Igorot and Moro National Reemergence

This article examines the historical and cultural complexities surrounding Filipino nationalism, focusing on the indigenous Moro and Igorot peoples. It argues that Filipino nationalism is an artificial construct rooted in the Spanish colonial invasion of 1565 and heavily dependent on European colonial influence for identity formation. The shift from cultural assimilation into Spain to a political independence movement highlights a deep commitment to a Spanish-Catholic identity, distancing the nation from its Asian roots. The author contends that this imposed nationalism has hindered the Philippines’ development and threatens the cultural and physical survival of indigenous groups such as the Igorots and Moros, whose histories and identities have been marginalized within the fabricated Philippine state.