Moro is the name given by the Spaniards to mostly dark-skin people, like the Malays and the Moors who ruled Spain for 800 years and who happen to be Muslims. It’s not purely a religious category. One Mexican brother told me that they too were called Moros by the Spaniards. There’s nothing wrong with that.
The problem is in the Philippines, the word Moro is used to derogate a Muslim. It's like the “N” word for African-Americans.
It's not uncommon to read the phrase “A good Moro is a dead Moro” in the country's leading newspaper editorials. And in public elementary schools in Christian areas, pupils play Moro-Moro. It’s about a beautiful Muslim princess rescued by a Christian prince from the savagery of the Moros.
First of all, our Muslim lawmakers, if they know why they are in the Congress, should criminalize the playing of Moro-Moro especially in public institutions because it teaches hatred. Not good for national reconciliation and integration.
Why use a stupid name that most of us hate and even our Christian friends don’t want to use because they don't want to offend us? When the media talk about Adel Tamano, do they say, “Si Adel, ‘yong Moro na spoke person ng opposition...”? And did your Christian friends ever called you Moro in your face?
Most likely, our ancestors didn’t even know that they were called Moros. The word was never mentioned in our Sarsila, Darang'n or bayok.
It’s very unfortunate that Muslim leaders of the 1960’s adopted the name Moro. The more respectable name is Muslim that’s why Malacanang created the Office of Muslim Affairs NOT Office of Moro Affairs.
Why can’t we just be called simply Muslims or Filipino Muslims, like the Bosnian Muslims?
Arata Wata does not like to be called a Moro. It ain't cool.
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It also sounds like moron.
ReplyDeleteOur ancestors were smart. They built the most sophisticated political structure in the country long before Magellan's ships reached the shores of Limasawa island. The 15 Royal Houses of Ranao (Sapolo Ago Lima A Panoroganan Sa Ranao) is actually a federation of independent Sultanates. When they convene, they function like a Senate.
They also invented palapa. I keep mine in refrigerator and it’s still edible after 2 years. The M’ranao sarimanok is the symbol of Philippine tourism. I can go on and on. Our ancestors were not morons.
By the way, Arata Wata has problem with his legal name. But his problem is more comical than derogatory. He solved his problem by extrapolation: the last letter goes to the middle, it sounds cool and he is happy.
There’s more story about Arata Wata's legal name. Watch out for future posts. Hmmm…di bad'n.
I found this story from the internet about our brave Taosug brothers.
ReplyDeleteThe four-day battle was personally led by U.S. Brigadier General John "Black Jack" J. Pershing of the 8th Infantry and Philippine Scouts against Moro resistance fighters armed mostly with kris, barongs, spears and few guns. In many other battles in the Morolands, the U.S. Army Colt 0.45 caliber pistol was tested and perfected as an effective "man stopper" against the brave Moro fighters.
During the battle Pershing came up to the front line and: "Stood so close to the trench, directing operations, that his life was endangered by flying barongs and spears which were being continually hurled from the Moro stronghold." At this point in the battle, Pershing sent American officers into the front lines to lead the attack. But, after four days, the Fort at Bud Bagsak, along with every warrior fell. General Pershing in a letter to his wife, he wrote: "THE FIGHTING WAS THE FIERCEST I HAVE EVER SEEN." The Moros fought like Devils. They justified the observation Pershing had made of them: "They are absolutely fearless, and once committed to combat they count death as a mere incident."