According to the latest report from Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) – 950,000 people have been displace in Muslim-majority island of Mindanao between August 2008 and September 2009. The plight of these refugees (mostly Muslims) in the war-torn South are totally ignored by the world media while attention is focussed on thousands of Philipinos (mostly Christians) up North who have been forced to evacuate because of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.
The US, not only, is training Philippines Army but Marines are fighting along Pilipino soldiers against Muslim resistant groups which have been struggling for independence from Manila. This was confirmed by Senate Defense Committee Rodolfo Baizon, who tabled Senate Resolution 1370 – calling for the withdrawal of US troops out of “conflict or combat-prone areas” – Sulu, Basilan and Central Mindanao.
Philippines president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her July 27, 2009 State of Nation Address said: “We inherited an old-age conflict in Mindanao, exacerbated by a political popular but near-sighted policy of massive retaliation. This only provoked the other side to continue the war.” Even then she has been maintaining the Marcos’ trany against Muslim minority. Moshe Obama performed a similar act in Cairo while continuing Bush’s “War on Islam”.
The ‘Moroland’ consists of Mindanao, the second largest island within Philippines, along with Sulu, Palawan, Basilan and neighboring islands – are home to over 12 million Muslims (out the total population of 20 millions). Islam came to Moroland in 1210 CE through Muslim Arab traders – 300 years ahead of Christianity brought by Portuguese invaders in 1521 CE. For more than three centuries the Spanish Christians tried to eradicate Islam from Moroland, followed by forty-seven years of American occupation and destruction of Islamic identity. In 1946, while ending American occupation – Washington, against the wishes of the Muslim-majority – awarded Moroland to Christian Phillipine in exchange for US military bases.
Below is part of address delivered by former Senator Santanina T. Rasul at Women’s Federation for World Peace at the Manila Hotel on February 12, 1999:
“Muslims see a wide gap between theory and practice of (Manila) government as far as they’re concerned. The threat to the future of Islam has created fear of identity loss because of perceived effects of unabated and near monopolistic use of power for the benefit of interests not sympathetic to Islam or Muslims.
From the centuries of Islamic revolution we see the remarkable capacity of Islam and the Muslim people to survive the tremendous changes that had come from colonial conquests and pacification. We see this ability to survive as being attributed to both the nature of Islam and the variety of responses generated to outside forces. It is these responses that the legacy of Islam can be seen and therefore identified. There are three contributions that maybe said to constitute the historical legacy of Islam to the Philippines and Filipino people.
1. We learn from our history that long before Fhilipinism was developed as a basis of national unity the Muslims had already developed a national consciousness based on the Islamic concept of ummah. It was unity based on the total integration of all aspects of society. It transcended the barriers of ethnic, social, economic or other personal differences.
The four centuries of bloody confrontation with colonialism illustrate the Muslims’ persistent struggle against injustice. The discriminatory policies of Spanish colonialism were responsible for keeping the Muslims in continuous resistance. It was Islam that enabled the Muslims to resist with continuing persistence. Islam instilled values that abhorred injustice against individuals as well as society. In fact “fik sabilillah” best expresses the Muslim struggle against all kinds of injustice.
Contrary to the stereotyped perception that Muslims are violent, Islam teaches peace. In fact, Islam means submission to the will of God who is the author of real and lasting peace. But history tells us that the Islamic concept of peace is one that is not imposed through coercion but rather comes from the fulfillment of justice. This explains why treaties entered into between Spain and the Muslims could not have brought the peace the Muslims desired because it was based on injustice and coercion.
If we are to accept the pattern of history, Islam must be recognized as a positive factor or force in the pursuit of peace and unity by the State. The sooner the nation and the government recognize this fact the better is it for the future of the country as a whole. We must continue to destroy the prejudices of the past and begin to remake the history of the Fhilipino people without the social barriers that tend to divide us.”
Manila is the capital city of Philippines and the second most populated city. The city name either comes from Tagalog word Maynilad (meaning ‘place of mangroves’) or Arabic word Amanillah (meaning ‘under the protection of Allah’). There are several other thing which remind the visitors of the Islamic past of this region.
Rehmat's World 
Indeed filipino muslims plight is very less known amongst the ummah.
It would have been better if you had added some pictures as well.
I am using your post to pass it around as well in a mailer.