Bangsamoro Foundation Day in the Philippines Date in the current year: January 21, 2025

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), also known simply as Bangsamoro, is an autonomous region in the Philippines. It is located in southwestern Mindanao and consists of five provinces (Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi) and part of the province of Cotabato (as the Special Geographic Area).

The first Muslims arrived in the region in the late 14th century, almost 150 years before the first Christians. Muslim merchants arrived in what is now Tawi-Tawi and began trading with the natives, as well as preaching Islam, which led to the conversion of many natives.

By the mid-15th century, several Muslim sultanates had been established on the island of Mindanao. They resisted Spanish colonization and maintained their independence, often raiding Spanish coastal towns. The Spanish called the Filipino Muslims the Moro people (a cognate of the English “Moors”). The Sultanate of Sulu recognized Spanish suzerainty in the late 19th century, but Spain didn’t gain much actual control.

During the American occupation of the Philippines, the government initiated the “Homestead Program”, which encouraged the migration of landless people from non-Muslim areas to the Muslim-majority areas of Mindanao. This led to tensions between the migrants and the Moros over land ownership.

These tensions continued to escalate after Philippine independence, as Filipino Muslims felt discriminated against in comparison to Christians. This led to an insurgency by several armed Moro groups, known as the Moro conflict, which began in 1968 and lasted for three decades.

During the presidency of Corazon Aquino, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was created in 1989 as part of peace efforts. However, this did not help achieve complete peace in the region as some Moro groups continued to fight against the Philippine government. Peace negotiations resumed in 2011 during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III and continued during the presidency of his successor, Rodrigo Duterte.

The replacement of the ARMM with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was the culmination of these peace talks. The word “Bangsamoro” is derived from bangsa, an Old Malay word meaning “nation” or “race”, and Moro. The Bangsamoro Organic Law, which provided for the establishment of the BARMM was signed in 2018. A two-part plebiscite to ratify it was held on January 21 and February 6, 2019. The creation of the BARMM was ratified in the first part of the plebiscite.

Bangsamoro Foundation Day has been celebrated every year since the creation of the BARMM. It is marked by parades, concerts, community celebrations, clean-up activities, and other festive events and activities. The celebration usually lasts for about a week, but only January 21 is a special non-working holiday in the region.