RAIDERS OF

THE SULU SEA

PRODUCED BY: OAK3 FILMS
VOCABULARY:
• Raider/s- a person or group of people who
suddenly and unexpectedly attacks a place or a
group and also to steal or take something
accordingly to their purpose.
• Sea- a large body of water that serves as portal
or place for trade.
PICTURE ANALYSIS
 In this activity, you are acting like a historian
that will examine the following picture.
 Put your analysis about the picture in a ¼
sheet of paper or any scratch paper.
 Have fun and enjoy this activity.
PICTURE ANALYSIS ANSWERS:
• Illanun Pirate
• Illanun War-Boat
• Illanun War Equipment's
• Moro Crater Massacre
DISCUSSION
 Background of the Producer
 Historical Background of the Documentary
 Analysis of the Film.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRODUCER
• Raiders of the Sulu Sea is a historical document
produced by Oak3 Films. Established in 1996, Oak3 Films
was founded by Zaihirat Banu Codelli (CEO) along with
Lim Suat Yen (COO) and Jason Lai (Director of Content).
It became popular because they co-produced a
documentary with Discoveries Asia titled “the Gods Must
Be Hungry,” which earned Discovery Asia’s viewership in
10 years.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRODUCER
• The documentary was the product of a co-production
agreement between the Media Authority of Singapore
and the Korean Broadcasting Commission in 2007 for Q
Channel Korea. It was Distributed Internationally by
Looking Glass International Through Discovery Channel
and History channel (for Asia) in 2008. it was directed
by Idzwan Othman.
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF THE DOCUMENTARY
• Raiders of the Sulu Sea (2008) depicts the slave-raiding
activities perpetrated by the Balangingi Samal and the
ilanun people under the command of the Sultanate of
Sulu. Key informant of the documentary were Icelle D.
Borja; Samuel K. Tan, PhD; Barbara W. Andaya, PhD;
Julius Bautista, PhD; Margarita D. Cojuangco, PhD; and
Halman Abukar (Councilor, Jolo, Sulu).
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF THE DOCUMENTARY
• The documentary shows the Moro resistance to the Spanish and
American colonial governments in the Southern Philippines. The raids
were facilitated by different indigenous group of the Sulu region
including the Ilanuns, Balangingi Samals, and tausugs. Such raids on
the coastal areas of the Spanish settlements were sanctioned by the
Sultans to retaliate against the colonizers. The sophisticated ancient
maritime vessels were launched to raid the coast of the Philippines
and capture the natives to be later sold to slavery.
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF THE DOCUMENTARY
• Raiders of the Sulu Sea (2008) depicts the slave-raiding
activities perpetrated by the Balangingi Samal and the
ilanun people under the command of the Sultanate of
Sulu. Key informant of the documentary were Icelle D.
Borja; Samuel K. Tan, PhD; Barbara W. Andaya, PhD;
Julius Bautista, PhD; Margarita D. Cojuangco, PhD; and
Halman Abukar (Councilor, Jolo, Sulu).
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF THE DOCUMENTARY
• Raiders of the Sulu Sea (2008) depicts the slave-raiding
activities perpetrated by the Balangingi Samal and the
ilanun people under the command of the Sultanate of
Sulu. Key informant of the documentary were Icelle D.
Borja; Samuel K. Tan, PhD; Barbara W. Andaya, PhD;
Julius Bautista, PhD; Margarita D. Cojuangco, PhD; and
Halman Abukar (Councilor, Jolo, Sulu).
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE
DOCUMENTARY

• Throughout the hundreds of years that the Philippines was

ruled by colonizers, the armed struggle against the
Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese colonial governments
are considered by Moro leaders as part of the four-century
long “national liberation movement.’ the long-standing
Moro Conflict is rooted in the Spanish and American wars
against the Moros.
• Under the Spanish rule, the propagation of Christianity heightened
the prejudice against the Moros. In addition, Spain’s efforts to
control maritime trade caused Moros to lose sources of livelihood,
putting many of them in poverty. Under the American rule,
thousands of Moros were killed by American soldiers in the Moro
Crater Massacre.
ANALYSIS OF THE FILM
• The Spanish established their colony on the southern tip of
Mindanao in Zamboanga. Fort Pilar was constructed with
ten (10) meter-high wall fortification all around. This was
the base of the Spaniards to facilitate their trade.
• Three tribes were known as Balangingi-Samal, Ilanuns and
Sultanate of Sulu, all which were employing Tausugs who
were excellent warriors and seafaring Muslims.
THE FORT PILAR
 ANALYSIS OF THE FILM
• The three tribes are not really pirates during the times they were plying their
trade of capturing people and selling them as slaves. Slave trading was a
business then and they were not raiding ships in high seas. What they did was go
and land in different shores posing as fishermen. Without any warning, draw
their 1-meter long swords and take as many slaves as they can. Once captured,
the slaves’ palms are punctured and tied to each other. The slaves are loaded in
their 25 to 27 meter by 6 meter boats that has 30 to 34 oarsmen and sails. It
was said that their boats were the fastest that Spanish Galleons could not even
give chase.
ANALYSIS OF THE FILM
• These three tribes are not really pirates just like
what others call them. They were known for being
the exporter of people for slavery. They are very
brutal because they would make a hole in the palm
of the captives and tied them all together.
 ANALYSIS OF THE FILM
• The film focuses on the slave raiding as retaliation on
colonizers- the sophisticated ancient maritime vessels such
as the Lanong, Garay and the Salisipan and tools of war
such as the Barong, Kris, and the Kampilan and the well-
organized forces that is launched for slave raiding the
coasts of Mindanao Visayas, and Luzon, between July to
October called as the Pirate wind “Pirate monsoon”
 ANALYSIS OF THE FILM
• Moreover, the steamboats were faster, easier to navigate and had various armaments
to take on the tribes. Spaniards were now able to chase and follow the boats to their
bases and conduct raids, But the raiders show a strong will and courage. Even if their
ships are no match to the new ships of the Spaniards they still fought.
• It was said that the conflict between the tribes and the Spaniards did not stem from
business or trade but was more on belief, religious belief.
• In the film, we can observe also the conflict and the distinction between the Muslims
and Christians.
 LESSON OF THE DAY!
• In that film watching, it made me realize how interesting history is. It is very
important to have knowledge about the past so that somehow we can understand
the present.
• The courage and the skill of the raiders where really impressive especially in
planning the raid in Fort Pilar. But we can’t neglect the fact that their brutality
and wickedness is really scary. But then again all of those are already in the past
that those should not destroy our friendships and the peacefulness with the
Muslims today.
GOD BLESS
YOU.