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Activity 3 - Calvo, Jhoanne
Readings in the Philippine History (GEED 10033)
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CALVO, JHOANNE C.
BSA 1-
Activity 3: FILM ANALYSIS: Raiders of the Sulu Sea. Make an Essay showing about:
- Background of the author
The Raiders of the Sulu Sea is produced by the OAK3 Films with the key informants, namely Icelle Gloria B. Estrada, Doctor Samuel Kong Tan, Margarita Cohuangco, and other historians. To provide a background regarding OAK3 films, they are founded by Zaihirat Banu Codelli, Lim Suat Yen, and Jason Lai. They were formed in 1996, which has the objective to create original and high-quality content among different countries. Now, they are broadcasted across around thirty channels producing movies with a variety of genres.
Meanwhile, the three contributors made the success of film. Icelle Estrada is an art historian who was born in Zamboanga City. She is a descendent of Vicente Alvarez, the hero of Zamboanga city during the war between Spaniards and Americans. She is currently a research associate in National Museum. The other informant, Dr. Samuel Kong Tan, is a Sama-Tausug-Chinese Filipino who was born in Slazi, Sulu. Essentially, he is authorized in the issue about Moro History. Similar to any other historian, he believed that "slave-raiding" portrays the armed resistance to colonial rule. Lastly, Margarita Cohuangco is a politician and socialite. She was a former Chairman of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KaMPi). She is also known for her works such as Kris of Valor: The Samal Balangingi's Defiance and Diaspora, The Samals in History and Legend, and Tarlac: Prehistory to World War II.
Historical Background of the film The Raiders of Sulu Sea is a Historiography Documentary film about Zamboanga City that depicts how the Spaniards defended the city with Fort Pilar as Spain's final stronghold and bulwark of defense and commercial growth in the southern part of the Philippines. It shows how the Southeast Asia's is thriving for free trade in the region, as well as the negative impacts and ramifications when Europeans wanted to control, colonize and christianize our country. Moreover, the film centers on slave-raiding as a form of revenge against colonizers the intricate ancient maritime vessels — Lanong, Garay, and the Salisipan, and weapons used in war such as the Barong, Kris, and Kampilan, and the well-organized troops who tried to launch for slave infiltrating the coasts of Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon around July and October, known as the Pirate wind “Pirate monsoon.”
Contribution to the historical narrative In terms of the film’s contribution to the historical narrative, the film showcased relevant events and objects in our history. First is one of the slave- raiding vessels, Garay. Garay refers to “scattered” or “a wanderer” in the Sama language of the Banguingui people. The ships are used for piracy by Banguingui people and Iranun to go against unarmed merchant ships and coastal towns during the 18th to 19th century. Moreover, the film showed that maritime civilization is inclined with the archaeological findings of Butuan in 1977. The sea vessels navigated by sailors are used to barter bird nests and pearls. This situation proved that the international trade in history includes slave-raiding, which also indicates a labor-intensive economy.
Consequently, The Raiders of the Sulu Sea demonstrates the situation of Sulu in the Spanish colonization. The Island of Jolo was the slave market. Panglima Taupan was known to be the disreputable slave raider. During that time, Spaniards also control maritime time wherein money is used as a basis to complete a mission. Another significant event was the destruction of the Balanguingui settlement in 1848. The event signifies the challenge of attaining freedom against oppression and conquest. As Spain acquired vessels and weapons from Britain, they succeed in ending the slave-raiding. To this extent, they destroyed the settlements in Tongkil Island. Indeed, since the events were clearly presented in the film, it will allow the viewers to visualize the history that happened.
- Relevance to the contemporary times
The Raiders of the Sulu Sea highlighted slave-raiding of the tribes as they battled against the colonizer, and the rest is history. I believe that the film is relevant even in contemporary times. Although it is from the past, the events that happened remarked how Filipinos fight for their country. Especially for the learning, it will allow one to see the changes and influences on what we have in the present. For instance, if the Moro tribes won, the Philippines could be controlled by Muslims.
The film is also relevant to remind our fellow Filipinos that we own our Islands within the scope of our country. One issue that is related to the film is the territorial dispute between countries, especially in the Philippines and China. Based on the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), the Philippines originally owns the islands, yet countries argued. Henceforth, this situation would make the Filipino be alarmed on the events similar to what happened in the Raiders of the Sulu Sea. As a result, Filipinos may form a unification to claim what is ought.
Activity 3 - Calvo, Jhoanne
Course: Readings in the Philippine History (GEED 10033)
University: Polytechnic University of the Philippines
