware.
Making of swords and metal weapons.

Clothweaving and matweaving are important crafts for the Moros. The most
prominent traditional wear is the malong, a large, colorful woven cloth wrapped
around the body. One common way women wear it is around the waist with its
folds draped over the left arm. Men wrap it around the waist like a skirt. Clothes
have been a prime reflection of Muslim tradition and culture. It is disti ct from all
other cultures in the modern world, since majority of the country was converted to
Christianity and adapted spanish style of clothing. Orosa (1972) noted that
Muslims in tye Philippines did not cover their faces before anf yead covers weren't
part of daily outfits. The muslims then wore more ethnic type clothing like the tobao(
handkerchief rolled and tied around the head) or kopia. For ceremonies, royalties
wore decorated clothing. In everyday occasion, usually white scarves or turbans
were worn and some even wore western clothes (1970).
PAINTING

Face painting was also really prevalent in muslim art and culture. Many muslims
would gave intricate patterns painted on their faces. Bulak-bulak design
reprrsented purity. Later they would paint theprooftheir bodies in form of tatoos
which also was patterned like so of their swords and weaves. Soon enough,
painting was on mats as well until it further expanded to painting figurative pictorial
art. It was a gradual process for painting to be integrated in islam art as it was
labeled orthodox and condemned, thus unpopular to the muslims themselves.
MUSIC

Music is another important part of the culture. However, it should be noted that
there is a distinction between music for rituals, which is basically vocal without
instruments, and music for entertainment.

Kulintang (brass gongs), kagandang (war drums), ceremonial dances and

kambaioka (singers or chanters of improvised poetic compositions) are played on
various occasions. The gabbang is similar to a xylophone, while suling and saunay
are wind instruments. The biyula is a string instrument, and the kulintangan is an
ensemble of gongs and drums. The kudyapi is a two-stringed lute plucked to make
beautiful sounds. The kubing (jew’s harp) is made of bamboo and believed to
make words and tell stories, if the audience could understand the language of
music.
PATTERNS

Some art styles are curved-line woodcarving and metalworking called okir, similar
to the Middle Eastern Islamic art. This style is associated with men. The other style
is geometric tapestries, and is associated with women. The Tausug and Sama–
Bajau exhibit their okir on elaborate markings with boat-like imagery. The
Marananaos make similar carvings on housings called torogan. Weapons made
by Muslim Filipinos such as the kampilan are skillfully carved.

In painting, spirals are usually the method use to bring out that Muslim aesthetic.
Arrangement in tiers also give it structure and spacial configuration. Patterns are
very prevalent in muslim art not only on paint but as well as clothes, pottery and
general design of muslim artifacts.
Geometric patterns like the siyabit which is an act of weaving patterns using silk.
Usually in squares or rectangles, and other grometric shapes, interconnected to
form intricate patterns. These are also shown on their clothing and other art.
Muslims incorporate patterns on almost everything. It is what their art are typically
known for. Patterns exude bothe visual order for the symmetry and complexity by
design.
CALLIGRAPHY
Muslim calligraphy is said to be the superior at form in the Philippines. Calligraphy
has been used to a much greater extent and in astonishingly varied and
imaginative ways. Earliest calligraphy artifacts are found decoratively in the
Qur'an.
In the homes of Muslim Filipinos, calligraphy is found upon their walls on brass, tin
or plastic signages of quotes from the Qur'an. Although calligraphy has been kept
 at a minimum in the Philippines, compared to other muslim countries, it still holds
a rather significant take on the muslim culture and art. These calligraphic art are
ysually found in mosques and private myslim homes and establishments, so it is
not really asserted to the public non-muslim eyes.
ARCHITECTURE

Mosques in the Philippines have a common architectural feature that is similar with
its Southeast Asian neighbors. It is made of light materials such as wood, bamboo
and cogon grass and was used in the building of the early types of mosques but
these light materials did not last long. Today’s mosques, however, are now
structurally patterned after the design of its Middel eastern counterparts.

The only reminders of Filipino Muslim art inside mosques is the traditional art form
known as Okkir. This art form is believed to be of Hindu and Chinese influences.
Okkir uses geometric and floral artwork. One popular motif of this art form is the
use of an imagery of a dragon or serpent.

Houses were raised above ground and made of bamboo materials. Traditional
houses like tye lawig, walai, and torogan. There were no permanent partitions
within the house but movable objects to serve as so. Other groups had house
structures influenced by christian and chinese styles added with porches. Groups
who dwelled in bays or near the marine waters, used their boat as houses, like the
Badjao. It is so since they would often roam the seas.

Although Muslim Art is not well appreciated in the Philippines, there is a great variety to
it that we could appreciate if only we look.