A short history: Raiders of the Sulu Seas -

History Channel
The History channel showed a documentary about what
was claimed then as pirates of the Sulu seas from
Mindanao, Philippines.  The documentary was on how
these raiders were actually plying their trade before and
during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.  This bit
of history would not have been taught and learned from
Philippine history subjects in school.
The Spanish established their colony on the southern tip
of Mindanao in Zamboanga.  Fort Pilar was constructed
with ten (10) meter-high wall fortification all around. This
was the base of the Spaniards to facilitate their
trade.  Zamboanga is very close to Basilan, the Tawi-tawi
and Sulu group of islands and the Maguindanao area
where there we three different tribes of seafaring Filipino
Muslims.  The three tribes were known as Balangingi-
Samal, Ilanuns and Sultanate of Sulu, all which were
employing Taosogs who were excellent warriors.

http://www.zamboanga.com/arts_and_culture/Icelle_raiders_of_sulu.htm
The three tribes are not really pirates during the times they
were plying their trade of capturing people and selling
them as slaves.  Slave trading was a business then and
they were not raiding ships in high seas.  What they did
was go and land in different shores posing as
fishermen.  Without any warning, draw their 1-meter long
swords and take as many slaves as they can.  Once
captured, the slaves’ palms are punctured and tied to each
other. The slaves are loaded in their 25 to 27 meter by 6
meter boats that has 30 to 34 oarsmen and sails.  It was
said that their boats were the fastest that Spanish
Galleons could not even give chase.
The History documentary was actually focusing on how
the tribes were able to organize a flotilla of a hundred
ships or more with more than 3,000 men.  This happened
when the three tribes connived to raid Fort Pilar.  The
Spanish were stricken with fear upon seeing the number
of boats and the army they were to face.
How were the hundred or more boats gathered?  Well, the
three tribes had some sort of a pact on how to go about
their business and employing Taosogs as their
warriors.  One tribe could set out to sea with a few boats
then drop-by each of the several bases of the tribes along
the shores.  They would call upon all available seafarers to
join the expedition.  As they go along, their numbers grow.
The slavery trade of the three tribes ended only when the
Spaniards ordered three steamboats from England.  The
steamboats were faster, easier to navigate and had
various armaments to take on the tribes.  Spaniards were
now able to chase and follow the boats to their bases and
conduct raids.  It was said that the conflict between the
tribes and the Spaniards did not stem from business or
trade but was more on belief, religious belief.

Content Analysis

The Raiders of Sulu sea are indigenous people from the south which have very good at waters and
idealistic on how they lived and preserve their culture from the colonized country.

As we saw the film it shows the battle between the raiders and the Spaniards on Zamboanga which
Spanish built a Fort Pilar which serves as their territory defences for their military presence at the
south.
As the raiders they want to conquer the fort to establish their presence that their oppression from
the colonizers .There are 3 great tribes at the mindanao called Balangingi,Tausug and illanun these
three Tribes known as warriors and talented on waters which has advantage against colonizer at the
sea.
According to Icelle Gloria B. Estrada the Art historian of Zamboanga
One of the most celebrated attack on Fort Pilar was the 1720 attack by the Maguindanao by King
Dalasi