| Almost one million Filipinos are Muslims who reside in the southern island of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. By the end of the 12th century, traders and settlers from the Malay Peninsula and Borneo introduced Islamic faith to the islands.
The Muslims in the Philippines, also known as Moros, were able to resist Spanish conquest. Thus, they
preserved the Islamic lifestyle that markedly differs from the majority of the Philippine population. The ethno-linguistic groups who are primarily considered Muslim are the Maranao, Maguindanao, Samal, and Tausug.
The dances are characterized by vivid colors and rhythmic movements which reflect the influence of Arabian and Indo-Malayan cultures.
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