This work chronicles the three-century-long military and political struggle between the Spanish colonial government and the Moro-Malay communities—primarily of Mindanao, Sulu (Joló), and Borneo—known for engaging in widespread maritime piracy and slave-raiding throughout the Philippine Archipelago. The narrative covers events from the islands' discovery by the Spanish in the 16th century up to June 1888. The author provides a detailed, often critical, account of Spain's attempts to "civilize" and subdue the region, detailing military expeditions, treaties, and the complexities of the Spanish-Moro conflict. It addresses major political and social problems of the era, including the system of slavery maintained by the Moro-Malays and the impact of the conflict on the Spanish Crown's resources. Furthermore, the text examines the international diplomatic complications surrounding Spain's sovereignty in the region, noting competing claims and negotiations with foreign powers such as England, the Netherlands, and Germany. The author frames the work as an essential, complete source of information on the geography, statistics, ethnography, and political history of Spain’s South-Oceanic possessions, intended to rouse the Spanish government and public from their indifference toward the empire.
Historia de la piratería Malayo-Mahometana en Mindanao, Joló y Borneo: comprende desde el descubrimiento de dichas islas hasta Junio de 1888