debate 3

My curiosity to learn the hidden realities in this historical story burst right at the start of the documentary. "Raiders of the Sulu Sea," a feature film, tells the narrative of how the Spaniards defended Fort Pilar in Zamboanga, as well as the so-called "pirates," who were historically renowned as ferocious savages and fearless slave attackers. The pirates were from several tribes on the island of Sulu. The Balangingis, Illanuns, and Tausogs were among the tribes involved in the slave invasion.

Not only did being the strongest sailors and masters of the various swords leave a mark on their identity, but they were also known for penetrating and placing strings in the palms of those they caught. This documentary is extremely educational to watch. I only recently learned of this, and it is a tremendous boost to me. This aspect of history would not have been taught or learned in Philippine history subjects in college. It was surprise to me that our forefathers were regarded as pirates in their own country during their lifetime.

I was initially perplexed as to what a pirate is and why they are considered one, and our forefathers being referred to as pirates will be a no for me. They should be referred to and regarded as freedom fighters. Pirates are a group of people who invade other people's properties for personal gain, whereas our forefathers fought for their rights and their lives.

It has been established that they are more than barbarians. Some historians argue that these indigenous people are simply defending their way of life against conquerors' colonial forces. Others have stated that we must put these acts of violence and assaults on slavery into context. It's the story of men who cling to their beliefs while avoiding potential superior opponents. It's also the story of how the sword killed the men who lived by it. So they're pirates and barbarians, right? Or are they liberty fighters? Conflicts between colonizers and tribes are not only related to trade, but I believe they are also related to the different religions of both camps. Because they were the first to introduce Christianity to our country, the Sultanates were initially intent on eradicating Spain's existence. Because the Spaniards were attempting to pass on their beliefs to them, the tribe's venjens was somehow required.

I was gratified that there are still live descendants of our forebears, such as the Tausug clan descendent. And the thought of him continuing to develop their fighting culture and handing on their weapon expertise to the next generation is pleasant. When he mentioned that he wanted to help the people of Jolo remember their heritage, I thought to myself that perhaps we, as Filipinos, should adopt a similar approach. We must remember and live our own culture, and never forget our origins. Our civilization is rich in cultures that have been forgotten as time has passed. We need to reclaim what we've lost.