THE RAIDERS OR SULU SEA

( GROUP 1 )
 BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR
IDZWAN OATHMAN
● He directed the Raiders of Sulu Sea, he is a singaporean based director and
also known as a prominent director.
● He won the Best Documentary Award at the 1st Singapore Short Film Award
held in Singapore from January 2010.

ICELLE GLORIA B.
● She is an art historian in Zamboanga, a direct descendant of Vicente ESTRADA
Avez, and the hero of Zamboanga City during the Spanish-American
War.
● She is a collector of arts and is a member of the National Commission
on Museum of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the
Philippines, President of the Mindanao Association of Museums and for
many years, was a curator of Art Museum Exhibits in the Philippines
and abroad
DR. JULIUS BAUTISTA ● An anthropologist and cultural historian, he is a Senior Lecturer at the
Department of Southeast Asian Studies at the National University of
Singapore and an Associate at Asia Research Institute's Religion and
Globalization in Asian Context Cluster.
● He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy in Southeast Asian Studies from the
Australian National University and specializes in Catholicism in the
Philippines.

REMESH PANICKER
● He has been a professional narrator and voice over talent since 1977.
● He is an award winning stage actor and active with numerous stage productions.

MARGARITA CONJUANCO
● Born on April 24, 1944, she is a renowned Filipino politician,
philanthropist, and socialite, known for her book Kris Valor.
● She served as Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino party Chairman and a
candidate in the 2013 senatorial election.
SAMUEL ● A Samal-Taosug-Chinese Filipino, born in Siasi, Sulu, holds a Masters Degree in History
KONGTAN
from the University of the Philippines Diliman and a Doctorate in Philosophy in
Interdisciplinary Studies from Syracuse University.
● His famous book, "A History of the Philippines," explores the human history and culture
of the Philippines, focusing on the Moros, Indios, and Infieles, and discusses the colonial
depictions of Moro "Slave raiding" in coastal towns.

HALMAN ABUBAKAR
● A Tausug descendant and city councilor in Jolo, Sulu, he promotes Silat martial arts
and views Western Colony and Filipino history as "pirates," reflecting the
sentiments of his people

BARBARA WATSON ANDAYA

● Australian historian and author, born in 1943, specializes in Indonesia and Maritime
Southeast Asian History.
● She has conducted extensive research on women's history in Southeast Asia and the
localization of Christianity in the region.
BACKGROUND OF THE
RAIDERS OF SULU SEA
● A Historiography documentary film focusing on Zamboanga City depicting how the Spaniards
defended the city with the Fort Pilar as Spain’s last stronghold and bastion of defense and
economic expansion in the South of the Philippines.
● The documentary centers on the activities of the slave raiders as a way of retaliation to the
colonizers and a way to defend their way of life against oppression.
● The Sulu and Maguindanao sultanates were then the two main kingdoms controlling the Muslim
colonies of the southern Philippines. With the king of Maguindanao, Rajah Dalasi, at the helm,
they launched a bloody attack on Fort Pilar.
 RAIDERS OF SULU SEA

Produced by: Oakfilms3 based on Singapore

Directed by: Idzwan Othman

Produced by: Lim Suat Yen, Zuzanita Zakaria and Yeon-Hwa Kim

Publicity: Aired on “Q Channel”, also on Discovery Channel and National Geographic for

International Release

Original Release Date: 2008

Duration: 48 minutes and 43 seconds

 CONTENT PRESENTATION AND
ANALYSIS OF THE IMPORTANT
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
FOUND IN THE RAIDERS OF SULU
SEA
 CONTENT PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE IMPORTANT
HISTORICAL INFORMATION FOUND IN THE RAIDERS OF SULU
SEA

The Important Historical Information Found In Raiders Of Sulu Sea:

● In the 16th century, the Spanish colonized Zamboanga due to its strategic geographical
location, which was of significant value to the Catholic Church. During this period,
there was 3 tribes to attempt to resist Spanish colonization.
THE THREE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE TRIBE

1. The Balangingi-Samal Tribe

● This tribe were highly skilled in maritime raiding and were alternatively referred to as
the Northern Sama or Northern Sindama. They inhabited a series of islands located
between Basilan and Sulu Island.
● The Balangingi-Samal Tribe, also known as the Northern Sama or Northern Sinama, is
an ethnolinguistic group residing in the Greater Sulu Archipelago and along the
southern and western coasts of the Zamboanga peninsula in Mindanao.
2. The Illanuns

● also known as Iranun and Ilianon,

● renowned for their formidable maritime prowess and played a significant role in the
history of piracy
● excelled in maritime activities, given their traditional background as sailors and
pirates

3. The Taosug

● held dominance over the Sulu Sultanate and were renowned for their formidable and
extensive political authority.
● the predominant ethnic group in the Sulu archipelago, holds a significant position
due to their political and religious institutions.
THE REASON BEHIND THE ATTACKS OF THE RAIDERS:

1. SOCIAL
● because it prevents the spread of Christianity and strength the
influence of the islam.

1. ECONOMIC
● to continue to control the trade market and survive off the good
and the slaves they are able to obtain.
CONTRIBUTION OF THE RAIDERS
OF SULU SEA IN
UNDERSTANDING THE GRAND
NARRATIVE OF PHILIPPINE
HISTORY
 ● Resolved the Terminology Barrier Between Historians
The film was able to explain the appropriate terminology of using the word
“raiders” rather than “pirates” which is a common misconceptualization According
to Barbara Watson Andaya (Historian of the National University of Singapore)
- There is a problem in the usage of “piracy” among history books because
- In some respects piracy does not cover raiders and people who act on behalf
on the state.
- Filipino Moros raided and was considered an act of retaliation against the
Spaniards who were foreign occupiers.
- Most of the raids were sanctioned by Sultanates in the name of even higher
course- Islam.
● Traced the narrative of western colonization in the southern region and its effect to the totality of the
Philippines and present situation of the Tausugs.
● Provided a clear narrative of December 8, 1720 most celebrated attack of King Dalasi of Maguindanao.
● Explained the disruption of Islamization in the Philippines and the conversion of Christianity in the
southern Region 3.
● Traced where the sense of hopelessness began to enter into the Muslim’s consciousness
- After the bombing of the Balingingi, slave raiders had to decide whether they should follow the rest
of the country and become a subjugated people or they can continue to resist depriving them to
claim and live their own identity.
● Presented archaeological evidences that explain the life of the Slave raiders.
- 1977, an archaeological dig discovered an ancient maritime civilization was founding Butuan.
Carbon dating of artifacts found that it existed in the 4Th Century. traversed in the Philippines ling
before the arrival of Western Colonist. The people who built the ships were depth sailors with an
intimate knowledge of the sea and knew how to navigate them.
Preserved swords like Halman Abubakar, a Tausug descendant, such as the
following:

Barong - Leaf-shaped blade, 1 m, used in hand-to-hand battle

Kris or Kalis- 1.2 m, carried by slave raiders and high ranking

sultantes,smooth or wavy (curves are for easy slashing and can pull the
sword faster)

Kampilan -With hair for intimidation, Longest swords (used by

Illanuns),have two horns at the end of the blade

Armors-used by wealth raiders, made from carabao horn

THE RELEVANCE OF THE
RAIDERS OF SULU SEA
THE RELEVANCE OF THE RAIDERS OF SULU SEA

● The Raiders of the Sulu Sea, primarily from the Tausug and Illanun tribes, were a significant
part of the history and culture of the Philippines, particularly in the southern region of
Mindanao.

● They were known for their seafaring skills and their role in the slave trade during the colonial
period.

● Their conflict with the Spaniards was driven by religious beliefs, and they frequently engaged
Moro pirates.
● Their conflict with the Spaniards was driven by religious beliefs, and they frequently
engaged Moro pirates.

● The Raiders of the Sulu Sea were not just pirates but also involved in the slave trade,
capturing and selling people as slaves.

● Today, the legacy of the Raiders of the Sulu Sea continues to be felt in the region, and
their history and culture are an essential part of the Philippines' rich heritage.
 GROUP 1

THANK YOU
MAYSHARYL GAMIAO

JUSTINE PAUL ABALOS

JESSA MAE RATUITA

SOPHIA MAGDALENE BENITO

ANDREA TONIA FERMIN

ARON MAHOR

FERDINAND ANDREW PASCUA