Chapter 2 Lesson 6 Raiders of Sulu Sea

LESSON 6 – RAIDERS OF THE SULU SEA
VALUE/THRUSTS INTEGRATION
Patriotism and valuing culture
INTRODUCTION:
Throughout the three and half centuries of conflicts between the Spaniards
and the Muslims of Southern Philippines, maritime raiding played a key role not
only for accumulating wealth and slaves but also a means of warfare and an anti-
colonial warfare.
The Spaniards established their colony on the southern tip of Mindanao in
Zamboanga and constructed a fortress as their base, the Fort Pilar. The fort has a
10 meter high wall fortification around which was the base of the Spaniards for
their trade. Zamboanga is very close to Basilan, Tawi-tawi and Sulu groups of
islands, and Maguindanao.
The three tribes were known as Balangingi-Samal, Ilanuns and the Taosugs
of the Sultanate of Sulu who were excellent warriors. The three tribes are not really
pirates during the time, they were plying their trade of capturing people and selling
them as slaves.
INTENDED OUTCOME/LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson the students will be able to:
1. Examine the context and perspective of the document;
2. Identify facilities used by the Muslim groups on their raiding and slave trading
activity;
3. Examine the importance of the Muslim raiding groups in the context of
Philippine history.
STIMULATING LEARNING (Motivation)

1. Have you viewed the movie, “Raiders of Sulu?”
2. What the movie is all about?
3. Who are the raiders of Sulu? Are they really pirates?
INCULCATING CONCEPTS (Input/Lesson Proper)
NARRATIVES
“Raiders of the Sulu Sea” is a historiography a 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. It depicts the Southeast Asian flourishing free trading
in the area and the adverse effects and repercussions when Europeans such as
the English, Dutch, and Spanish who wanted to control the economy as well as to
colonize and Christianize.
CONTENT:
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. Zamboanga is
very close to Basilan, the Tawi-tawi and Sulu group of islands and the
Maguindanao area where there were three different tribes of seafaring Filipino. The
three tribes were known as Balangingi-Samal, Ilanuns and Sultanate of Sulu, all
which were employing Taosugs who were excellent warriors
(https://www.Zamboanga.com).
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 (Ibid).
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 25-27 meter by 6 meter boats that has
30-34 oarsmen and sails. It was said that their boats are the fastest that Spanish
Galleons could not even chase.
The history documentary was actually focusing on how the trines were able
to organize a flotilla of a hundred ships or more with more than 3,000 men. This
happened when the three tribes connived to raid Fort Pilar. The Spanish were
stricken with fear when they see the number of boats and the army they were to
face. How were the hundred or more boats gathered? Well, the three tribes have
some sort of a pact on how to go about their business and employing Taosugs as
their warriors.
One tribe could set out to sea with a few boats then drop-by each of the
several bases of the tribes along the shores. They would call all the available
seafarers to join the expedition. As they go along, their numbers grow.
The slavery trade of the three tribes ended only when the Spaniards ordered
three steamboats from England. The steamboats were faster, easier to navigate
and have various armaments to take on the tribes. Spaniards were now able to
chase and follow the boats to their bases and conduct raids. It was aid that the
conflict between the tribes and the Spaniards did not stem from business or trade
but was more on belief, religious beliefs.
THREE MUSLIM TRIBES
1. Samal Balangingi- is a distinct ethno-linguistic group dispersed throughout
the greater Sulu Archipelago and southern and western coastal regions of
Zamboanga, Peninsula in Mindanao.
2. Illanun- are Moro ethnic group native to Mindanao, Philippines, and the
west coast of Sabah. Also called “Iranun” which means Maranao people or
“people of the lake.
3. Tausug- is a combination of tau (person) and suug (). They are the
dominant tribe in Sulu archipelago because of their political and religious
institutions.
MARITIME VESSELS
1. Lanong- large outrigger warships used by the
Iranun and the Banguingui people specialized for
naval battles. It is prominently used for piracy and
slave raids from the mid-18th century to the early
19th century in most of Southeast Asia.
2. Garay- traditional native warships of the

Banguingui people in the Philippines. Used for
piracy by the Banguingui and Iranun people against unarmed trading ships and
raids on coastal settlements in the regions surrounding the Sulu Sea.
3. Salisipan- auxiliary vessels usually part of fleets with larger motherships like
pangajava, garay, or lanong warships. Among Malays, this type of boat is used
as a boat of war or passenger boat
TOOLS OF WAR
1. Moro Kris- weapon of warfare and ceremony.
This are not only carried by slave raiders into
battles but also by nobles and high ranking officials
of the Southern Sultanate. Double edged with
either smooth or wavy blades.
2. Kampilan- longest sword, used by the Ilanuns. Heavy single edged sword often
adorned with hair to make it look even
intimidating.
3. Barong- deadly weapon sword used by the

Taosug warriors with single-edged leaf blade
made of thick tempered steel.
4. Kalis - Used by nobles and high ranking

Sultanates; 2.2 in length
USING/APPLYING KNOWLEDGE
(application/integration)
1. Write a short ESSAY regarding the importance of the document, Raiders of the
Sulu Sea in Philippine History. How important was the role played by Muslim in
Mindanao during Spanish period?
(Note: Scoring Rubric is at the Appendix)

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What were the three Muslim tribes that raided coastal settlements?

What were some of the maritime vessels used by the Muslim tribes?

LESSON 6 – RAIDERS OF THE SULU SEA

INTENDED OUTCOME/LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

STIMULATING LEARNING (Motivation)

INCULCATING CONCEPTS (Input/Lesson Proper)

2. Garay- traditional native warships of the

3. Barong- deadly weapon sword used by the

4. Kalis - Used by nobles and high ranking

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