ROBERT BRYLE C.

PRICE
BSHM MH19
GA 102 1:00 – 2:30 P.M. MTh

RAIDERS OF SULU SEA

A SHORT HISTORY: RAIDERS OF SULU SEA

“Raiders of the Sulu Sea” is a Historiography Documentary film focusing

on Zamboanga City during the 18th century showing 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, which was
occupied by the former on December 8, 1720. It shows 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 to colonize and Christianize.

It focuses on the slave raiding as retaliation on colonizers since it was

legal during those times and the sophisticated ancient maritime vessels and
tools of war, 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”

It also focused on the fate of the Captured Balangingi Leader called

Panglima Taupan and his family who eventually was exiled to the north of
Luzon in Cagayan, and was made to work in the Tobacco Plantation and his
descendants who went back to Zamboanga and settled in the outskirts of
Taluksangay with the surname Dela Cruz Nuno, Maas Nuno, the ancestor of
the present Nuno clan of Zamboanga.

Icelle Gloria Estrada, one of the contributors of the documentary film

said that one of the most celebrated attack on Fort Pilar was the 1720 attack
by the Maguindanao King Dalasi. He was the King of Bulig in Maguindanao. He
planned the attack on Zamboanga City together with the forces of the Sulu
Sultanate.

In addition, Dr. Samuel Tan that there were two tribes present. The first
one is the Balangingi Tribe or Samal that occupied the chain of islands between
Basilan and Sulu islands. Second, the tribe, which was very important in piracy
history, were the Illanuns.

Moreover, it was also mentioned by another historian that there is an

increase in slaves and the demand for them fed into a situation by the mid-
18th century when something unprecedented happened in the Malacca straits
region where the arrival of a very large number of raiders from the Southern
Philippines.

Lastly, the result of the raid, the Spanish purchased three steamships
from England so that the raiders will be defeated this time. The steamships
were called Magallanes, El Cano, and Reina de Castilla. In 1848, the colonizers
then attacked the Balangingi island where the leader surrendered on 1858
because the wife was captured by the Spaniards. Hence, the former was
brought to Zamboanga City by the said colonizers.
HISTORIANS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE FILM

1. ICELLE GLORIA B. ESTRADA

- She is one of Zamboanga City’s premiere artist

- A true Filipina sculpture and architect
- She is currently working as an executive assistant in the Office of the
City Mayor, and is overlooking the City Hall restoration

2. DR. SAMUEL TAN

- Historian National Historical Institute

3. PROF. BARBARA WATSON ANDAYA

- Historian National University of Singapore

4. DR. MARGARITA COJUANGCO

- Author of Kris Valor

THREE MUSLIM TRIBES

1. Samal / Balangingi
2. Illanum
3. Taosug

These 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 sea.

ANCIENT MARITIME VESSELS

1. LANONG is a large outrigger warships used by Iranun and the

Banguingui people specialized. It was prominently used for piracy and
slave raids from the mid-18th century to early 19th century.
2. GARAY is a traditional native warship of the Banguingui people in the
Philippines and was used for piracy. Moreover, the name means
“scattered” or “wanderer”.

3. SALISIPAN is an auxillary vessels. Usually part of fleets with larger

motherships like pangajava, garay, or lanong warships. Among Malays,
this type of boat was used as a boat of war or passenger boat.
WEAPONS OF THE MORO PEOPLE

1. MORO KRIS is a weapon of warfare and economy. This is not only

carried by slave raiders into battles but also high noble and high
ranking officials of the Southern Sultanate

2. KAMPILAN is the longest sword used by the Ilanum. It is a heavy

edged sword often adorned with hair to make it look intimidating
3. BARONG deadly weapon sword used by the Taosug warriors with
single-edged leaf blade made of thick tempred steel.

4. Spanish FireArm: MUSKET had limitations and inaccuracy, Took

several steps to reload and only 3 shots per minute.
STEAMSHIPS USED BY THE SPANIARDS

Magallanes

El Cano

Reina de Castilla