How Extensive Is The Indigenous Territory Involved? Or How Much Of The Philippine Archipelago Was Uncolonized By The Spaniards?

How extensive is the indigenous territory involved? Or how much of the Philippine archipelago was uncolonized by the Spaniards?

 

Answer:

The heroic struggle the Bangsamoro community which was shaped by Islam is no doubt the major resistance against Spanish colonialism and foreign hegemonism to this day.

Explanation:  

In over 500 years, the Filipino Muslim of Southern Philippines was once a dominant group in the Philippines occupying the region of Mindanao and Sulu archipelago. It is considered as the third political subdivision of the Philippines. The region has a combined total land area of 102,000 square kilometers, with potentially has the most fertile and arable land in the Philippine archipelago, and no doubt an eye candy to the foreign invaders.

So, how much of the Philippine archipelago was uncolonized by the Spaniards?

These areas received least Spanish influence and foreign orders, of which generally, most Muslim ethnic groups in Mindanao and Sulu supported the war against colonialism. They were behind the survival of the two major sultanates of Mindanao in the face of foreign aggression. The main concentration of the Filipino Muslim population is confined largely to the south-western side of Mindanao down to the Sulu Archipelago. In mainland Mindanao, the Muslims are dominant in Lanao region and Maguindanao provinces. In Sulu Archipelago, on the other hand, Muslims are dominant in three island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Moreover, the rest of the Muslim populations are scattered in provinces such as Zamboanga, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur and Sarangani island.

According to Dr. Cesar Adib Majul that the Muslim resistance against colonial rule is viewed as an extension of the crusade, only the fight was no longer between the Europeans and the Arabs but between the Spaniards and the Moros (which is referred as Moors by the Spanish).  The Spaniards also explored and even threatened to attack the Sulu archipelago, but they did not stay for long, and withdrew after a compromise negotiation was reached with the Sulu leaders. And after that, the Spaniards proceeded to Maguindanao however failed to establish contact with the Muslim leaders. After the Spanish-Moro war, the plight against colonialism continued with the American coming to the South, under the pretext of civilizing the natives. However, it is highly recognizable that the history of the Bangsamoro people is no doubt considered as the first line of historical development of the Philippine nationalism. The Muslims' sultanate institution, the religious legacy of Islam and the cohesiveness of the 11 Muslim groups under the spirit of Islamic brotherhood is a living reality of Bangsamoro nationalism.