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Moro people

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The Moro people are a large group of people living in the Philippines. They are made up of 13 different groups that share many traditions. Most Moros follow the religion of Islam.

Three Moro men in the 1900s
Three Moro men in the 1900s

They live mostly in places like Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan. According to a 2020 census, there are about 7.1 million Moro people in the country. This is about 6.5% of the whole Philippine population. They are the largest group in the Philippines that is not Christian.

Many Moro groups follow the rules of Sunni Islam. This religion guides how they live their daily lives. For example, they avoid eating pork or using alcohol. They also practice fasting during the month of Ramadan.

Many people also make a special trip called the Hajj. In their culture, women often wear a veil called a tudong. Men might wear a black skull cap called a songkok. These traditions help keep their unique identity strong.

Long ago, the Moro people were not part of one single country. They lived in many independent states led by leaders called Sultans. Some of these states were the Sultanate of Sulu and the Sultanate of Maguindanao.

The state boat of Sultan Harun - Sulu, Philippines (1909)
The state boat of Sultan Harun - Sulu, Philippines (1909)

They were very strong and resisted Spanish invasions for a long time. They remained independent until the early 20th century. Later, after the Philippines became independent in 1946, the Moro people fought for the right to rule themselves. This led to many years of conflict with the Philippine government.

Different groups led these struggles for self-determination. Two of the main groups were the MNLF and the MILF.

ARMM
ARMM

After many years of fighting, peace talks finally led to a big change. In 2018, a new area was created called the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. This region gives the Moro people more power to make their own decisions. It includes many provinces like Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. This area helps protect their way of life.

Today, Moro culture is a visible part of many places. Many Moros live in big cities like Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Some people also live in nearby countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

Mindanao Bangsamoro Islamic Musical Instruments
Mindanao Bangsamoro Islamic Musical Instruments

They bring their beautiful music with them to these places. One famous instrument is the kulintang, which is a set of bronze gongs. The sound of the kulintang is a special part of their history. It connects the people to their ancestors and their land.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Three Moro men in the 1900s.jpg
Three Moro men in the 1900s.jpg
File:ARMM.png
ARMM.png
File:Kalis seko kris moro sword 2 overall.jpg
Kalis seko kris moro sword 2 overall.jpg
File:The state boat of Sultan Harun - Sulu, Philippines (1909).jpg
The state boat of Sultan Harun - Sulu,...
File:Mindanao Bangsamoro Islamic Musical Instruments.jpg
Mindanao Bangsamoro Islamic Musical...
File:Iranun lanong warship by Rafael Monleón (1890).jpg
Iranun lanong warship by Rafael Monleón (1890).jpg
File:Bombardment Balanguingui.jpg
Bombardment Balanguingui.jpg
File:Two Spanish missionaries baptise a Moro convert to Roman Catholic, circa 1890.jpg
Two Spanish missionaries baptise a Moro...
File:Spanish troops at mass honoring King Alfonso XIII birthday in Momungan (present-day Lanao del Norte Province), Mindanao Island.jpg
Spanish troops at mass honoring King...
File:Moro helmet, Philippines (M. América, Madrid) 01.jpg
Moro helmet, Philippines (M. América,...
File:American soldiers during the Moro Campaigns.jpg
American soldiers during the Moro Campaigns.jpg
File:Three Moros rebels hung in Jolo.JPG
Three Moros rebels hung in Jolo.JPG

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