The Raiders of The Sulu Sea Film Report

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THE RAIDERS OF THE SULU SEA FILM REPORT
Readings in Philippine History (Our Lady of Fatima University)
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Downloaded by JANINE VERA TARROJA (janinevera.tarroja@wvsu.edu.ph)
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C A S 204 W I T H M R S . M O J A R E S
THE
RAIDERS
OF THE
SULU SEA
Presented b y Elijah Ru t h C a t a n a n d Gabrie l B e n i e g o

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C O N T E X T: T H E RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

D O C U M E N TA RY F I L M
A n O a k 3 f i l m production
• f o u n d e d b y Zaihirat B a n u • Directed b y M r. Idzwan • First released in 2007 for Q
C o d e l l i ( C E O ) along with Othman. c hannel Korea a n d
L i m Suat Ye n ( C O O ) , an d • A product o f a c o - distributed internationally
Jason L a i (Director o f p roduc tion agreem ent b y L o o k i n g Glass
Content) in 1996. between M e d i a Authority International th ro u gh
• T h e y p ro du c e o f S ingap ore a nd Ko re a n D is c ove r y C h a n n e l an d
documentaries, educational Broadcasting C o m m i s s i o n History C h a n n e l (for Asia)
films, tele-movies, • R u n n i n g time: 48 minutes in 2008.
corporate films with f i l m an d 43 seconds
c o m p a ni e s f r o m different
countries thro ugho u t the
year

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A historical d o c u m e n t a r y (2008) that depicts the slave-

raiding activities perpetrated b y the S a m a l-B a la n gu i n g u i
a n d the Illanun/Iranun u n d e r direction o f the Sultanate
o f S u l u wh i c h was h e a d e d b y the Ta u s u g clan at the time.
CONTEXT: T H E RAIDERS OF T H E
S U LU S EA D O C U M E N TA RY F I L M
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KEY INFORMANTS
• A 7th generation direct descendant o f Vicente Alvarez -

the h e ro o f Z a m b o a n g a C i t y during the Spanish
A m e r i c a n Wa r, an d does an an extensive research in
the arts a nd culture o f Z a m b o a n g a .
Educational B a c kg ro u n d
• 1st D e g re e at the Western M i n d a n a o State University
an d finished Bachelor in S cienc e m a j or o f H o m e
Economics
• 2 nd D e g re e at the U P C o l l e g e o f Fine Arts m a j o r in Art
History

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KEY INFORMANTS
• S a m a - t au s u g - C h i n e s e Filipino b o r n in Sulu, an authority o n the issue o f M o r o history, a r m e d struggle

a nd quest for self determination.
• M A in History D e g re e in U P D i l i m a n an d P h D in Interdisciplinary Studies in Syracuse University,
N Y, U S A .
• Published author a nd serve as chair o f U P D i l i m a n D e p a r t m e n t o f History.
• A n authority o n the issue o f the M o ro h i s t o r y .
Do wn loa ded by J ANIN E VERA TARROJA (janinevera.tarroja@wvsu.edu.ph)
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KEY INFORMANTS
• Christianity a n d religious c h an ge in Southeast Asia, ca. 1500-present, W o m e n a nd gende r in early m o d e r n

Southeast Asia, Social issues in c o n te m p o ra r y Southeast Asia
• S h e is Professor o f Asian Studies at the University o f Hawai’i an d Director o f the C e n te r for Southeast
Asian Studies Educated at the University o f Sy d n e y (BA, D i p , Ed), a nd obtained her M A in history at the
University o f Hawaii.

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KEY INFORMANTS
• A n Associate Professor at the C e n te r for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyo t o University, Japan. H e was
previously a Se nio r Lecturer at the D e p a r t m e n t o f Southeast Asian Studies at the National University o f
Singapore.
• H e obtained his P h D in Southeast Asian Studies (anthropology a nd cultural history) at the Australian
National University.
• Subsequently published o n religious practice in Asia, with a focus o n Christian ic o no g ra p hy, religious
piety, a nd the relationship between religion a nd the state.

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KEY INFORMANTS
• A Tau sug, m e m b e r o f educated Abubakar clan.

• Fo r m e r city councilor o f Jolo, Sulu.
• E x p o n e n t o f the martial art o f silat.
• Shares the sentiment o f his people at Tau s u g an d the m o ra l c o m m u n i t y in general wh o resents their
characterization b y Western C o l o n i a l a n d Filipino Historiography as pirates.

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KEY INFORMANTS
• is a Filipino politician, philanthropist a nd socialite. S h e was the f o r m e r C h a i r m a n o f the Kabalikat n g

M a l aya n g Pilipino (Kampi) party an d a m e m b e r o f the C o u n c i l o f Philippine Affairs ( C O PA ) , she is
a columnist in T h e Philippine Star, an d was a candidate for a seat in the Senate in the 2013
Philippine Senate Election.
• S h e was the G o ve r n o r o f Tarlac (March 10-Sep tember 24, 2004)
• S h e studied at University o f S anto To m a s an d finished her Master in National Security Administration
( M N S A ) at the National D e fe n s e college.
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Iranun/Illanuns - they were portrayed as “merciless” in the

d o c u m e n t a r y, inhabited the H a n a bay area in Southwestern
M i n d a n a o whose language is intelligible with Maranaw. T h e y
were fierce m a r i n e force o f the Sultunate o f Sulu.
WHO ARE THE

RAIDERS
OF SULU
SEA?

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S a m a l Balanguingui - O n e o f the S a m a c o m m u n i t i e s that

originally inhabited the To n gk i l island g ro up, they were
relocated to Z a m b o a n g a peninsula coast a n d islands as a result
o f the 1848 military c a m p a i g n .
WHO ARE THE

RAIDERS
OF SULU
SEA?

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Ta u s u g or “people (Tau) o f the current (sug)’’ constituted the

pe ople o f the Sultanate o f S u l u or L u p a h S u g a n d speak the
Ta u s u g language that is related to the B u t u a n dialect (T.Kiefer,
1974)
WHO ARE THE

RAIDERS
OF SULU
SEA?

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FORT PILAR
• Full n a m e : Real Fuerza del Nuestra
Se ñ ora del Pilar d e Z a rag oz a Royal,
Roya l Fort o f o ur L a d y o f the Pillar o f
Zaragoza; considered to be the
Intramuros in the S o u t h .
• Forts like this is used for protection or for
security o f those people wh o are living
inside away f r o m the enemies.
• Fo r me rly : Real Fuerza d e S a n Jose
(Royal Fort o f Saint Joseph)
• Lo ca te d in Z a m b o a n g a Ci t y ; 2 n d fort in
the Philippines built b y the Spaniards, the EN T R A N CE
first o n e is the Fort Santiago in 1571.

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FORT PILAR
• 17th century military defense fortress
built b y the Spa nish colonial g ove r n m e n t
• 4 meters h i gh, 2 acres wide
• Requested b y Jesuit Priest a n d B i sho p
Fray Pe dro o f C e b u u p o n the approval
o f the Spani sh gove rnor o f the
Philippines
Juan C e re z o d e Sa l am a n c a
• Architect: Father M e l c h o r d e Vera. S J
(1635)
S H R IN E

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

• I n the 16th century, Spaniards colonized Z a m b o a n g a because o f its geographical advantage that
m a d e it valuable to the catholic Spaniards. To protect their interests, the Spanish built forts to
discourage potential invaders.
• Front line: Fort D e l Pilar – a 10-meter h i gh fortress that sprawled over 2 acres
- o n e o f the mo s t celebrated attacks o n Fort Pilar is the 1720
attack b y the M a g u i n d a n a o K i n g Dalasi – the king o f Bulig in M a g u i n d a n a o at the t i me
• Rajah Dalasi was planning to attack Z a m b o a n g a city together with the joint force o f the
S u lu sultanate.
• S u lu a n d M a g u i n d a n a o Sultanates – the two m a i n k i n g d o ms which control the M u s l i m colonies
o f the Sou thern Philippines.
• O n D e c e m b e r 8, 1720, together with Rajah Dalasi, they launched a b l o o dy attack o n Fort Pilar,
located in Z a m b o a n g a C i t y. T h e y attacked Z a m b o a n g a , b urned the town arou nd the fort, cut
d o w n the lines o f provisions for the Spaniards, a n d began a war against the soldiers inside
the fort.
• Ta k i n g the fort wouldn’t be easy for Rajah Dalasi a n d his fighters. T h e fort has a structure
designed to withstand even the destructive force o f cannonballs. Spanish artillery rows de fen ded
every possible approach to the fort, but Spanish soldiers are vastly o u t n u mb e re d even with these
defenses a nd weaponry.

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• To get her with his a r my, Rajah Dalasi held o n ly their sword to fight against the Spaniards’ c a n n o n
a n d firearms. Spaniards are desperate to de fe n d the fort that they even use rocks a nd boiling
water against the raiders as they scaled the fort’s walls. Rajah Dalasi’s fighters fight with the
desire to rid Z a m b o a n g a against the Spanish. T h e Fort Pilar is the checking point o n slave-
raiding go i ng to the N o r t h a nd c o m i n g back. That’s w hy raiders are desperate to suppress the
Spaniard’s presence.
• According to s o m e historians, slave-raiding h a d been practiced a m o n g s o m e tribes in

the Philippines before Western powers arrived.
• T h e arrival o f the Spanish a nd their desire to d o mi n a te trade in the region triggered

an escalation in slave raiding.
• T h e people o f the So uth ern Sultanate defied a self-proclaim Spanish Masters b y targeting
Christian c o m m u n i t i e s in the N o r t h .
• T h e Spanish referred to the slave raiders as M o r o .

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T h re e different M u s l i m tribes who challenged Spanish authority throughout its o cc upa nc y and reigned during the
17th century / Raiders o f the Su lu Sea
• S a ma l Balanguingui/Balangingi (Raiding tribe)
- T h e y occupied the chain o f the islands between Basilan and S u l u island
• Illanuns (Raiding tribe)
- Ve r y important in the piracy history.
- K n o w n as fierce in mari ne force in the sultanate
- T h e y are nothing but barbaric for the Western Colonist
• Tausug (Warriors)
- K n o w n for its fierce warriors and widespread political powers.
- Controls the S ulu Sultanate in the S o u t h
- Lineage o f Rajahs
• T h e Illanuns and Sa ma l Balanguingui were both long-standing seafaring communitie s. T h e y often join forces
with the Tausug, a tribe without mari ti me experience but kn own for its fierce warriors and widespread
political power.
• W h e n Illanuns captured people, they would bore a hole through their p a l m o f their victim and string through
each person’s pa lm.

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• Historians questioned whether the raiders in the So uth ern Philippines should be called pirates.
We r e they out for personal gain, or were they si mp ly serving their local political masters?
• Acc o rdi n g to the Historian, Professor Barbara Wa t so n A n d aya said, “All books that talk about
piracy deal with the p ro b l e m o f terminology. U s i n g the word English word pirate is actually
misleading in s o m e respects because it doesn’t cover raiders, it doesn’t cover people w h o acted
o n behalf o f the state.”
• T h e s e Philippine M o ro s , the raids to the N o r t h , a nd the Spanish force’s attack were an act o f
retaliation against the foreign occupier.
• T h e sultanate also sanctioned mo s t o f these raids in the n a m e o f an even higher course, Islam.
• Acco rding to the Historian, D r Julius Bautista said, “ T h e re was certainly a great deal o f pressure
f r o m the S o u t h for populations in the Visayas to b e c o m e Islamicized, but the presence o f the
Spanish in the Visayas a n d Sou the rn L u z o n disrupted that spread o f Islam. T h e Spanish
colonial administrators thought it was their responsibility to prevent the spread o f Islam f r o m
the S o u t h to the Christianized population in the North.”
• Fo r the M u s l i m Sultanates, eradicating the presence o f Christian-Spanish in Z a m b o a n g a was
o n e o f their top priorities. B o t h sides used their ideology to spread its influence.

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• But uan C i t y – a small town located in the northernmost region o f M i n d a n a o
• I n 1977, they f o u n d evidence o f m a r i t i m e civilization in a p o n d . C a r b o n dating o f artifacts
f o u n d point to a m ari t i me culture that existed in the 4th century. Seafarers inherited their
navigational skills f r o m the early
• Sout hern Filipino seafarers, which helped t h e m build a flourishing trade in sea’s bounty.
• T h e mid-1700s, the ships evolved into a sturdier, m o r e seaworthy craft.
• Professor Barbara Wat so n A n d aya said, “Increase in slave in the d e m a n d for slaves fed into a
situation b y the mid-18th century wh e n something very unprecedented h a p p e ne d in the
Malacca Straits region, a n d that was the seasonal arrival o f very large nu m b e r s o f raiders f r o m
the
Sout hern Philippines.”
• T h e Illanun slave raiders wh o landed at the Straits o f Malacca were skilled warriors, a n d they
sailed formidable ships. “ T h e y could g o into shallow waters; they h a d compasses a n d
cannons onb oard their ships. T h e y h a d m a n y rowers.” – Professor Barbara Wa t son A n d aya
• T h e Illanun m a d e long-range vessels called Joanga or L a n o n g .
• T h e s e ships h a d a large wide keel for stability a n d three large cloth sails. T h e s e vessels were 24 to
27 meters long with 6-meter width, a n d each h a d c a n n o n m o u n t e d at the b ow with three
mainsails, a n d 34 oars rowed each side b y captured slaves. E a c h vessel carried between 100 to 150
m e n . T h e y also captured local guides to help navigate u n k n o w n waters.
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• T h e Illanuns used compasses a nd telescopes; they were also knowledgeable about the
m o n s o o n winds o f the region a nd used t h e m to travel extensity during the m o n t h s between
August a n d O c to b e r, an d the period called T h e Pirate Season.
• B y 1830, a single sailed ship with 25 meters long a nd 6 meters across, a smaller, faster, a n d m o r e
manoeuvrable f o r m o f raiding boat replaced the L a n o n g ship. T h e y were the fast attack boat for
the S a m a l raiding tribes called Ga ray. Its glass o f vessels was built f r o m b a m b o o , woo d, a n d the
nipa p a l m, a nd could carry m o r e than 100 sails. W i t h 3 0 to 6 0 oars o n each side, the G a ray was
faster with a ny seagoing vessel o f its time.
• T h e raiding fleets also comprised o f auxiliary vessels called Salisipan. T h e s e were small coats
designed for coastal raids. O n route to a powerful attack, the caravans would collect m a n p o we r
a n d ships f r o m friendly raiding bases along the way, eventually building a fearsome, organized
sea force.
• A n Art Historian, Icelle Glo ri a B . Estrada said, “ W h e n they leave the shore o n skeleton force, they
pass b y other bases an d a u g m e n t the labour into the ship, then wh e n they reach the coast, they
usually hide their big boats, because it can be seen f r o m the shore, so they use the Salisipan, the
smaller vessel, to row into the shorelines a nd pretend they are fisherman a n d harmless people.”

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• “ W h e n Illanun captured people, t h ey wo u ld bore a h o le t h ro u gh their p a l m a n d put a string
through the p a l m o f his b o s o m . Europeans were unable to d o anything about it at this stage.
T h e i r ships were not as fast as the Illanuns, they weren’t as manoeuvrable, a nd if they will be
calmed, then they were fair ga m e , a n d there weren’t e n o u g h o f t h e m.” – Professor Barbara
Wa t so n A n d aya
• U nli ke the ships o f the raiding tribes, Spanish galleons were slow a n d ungainly, while they
were
heavily a rm e d , their de ep keels prevented t h e m f r o m chasing raiding tribe into the
shallows. B e h i n d the religious doctrine war, the Spanish want to stop the raiders for the spoils
o f trades with orient something the Spanish wanted comple te control.
• T h e sea voyages o f the ancient Filipino sailor o f Butu an were not restricted to the Su lu Seas.
Artifacts originating f r o m C h i n a but were f o u n d in the Philippines are p ro o f o f the great
distances they travelled an d the trading activities they were involved in. T h e re is further p ro o f
that S u l u Sultanate’s families visited the resource-rich regions o f C h i n a for c o m m e rc e .

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• International trade was already flourishing even before the entry o f the western powers to the region.
Professor Barbara Watson A nd aya said, “ W h e n Europeans first c a m e to this region, it was those
products that attracted t h e m , the products that couldn’t be fo u n d anywhere else. N o t o nly spices, but
woods, tin, pepper. B y the 18th century, those products were important in the C h i n a trade, so before
Europeans arrived there was already a pattern o f trade between C h i n a and India, and Europeans
simp ly entered into that pattern. T h e difference was the Europeans wanted to control it.” According
to D r Julius Bautista, “In m a n y respects the Spanish wanted to be a part o f this exchange in trade, but
they wanted to d o so in conjunction with conversion and colonization o f the islands. T h is presented
s o m e important conflicts between the people in the S o ut h and the newly arrived Spanish.”
• As the Spanish seized control o f the Philippines, the influence o f the M u s l i m S o ut h waived, the new
western masters sought to d ominate trades in Jolo, the seat o f power o f the Sulu Sultanate. To d ay, Jolo
is a m e re shadow o f the great com m e rcia l and political power it once was. W h i l e the seafaring warriors
salve raiders evolved along gone, their proud descendants still live here.
• H a l m a n Abubakar is a direct descendant o f Tausug rulers, h e is an exponent o f the indigenous martial
arts o f Silat, practicing it is his way o f keeping the heritage o f his people alive. H e is also a city
councilor in Jolo, like hi Tausug predecessors, h e ch ampions the cause o f his people, the M u s l i m
communit ie s o f M i n d a n a o in Southern Philippines.
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• “ M ay b e Sp ain o n ly wanted to Christianize Jolo. Forc e feeding us with s om e th ing that we don’t believe
in is like oppression, so we g o to war. W h e n yo u call us pirates for doing that, it’s yo u r decision, but to us,
we are fighting for something that we believe in, we are f re e d o m fighters. It is our fight for f re e d o m ,
f r e e d o m f r o m oppression, f r e e d o m f r o m not losing you r identity.” – H a l m a n Abubakar
Ancient Tausug weapons:
• Barong, a thick blade used b y the Tausug warriors to cut o f f an M-14, a carbine. It is a sword with a
single- edged leaf-shaped blade m a d e o f thick tempered steel. It is a one-meter long weapon used in
close c o m b a t battle to cut the Spanish firearms down.
• Kris or Kalis, measuring u p to 1.2 meters in length, was built a weapon o f warfare and c e re m o ny. It was
not o nly carried b y slave raiders but also but also b y nobles and high-ranking officials o f the Sultan
Sultanate. It is double-edged with a wavy blade, it can m a ke quick work o f an e n e m y in close combat , the
reason for its curvings is for easy slashing. T h e steel would penetrate the bone, and it would stick so it will
be very hard to pull. T h e Tausug warriors m a d e it curvy or wavy so they can pull it faster.
• Kampilan, the longest sword used b y the raiders, primarily the Illanun. It is a heavy single-edge
sword that was often adorned with hair to m a ke it look m o r e intimidating, to indicate the n u m b e r o f
lives it killed. At the tip o f the blade are two h o r n projecting f r o m the blunt side which is used to pick
u p the head o f a decapitated b o dy.

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• T h e wealthier raiders also protected themselves i n battle with a r m o r, this h e avy a r m o r m a d e
f r o m Ca rabao h o r n or steel plates, was m o l d e d to fit the b o dy a n d held together with
chainmail. T h i s a r m o r could deflect the blows f r o m a sword but were useless against Spanish
firearms. T h e Spanish firearm called Musket h a d its limitation, it could fire its ball bearing
projectile as far as 9 0 meters, but it was inaccurate a n d it several tiresome steps to reload. Eve n
the best Musketeers could o n ly m a n a g e three shots per mi n ute , giving the raiders an a m p l e
t i m e to c o m e within striking range, even with Bayone t M o u n t e d , Muskets were not efficient
weapons for close combat .
• T h e battle between the slave raiders a n d Spanish were clashes o f ideology, Islam against
Christianity. T h e indigenous way o f life against the enforced values o f the occupiers. T h e m i g h t
o f the sword against the destructive power o f gunpowder.
• I n D e c e m b e r 8, 1720, Rajah Dalasi led a 3 0 0 0 strong coalition o f warriors against 6 0 0 Spanish
soldiers at Fort Pilar, Z a m b o a n g a C i t y. T h e slave raiders attack o n Fort Pillar was poo rly
conceived, as Mu ske t fire cut through their ranks, there were n o reinforcements to lend the
raiders support. “ T h e forces o f the S u lu Sultanate c a m e in a m o n t h after, so there was very p o o r
condition.” (Icelle Glo ri a Estrada)
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• A n o t h e r factor that led to Rajah Dalasi’s eventual failure a n d his de m i s e was the betrayal o f his
o w n brother. H i s betrayal wo u ld seal the fate o f Dalasi’s raiders. “H i s yo u n g e r brother, w h o was
jealous o f his position, turned traitor to Rajah Dalasi. H i s yo u n g e r brother went to Ta m o n t a k a ,
h e left the k i n g d o m a n d wrote a letter or a warning to the G o v e r n o r o f Z a m b o a n g a , warning o f
the i m p e n d i n g attack.” (Icelle G l o r i a Estrada)
• T h e r e was n o e l e m e n t o f surprise in Rajah Dalasi’s assault o n Fort Pilar, as t h ey were warned,
t h ey were prepared fo r the attack. I n the heat o f battle, Rajah Dalasi was heavily
wo u n d e d . W i t h o u t a leader, their attack was i n shambles as subsequent raiders were
dispelled.
• B u t the Sp a ni sh victory was no t the e n d o f hostilities. As a n act o f defiance, the raiders sought
fo r m o r e slaves i n Southeast Asia. T h e Sp a ni sh were n o w hell-bent o n ri dding themselves o f
these p e op le th ey called pirates.
• “Piracy to t h e m , to us it was culture. N o wa d ays it’s so h ard to understand w hy there was slave-
raiding, but du ri n g those days it was legal so we ca nno t c o m p a r e n o w with those times.
It’s different.” – H a l m a n Abubakar
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• “ T h e y were very cruel, a n d th ey killed mercilessly. T h e y were no t particularly interested i n
saving lives just because s o m e b o d y was o f n o use, so t h ey raided ships but m o r e particularly
t h ey raided c o m m u n i t i e s .” – Professor Barbara Wa t s o n A n d aya
• I n the early 19th century, raids to the no rt h were so c o m m o n p l a c e that eve n the C a t h o l i c
friars
wo u ld stand u p to protect their flock. B u t these Christian c o m m u n i t i e s were far f r o m the m a i n
Sp a ni sh stronghold i n M a n i l a . T h e y faced the brunt o f a n increasing d e m a n d for slaves.
• “Initially, their target was the Philippines itself a n d y o u ca n track raids i n the Philippines
right u p to L u z o n where th ey c a n be justified because these were M u s l i m groups raiding
Christian c o m m u n i t i e s . B u t those c o m m u n i t i e s were protected b y the S p a ni sh as far as t h ey
c o u ld a n d clearly, the d e m a n d exc e e de d the supply.” – Professor Barbara Wa t s o n A n d aya
• To m e e t the growing d e m a n d fo r slaves, the raiders wo u ld disguise themselves harmless
f i sh e rma n, enter a village, th en r o u n d u p o f unsuspecting villagers fo r b o n d a g e into
slavery. O v e r ti me , the slave raiders jo u r neyed b e yo n d the waters o f the Philippines to
ne i gh b o r i n g B o r n e o , Java, a n d into the Straits o f Malacca . T h e y p e ddl e d their h u m a n
b o u n t y at slave markets that dotted the archipelago, where the slave trade was b o o m i n g .
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• I n the S o u t h e r n S u l u region, Jolo was a thriving center fo r the slave trade, it was sanctioned b y
the Sultan h i ms e lf w h o used slaves as fa r m h a n d s or i n his fisheries a n d eve n concubines.
Slaves wo u ld be displayed like p ro d u c e like prodigious. T h e g o i n g rate fo r a slave was between
10 to 100 pesos d e p e n d i n g o n age a n d ability.
• A m o n g s t those w h o m a d e a tidy s u m i n the slave trade was a notorious a n d prolific f r o m
the S a m a l tribe called Ta u p a n , a Pa gli m a or tribal leader a n d a close ally o f the Sultan
Sultanate.
• “There’s a particular expedition where his n a m e [Paglima Ta u p a n ] c o m e s u p p ro m i n e n t ly,
capturing a Spaniard called Ibañ ez, w h o h i m s e l f was the h e a d o f a ship. T h e y taunted h i m with
spears. T h e y didn’t m a k e h i m sleep. T h e y put h i m inside their o w n ship, where his m e n h a d
lice o n their bodies a n d the lice fell o n h i m . T h i s particular episode caused de e p h u m i li a t i o n fo r
the Spaniard, h o w th ey h a d treated this m a n .” – D r Margarita C o j u a n c o
• Pa gli m a Ta u p a n wo u ld l au n c h his raids f r o m a small island base o f Balangingi. T h e Spaniards
tried in vain to capture h i m . Ta u p a n no t o n ly eluded t h e m but c o n t i nu e d to be a
m a j o r provider o f slaves fo r the S o u t h e r n Sultanates a n d b eyo n d .

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• B y this t i me, the d e m a n d fo r slaves b ro u gh t buyers f r o m as far as C h i n a to slave markets like
Jolo. A n d i n a twist o f iro ny, Pa gl i m a Ta u p a n wo uld f i n d h i m se l f p rov i di ng slaves to the very
Eu ro p ea ns w h o were h u n t i n g t h e m d o w n .
• “ Yo u r ability to c o m m a n d the loyalty o f m a n y p e o p le was a sign o f h i g h status, a n d
Eu ro p ea ns
picked that u p very quickly. Fo r exa m p l e , a Eu ro p e a n w o m a n i n Batavia (Jakarta) wo uld require
at least 10 personal slaves, a w o m a n o f standing, w h e n she went out , just to ma i n t a i n status. I f
she was o f greater status, she m i g h t have m o r e slaves a n d t h ey wou ld r u n a n d take messages,
stand b e h i n d her chair, a n d so forth.” – Professor Barbara Wa t s o n A n d aya
• T h i s ra m p a n t slave raiding was about to c h a nge . I n 1845, a n anti-slavery treaty was finally
e nfo rc e d i n the Philippines a n d a colonial governor, G e n e ra l Narciso Claveria, Pa gl i m a
Ta upa n’s arch e n e m y, was charged with the task o f destroying slave raiding bases.
• “I n 1844, Claveria assumed the position o f G o v e r n o r G e n e ra l o f the Philippines. I n
September
1845, h e was give n the c o m m a n d to attack the islands where these pirates lived.” – D r Margarita
Cojuanco
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• Pa gli m a Taupan’s Balangingi Island h a d repelled Spanis h attacks in the past. T h e island was
protected no t o n ly b y fortifications, but its seaward a pp ro a c h was nestled i n thick m a n g rove s ,
m a k i n g it difficult fo r potential attackers to negotiate a n d access.
• Fort Sipak was the largest o f fo u r forts protecting Balangingi Island. It was built with coral a n d
bricks a n d flanked b y a narrow waterway filled with m a n g r ove trees. T h e fort stood 6 meters
h i g h with its approaches covere d b y rows o f small cannons. Inside, the S a m a l m e n a n d
w o m e n waited, ready to fight o f f a ny invader.
• I n 1848, after two years o f reconnaissance, G o ve r n o r G e n e ra l Claveria decides it is t i m e to put
a n e n d to Pa gli m a Taupan’s Balangingi stronghold. T h i s time, the gove rno r has a secret weapon.
• “ T h e ships that the Spaniards used was impossible for t h e m to get close to the islands, so they
ordered steamships f r o m En gland.” – D r Margarita C o n j u a n c o
• At Claveria’s disposal were three British-built steamships, the Magallanes, Elcano, a n d Re i n a
Castilla. H e used the ships’ artillery to b o m b a r d the forts o f Balangingi Island. T h e usually
stoic raiders were shaken. Ta k i n g advantage o f the d a m a g e d o n e b y the barrage o f artillery
fire, the Spanish sto r me d the forts. T h i s time , it was the raiders w h o were o u t n u m b e re d .

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• “ T h e m e n were actually out du ri n g their slave expeditions, so t h ey were m e t in all the forts
b y m e n w h o re m a i n e d b e h i n d with their w o m e n a n d children.” – D r Margarita C o j u a n c o
• B u t what the Spani sh f o u n d awaiting t h e m inside the fort was no t what t h ey were
expecting. Fa c e d with certain capture, the raiders resorted to a n unthinkable act.
• “ T h e other m e n killed the w o m e n a n d the w o m e n also killed their children. T h e y ’ d rather kill
themselves than be taken captive o f the Spaniards.” – D r Margarita C o j u a n c o
• 450 S a m a l died i n battle. All fo u r o f Balangingi’s forts a n d 150 raiding ships were destroyed.
T h e Spaniards granted m e r c y to the 350 S a m a l m e n a n d w o m e n w h o were captured alive.
Pa gli m a Ta u p a n was not a m o n g t h e m , but t h ey di d capture his pregnant wife, N o i la. After years
o f failed attempts, the Spani sh h a d finally succeeded i n destroying the raiding base o f
Balangingi Island.
• “Eventually, because Pagl i m a Taupa n’s f a m i ly was taken captive b y the Spaniards, h e de c i de d
to surrender. F r o m his surrender i n 1858, h e was b ro ugh t to Z a m b o a n g a C i t y b y the Spaniards.”
– D r Margarita C o j u a n c o

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• W i t h m o s t o f their fleet destroyed a n d their bases o f operation dismantled, the slave raiding
activities decreases. T h e y were n o w at the m e r c y o f the Spaniards. G o v e r n o r G e n e ra l Claveria
used this advantageous position a n d his fleet o f steamships to deal o n e final blow to the slave
raiders.
• “ T h e critical de marc ati on poi nt c o m e s with the introduction o f steamships. Steamships are not
d e p e n d e nt o n the wind; th ey can chase a sailing ship anywhere. T h e y can b e a r m e d with
guns a n d t h ey can attack a nyo n e th ey want to.” – Professor Barbara Wa t s o n A n d aya
• Claveria’s secret we a po n put the Spaniards well ahead o f the raiders. H i s coal-burning
steamships were faster than the slave-powered raiding vessels, a n d better yet, the steamships
were no t d e p e n d e nt o n the winds. T h e y were better built a n d were able to carry a
significantly m o r e lethal battery o f a r ma me n t s. T h e y m a r ke d the e n d o f the once-feared
navies o f the Sultanates.
• “Because o f this successful colonial response, the sense o f hopelessness begins to enter
into the M u s l i m consciousness. T h e r e are o n ly two choices: first, to follow the rest o f the
c o u nt r y a n d b e c o m e a subjugated people; or t h ey co nt i nu e to resist.” – D r S a m u e l Ta n

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• T h e slave raiders, however, wo u ld g o d o w n fighting. Ev e n with their fleet o f ships destroyed,
s o m e a m o n g t h e m c o n ti nu e d to resist the rule o f the Spanish, but it wo uld be in vain.
• T h e Sp a ni sh A m e r i c a n Wa r i n the late 19th century saw the Philippines shift f r o m o n e colonial
power to another. T h e A m e ri c a n s no t o n ly got control o f the Philippines but also inherited
their predecessors’ p ro b l e m with the raiders, eve n t h o u g h o n a m u c h smaller scale. T h e t h o rn
i n the Americans’ was a Ta u s u g raider called Jikiri. Jikiri a n d his m e n killed Am e r i c a n s i n the
area. T h i s m a d d e n the ne w colonial master a n d t h ey responded with a vengeance.
• T h e A m e r i c a ns ruthlessly h u n te d a n d killed Jikiri a n d other raiders. To the Americ ans, like the
Sp a ni sh before t h e m , the raiders were m e r e pirated a n d robber. Jikiri wo u ld eventually m e e t
the s a m e fate as his predecessors Rajah Dalasi a n d Pa gl i m a Ta u p a n , defeat. T h e days o f raiding
i n the Philippines were over.
• “ W h e n y o u lo o k at the Ta u s u g e c o n o m y, wh i c h really d e p e n d e d heavily a n d gained a great
deal
o f i n c o m e f r o m b uy i n g a n d selling slaves a n d using slaves i n their o w n e c o n o my. W h e n the
ma rket fo r slaves dried u p b y the 1870s, their e c o n o m y was in m a r ke d decline because it
d e p e n d e d so heavily o n selling slaves fo r revenue.” – Professor Barbara Wa t s o n A n d aya
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• T h e Sultanate eventually lost their political a n d e c o n o m i c h o l d in Sulu, a n d it was gradually
identified into the jurisdiction o f the Philippines g ove r n m e n t , but it retained its a u t o n o my.
• To d a y, the o n c e wealthy a n d powerful sultanates are a distant m e m o r y. T h i s southern region o f the
Philippines faces new challenges, social, e c o n o m i c , ad cultural. B ut s o m e thing seems like d id not
change. 6 0 0 years o n , a n d there are still conflicts in this region.
• “I don’t want m y children to grow u p seeing Jolo like this, because wherever they go, they will still
be
Ta usug. T h e y cannot cover that. I don’t want t h e m to be embarrassed with their h o m e l a n d . I want
to be an exa m p l e that we can ch ange everything, we can get back what was lost. L e t Jolo stand u p
again, let t h e m realize h o w glorious our Jolo is before.” – H a l m a n Abubakar
• Ta u s u g like H a l m a n Abubakar are p ro u d o f their heritage a n d d o what they can to keep their
m e m o r y o f their ancestors alive. To g e t h e r with the Illanun a n d S a m a l , they o n c e ruled a m i g h t y
e mp ire .
• W h e t h e r these tribes are considered pirates, bandits, or f re e d o m fighters is a question o f perspective,
but th ey were excellent mariners, builders o f the m o s t superior seagoing vessels o f their time , fearless
warriors, a n d skilled fighters, a n d there’s little d oubt they ’ve earned their identity in history as the
Raiders o f the S u l u Sea.
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SYNOPSIS OF T H E FILM
• The do c u m e n tary addresses M o r o resistance versus Spanish a nd A m e r i c a n rules in
Southern Philippines.
• M o r o raids o n coastal areas demonstrated resistance versus Spanish rule.
• T h e m u c h - feared Dalasi attack in D e c e m b e r 1720 failed although the Z a m b o a n g a was

under siege (predated Septembe r 2013 siege)
• T h e se raids were sanctioned b y the Sultan for political a nd e c o n o m i c motives.
• Spanish policy was to stop raids but participate a nd m o n o p o l i z e trade a n d propagate

Christianity.
• Slave-raiding was part o f the bigger regional trade in islands southeast Asia.
• M o r o Def ia nce against A me ri c an imposition dramatized resistance versus A me r i c a n

rules (manifested in B u d D a j o incident, 1906 a n d B u d bagsak, 1913)
• C o lo n ial ru le an d arm e d c o n f lic ts in t h i s r e g i o n
D ownlo ad ed by JA
i mp ove ri sh ment o f M u s l i m areas.
NIN E VE RA TAR ROJA
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LANONG
• the biggest
TH REE
V E SSE L S
TH AT

R A ID E R S
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GARAY
• the fastest (can carry 6 0 to 8 0 m e n
d e p e n d i n g o n size)
TH REE
V E SSE L S
TH AT

R A ID E R S
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SA L ISIPA N
• the smallest (mostly use in c he cki ng or
m o n i to r i n g coastal areas)
• used b y the raiders wh e n they are near in
the shore a n d pretend to be a harmless
fishe rman.
TH REE
V E SSE L S
TH AT

R A ID E R S
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MARITIME • P ro o f o f a “ m a r it i me civilization” is based o n 1977

archaeological findings f r o m B u t u a n
C IV IL IZ A T IO N • Built seaworthy vessels navigated b y adept sailors in a
labor- intensive e c o n o m y that bartered birds’ nests,
tripang, a n d pearls.
• Slaves worked as gatherers, rowers, helpers.
• T h e re fo re , slave-raiding, sale a n d distribution was
considered part o f international trade in southeast Asia.
• W h e n Illanuns captured people, they would bore a ho l e
t h ro u gh their p a l m o f their v ic t i m a n d put a string
t h ro ugh the p a l m o f each person.
• T h e ships are the secret we a p o n o f the raiders against
the Span ish because they don’t have ships that c o u l d
c o m p e t e the speed o f these ships

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SULU • Jolo was a “slave market” in the 18th-19th century.
IN • Pa n gl i m a Ta u p a n , a Balanguingui was notorious

slave raiders.
SPA N ISH • S p a i n wanted to control m a r i t i m e trade in S u l u sea in
addition to its goal o f Christianizing the population:
TIMES “ M o n e y a n d mission together”
• B e h i n d the religious doctrine war, the Spanish want
to stop
• the raiders for the spoils o f trades with orient
s o m e t h i n g the Spanish wanted c o m p l e te control.
• Span ish sought to d o m i n a te trade in h u l u the seat o f
power if the S u l u sultanate.

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BARONG
• usually used in a close counter battle; used in
close c o m b a t battle to cut the Spanish
firearms d o w n W E A PO N S
USED
BY
THE
RAIDERS
OF THE
SULU
SEA
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KRIS OR KALIS
• was built a weapon o f warfare a n d c e r e m o ny
the reason for its wearing is for easy slashing
W E A PO N S
USED
BY
THE
RAIDERS
OF THE
SULU
SEA
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KAMPILAN
• the longest; used b y the Illanuns a n d S a m a l -
Balanguingui
W E A PO N S
USED
BY
THE
RAIDERS
OF THE
SULU
SEA
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THE DESTRUCTION OF
B A L A N G U IN G U I
S E T T L E M E N T (1848)
• It was also seen as a struggle between f r e e d o m
a n d preservation o f identity vs. oppression
a n d subjugation.
• I n 1848, S p a i n with the acquisition o f powerful
steamships f r o m Britain succeeded i n
gradually e n d i n g slave-raiding before 1898.
• T h e y destroyed Bala nguingu i settlements i n
To n g k i l Island (now Ba la nguingui
municipality)
• T h e fierce leader o f the S u l u Raiders,
Pa n g l i m a Ta u p a n , eventually surrendered
after his wife a n d kins were taken captives b y
Sp a ni sh forces; t h ey were relocated to
Z a m b oa n g a .
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• A m e r i c a n rule adopte d the s a m e d u t y p oli cy

ADVENT OF towards the m u s l i m c o m m u n i t i e s . A r m e d resistance
to U S forces i n S u l u a n d M i n d a n a o were considered
banditry a n d lawlessness a n d were m e t with
AMERICAN deadlier ferocity t h ro u gh the “pacification”
c a m p a i g n s o f U S Generals L e o n a rd Wo o d a n d J o h n
RULE Pershing w h o b o t h served as G ove r n o r s o f
American-established M o r o Province. T h e Tausugs
w h o dared like Jikiri a n d other local Datus
(chieftains) to challenge U S rule were relentlessly
pursued a n d killed b y the c o m p o s i te forces o f U S
a r my, Phil. Co nst abulary (PC) a n d Phil. Scouts.
• M o r o defiance against A m e r i c a n i mp o si t i o n
dramati ze d resistance versusAmerican rule (Bud
D a j o incident , 1906 a n d B u d Bagsak, 1913)

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• To d ay s as in the past, the a r m e d conflict in

RELEVANCE S o u t h e r n Philippines can be viewed f r o m
different perspective:
• A f f i r m s a n d brings to popular consciousness • Political- M o r o struggle fo r self-determination

the aftermath o f the ‘ ’ M o ro wars’’. • E c o n o m i c s - f r e e d o m a n d right o f the M o r o s to
• O ve r l o o k s the plight o f the captives a n d slaves exploit natural resources
u n d e r study wh o partially contributed to the • Cultu ral- revival o f indigenous arts a n d trade
birth o f a C re o l e language – C h ava c a n • So cial- tolerance a n d respect o f religious
(Warren, 1985) differences
• Reveals the disunity o f the M o r o s as evi de nc e d
in the 1720 siege. • Definitely, there is a n e e d to address the
• Antedates the separatist m o ve m e n t s in M u s l i m Filipino c o m m u n i t y ’ s struggle fo r self-
c o n t e m p o ra r y times – an ‘’imagined determination a n d a u t o n o my within the
c o m m u n i t y ’ ’ (B. Ande rso n, 1983). context o f Philippine national Sovereignty.

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END OF DISCUSSION
T h a n k yo u for listening!

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REFERENCES
• https://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/bibl
iographic_entity%7Cvideo_work%7C2198135
• https://www.facebook.com/Raiders-of-the-Sulu-
Sea-428983740943062/?eid=ARD9CVKp-
B S j VC F M g d b G S l F 9 O k b _ 9 Wq 1 o l r C j 1 8 0 3 d k E 4 D W l
_ 2 n a V j Ta t 7 I P B x m - N m d V 3 K 8 - 6 F p T _ 5 w w

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THE RAIDERS OF THE SULU SEA FILM REPORT

Readings in Philippine History (Our Lady of Fatima University)

StuDocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

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C O N T E X T: T H E RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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A historical d o c u m e n t a r y (2008) that depicts the slave-

• A 7th generation direct descendant o f Vicente Alvarez -

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• S a m a - t au s u g - C h i n e s e Filipino b o r n in Sulu, an authority o n the issue o f M o r o history, a r m e d struggle

• Christianity a n d religious c h an ge in Southeast Asia, ca. 1500-present, W o m e n a nd gende r in early m o d e r n

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• A Tau sug, m e m b e r o f educated Abubakar clan.

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• is a Filipino politician, philanthropist a nd socialite. S h e was the f o r m e r C h a i r m a n o f the Kabalikat n g

Iranun/Illanuns - they were portrayed as “merciless” in the

WHO ARE THE

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S a m a l Balanguingui - O n e o f the S a m a c o m m u n i t i e s that

WHO ARE THE

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Ta u s u g or “people (Tau) o f the current (sug)’’ constituted the

WHO ARE THE

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

• According to s o m e historians, slave-raiding h a d been practiced a m o n g s o m e tribes in

• T h e arrival o f the Spanish a nd their desire to d o mi n a te trade in the region triggered

• T h e Spanish referred to the slave raiders as M o r o .

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

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RAIDERS OF T H E SULU SEA

• M o r o raids o n coastal areas demonstrated resistance versus Spanish rule.