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Remember Us All: The Massacre at Bud Dahu (Jolo, Sulu, 1906) |
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Written by Morsidy Husin
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Saturday, 30 April 2005 |
(A song from the album, "A World Without War & Hunger")
I.
We climb 2000 feet
Up to this volcano
Devoid of its heat
And down to its crater
2000 yards; it's mouth full of rocks
Six miles from town
Their dance in Zamboanga
Broken by the bad news;
That we have refused
To honor their Head Tax; their Cedula Law
As we set in this mountain
To defy US Laws
(Refrain I)
They drag their guns through the jungle
Amidst their pleas, we choose not to surrender
Let them come up to this crater
To test out Moro pride
And the blades of our swords
Remember us all....!
II.
Please tell Governor Scott
That our Women & children
Will fight with their folks
This is our custom; the Tausuug mode
We're sticking together to die with our swords
(Refrain II)
And so the war begins in the morning
As we rush in waves, swinging our kriss
They fire their shots into the summit
200 souls departing in haste...
Mowing us down, with quick-firing guns
Remember us all...!
III.
We toss boulders & rocks
As they march after bombardments
In fixed bayonets
We put up fierce resistance
With no food & sleep
Running on empty
With no time to eat
(Refrain III)
And so the war continues at daybreak
As connons thunder in
Like lightning in rain
Nine Hundred Nine Four kinfolks & friends fight
Pile up dead; five feet deep
Only six Moros escape
Remember their death
Remember their fight
Remember them all
Remember us all...!
Writer's note:There was a time when I was so awed by the tenacity and strength of the Afghan people, back in those not-so-long ago years when they were occupied by the Soviets. Such sturdiness of character; such big hearts to bring down a superpower, it reminds me of the Tausug pride. Imagine a cadre of ragtag freedom fighters, with muskets, AKs, and antique swords, battling the mighty tanks of the Russians! But the Taliban popped up, killing even their own brothers.
Amidst speculation from some group that we're going to be the "next Afghanistan," allow me please to look back into our Moro Heritage and reflect upon the strength of character of our own Moro people, who actually effected -- because of their bravery and pride.
There was one very tragic incident in Jolo, Sulu in 1906. The Americans referred to it as "The Battle of Bud Dajo." But Mark Twain (who was then writing out of San Francisco) called it: "The Massacre at Bud Dajo." So, in one of the songs in our second CD, I followed Mr. Twain's lead and called this very nationalistic song: "The Massacre at Bud Dahu."
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 02 August 2007 )
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