Prior to the nationalist struggle, “Moro Wars” took place from 1565 to 1898 that prevented the Spaniards from subjugating the inhabitants of the southern part of archipelago. Colonizers mobilized Christianized locals to fight Muslims, thus laying the foundation of “perpetual” Christian-Muslim conflict in Mindanao.
Bagamat nailibing na ang “cold war,” hindi maitatatwang nakasalalay ang interest ng bansang Estados Unidos sa agresyong patakaran “war on terrorism” sa rehiyon, partikular ang bansang Pilipinas.