'Moro' is a political construct, an identity imposed, shunned and eventually apportioned to ourselves with pride to define our collective resistance to colonialism. It is a powerful construct driving the so-called second longest running conflict in the world!
It is a cultural-religious fiber that unites about 13 ethno-linguistic groups in the Southern Philippines influenced by Islam. Without this unity, these ethno-linguistic groups would have been colonized like most of the Luzon and Visayan cultural groups who succumbed to the influence of Spanish hegemony; or like the indigenous groups who withdrew to the hinterlands and disadvantaged.
Moro is superficial and deep simultaneously. Its superficiality is characterized by how Moros among themselves easily succumb to ethnic comfort. Its depth is defined by how they bond together despite of this superficiality in the face of external threat.
It is a contentious word - those against its use point to its colonial beginning and the stereotypes associated with it. Those for it, point to the sacrifice and the massacres to uphold freedom from oppression.
It is dynamic and evolving ... and continues to this day.
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