'MORO' PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES

SHORT HISTORY OF THE MUSLIMS IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The Bangsamoro ‘moro’ people are the native Muslim inhabitants of the Philippines. They are the descendants of the early Malay, Arab and Indian migrants into the Philippine archipelago from as early as the 14th century. The Moro people formed their own ethnic group in southwestern Mindanao, Sulu islands and Palawan. The majority of the Muslims in the Philippines live in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Within the Filipino population, there are at least 5 million Muslims across the entire population of the Philippine Islands. 

Due to the history of the Islam religion in the Philippines, those in the Muslim community have been known to not to call themselves Filipino Muslims due to King Spain II decreeing ‘the Expulsion of Moriscos’ in 1609, after naming the archipelago after him. The ‘Moro’ name however, was given by the Spanish inquisitors who named the Muslims in the Philippines as such due to their geographical location of living on the moors. This title usually excludes Filipinos who have converted to Islam.

MINDANAO CUISINE AT BINTANG

The Muslims in the Philippines have been disregarded for many years but with the celebration of Eid just a couple of days away - to celebrate with our Muslim brothers and sisters, Bintang have created a Beef Kulma dish based off the Mindanao cuisine. It wouldn’t be right for us to be a Filipino - pan Asian restaurant in London without paying respects to the Muslim people of the Philippines.

Also, all our dishes are halal certified! So make sure to head on over and have a Bintang meal of your own!

Read more about out Eid special here.