“Islam in the Philippines”

History studies help us comprehend how events in the past shaped the world we live in today. Lessons
from the past teach us not just about ourselves and how we came to be, but also how to avoid mistakes
and forge better routes for our civilizations. The Philippines has many stories to share, particularly on
how we have an Islamic culture in our country.

I learnt that the first Muslim traders arrived in the Philippines from present-day Malaysia and Indonesia,
where they taught Islam to the indigenous population and constructed the first mosque in the Philippines
at the town of Simunul in Tawi-Tawi in the mid-14th century. Various governments and colonies
accepted Islam without being subjugated to a Muslim military. We all know that Ferdinand Magellan
attempted to conquer the Philippines for the first time in 1521 and failed in Christianizing and capturing
Lapu-lapu was labeled the "First Freedom Fighter," and his silhouette was incorporated in the Philippine
National Police's official seal as a symbol of bravery Mactan in Cebu when a chieftain local Muslim lapu-
lapu launched a counterattack, killing him. I discovered that the Spanish colonizers returned and Muslims
battled them, one of them was Raja Sulayman, whose stronghold located in the region now known as
Intramuros. In 1575, the Spanish started spreading Catholicism in the Philippines through the use of
missionaries. Though many Filipinos converted, the Moros remained steadfast in their beliefs. The
majority of Muslims fled to Muslim strongholds known as Mindanao or Bangsamoro today. Thanks to the
Filipino Muslims who fought like Sultan Kudarat, Raja Sulayman, and Lapu-lapu; without these heroes,
there would be no Muslims in our country.

Islam does not have much difference from Roman Catholic, there is a difference but it is very little. Islam
teaches people how to be good followers of Allah, their God. It is a sin to worship anybody other than
God. The Quran is the sacred scripture of Islam. His followers are known as Muslims, and Muslims must
devote themselves to Allah in order to be at peace with his Lord and all creation. Muslims believe that the
rightful name of God, the creator of all things and the cosmos, is Allah.

I came to understand that religion freedom is a fundamental human right that all nations are obligated to
defend and respect for religious diversity is a necessary component of any peaceful society. All
authorities are urged to uphold their commitments and punish anyone who attempt to restrict religious
freedom responsible.