In Southeast Asia lies the Republic of the Philippines, a country that has a long history of colonization and Muslim conflict. With a population of about 94 million, what goes on in this small island country has a large impact on a number of people. In this paper I will look at the historical events that have led up to the current status of Islam in the country, examine the history and intentions of the Islamic groups within the Philippines, and project what the future holds for them based on what we currently know.
             The Philippines is a country that has been controlled time and time again by various foreign powers throughout its history. In the 13th and 14th centuries, explorers from Europe and parts of Asia ended up settling in the country. At this time, Muslims migrated there from what was Arabia at the time, and "at the end of the fourteenth and beginning of the fifteenth century, Islam as well established on the islands of the Sulu Archipelago, and from there it spread to the southern coast of Mindanao" (Yegar 185). The Mindanao area still today is seen as the central locale of the Filipino Muslims and the Islamic movement there. Spain proceeded to bring over Christianity to the islands 200 years after Islam had already been introduced. Japan and the United States also colonized the Philippines after the Spanish, leaving a significant amount of structural and cultural influence with them that would help lead up to the ethnic and religious clashes within the country.
             The Philippines gained its independence in 1946, allowing the Christian settlers in the northern and middle islands to obtain majority rule in the government. However, in the southern Bangsamoro area of the islands felt that their ethnic ideals had not been addressed. This Muslim-rich area makes up approximately 20% of the overall population of the country. As tensions began to rise between the northern Christians and the southern Muslims, insurgent groups bega...