During the Spanish Period, the Muslims of Mindanao were fiercely independent and fought the Spanish for much of their duration in the Philippines. When the Americans came over, they managed to neutralize Mindanao peacefully (but not without bloodshed between the two sides).
As the Christian North wanted Independence from America, the Muslims of Mindanao wanted to stay with the US, seeing that it is their best bet for an separate independent state from the Christians in the North.
Is there any way Muslim Mindanao could be Independent till the Present Day?