This issue explores anthropological accounts on Moro culture, history, and resistance. Consisting of three papers, the first paper probes into Filipino nationalism vis-a-vis the role of the Moros. It shares how Moros view nationalism in a religion and culture that receives the idea with a grain of salt. In fact, Islam charges nationalism as divisive in nature. The paper further argues that the nationalist struggle of the Moros is inherent in our national heritage–and thus needs more inquiry. The second paper analyzes tagongko as part of Moro culture. Tagongko is a Maranao term for announcing something positive to the public–that something is in the offing to be celebrated or the celebration is already going on. This announcement is done by a group of people, making sound through gongs, hence the name tagongko. Tagongko was an important part of Maranao culture then but is seldom practiced and observed nowadays. Modernization triggered the rise of new forms of public announcements such as billboards, the radio, video coverage, and most importantly, streamers. The third paper associates the concept of goberno a sarwang tao to Moro resistance. Goberno a sarwang tao pertains specifically to institutions in the expression of such resistance. This concept speaks well of the salient problems between the north and the south, between two cultures, two religions, two types of educational systems, as well as between modern and traditional, and how such problems prompted much resistance in the community.

Please email dansalan.quarterly@dcfi.edu.ph to request a copy of the issue.