MARANAO

MARANAO The term Lanao is derived from

the Maranao word “Ranao” meaning a body of water. “Maranao” means Lake Dweller. They are the natives of the place occupying the land around Lake Lanao, which is situated at the central part of Lanao del Sur. Lanao applied to the entire area before its division. When it was divided into two provinces, the southern portion became Lanao del Sur and the northern part became Lanao del Norte.

Together with the Illanun and Maguindanao, the Maranao are one of three indigenous Muslim groups native to the island of Mindanao in the southwestern part of the Philippines, this tribal group share in a generalized Southeast Asian culture but has its own cultural identity. The Maranaos are a tribe of Malay-Arabic descent.

LOCATION 450,000 in the two lanao provinces

90% Lanao Del Sur 10% Lanao Del Norte Some parts of Cotabato and Zamboanga del Sur

TOROGAN The Torogan is the traditional

residence of the reigning Sultan of the Maranaw people and his family. It is where the community traditionally gathers for wedding thanksgiving rites, enthronements and vigils for the dead.

It is a masterpiece of Filipino craftsmanship. Carved on the torogan wooden posts is the niyaga, a stylized mythical snake design that can be found in many Muslim artworks. Each design was different, and varied in detail and the degree of complexity.

LANGUAGE

Austronesian Language

Letters in Maranao alphabet (dictionary letters, not standardized): A B D AE E G H I K L M N NG O P R S T W Y. AE represents the pepet (central high) vowel, Philippine schwa

 

PRONOUNSSet I Set II Set III Set IV

I ako aken raken sakenYou (Sg.)

ka Ngka/k reka Seka

He/She/It

Sekaniyan

Niyan/iyan

rekaniyan

Sekaniyan

We kami Mi/ami rekami Sekami

You(pl) kano Niyo/iyo Rekano sekanoThey Siran Ran/iran kiran Siran

EXAMPLE SENTENCES Si’i gomegenek so mala’ a seda’

sa laod. -The big fish is living far from the shore.

Saken i miyakailap ko pirak aken.

-I myself lost my money. Balilisa ngka siran oto a manga

rarata’ i ongar. -Beat those who are misbehaving.

So taw a malowig na di’ paeka’awid sa mapened. -A weak person cannot carry something heavy.

ART Maranao culture is known for

the exuberance and vitality of its art forms

The major art forms of the Maranao are carving, weaving and metalwork.

Maranaw  art is very distinctive.

The Maranaws are, by far, the largest manufacturers of brass-wares in the Philippines.

OKIR  In all these forms the Maranao

are consistent in their motof which is the okir design.

It refers to a whole repertoire of folk motifs which consisting of plant forms that figure prominently in their artwork from weaving to carving, to brass cast pieces.

Its design serve as significant culturals symbols. many design are used as decorative elements in architecture.

SARIMANOK We have several stylized decorative

motifs in Muslim art, Sarimanok is one of these.

Sarimanok is stylized representation of an open-winged legendary bird whose claws clutch a fish. It is a bird-form symbolof the Maranao.

You will see the Sarimanok on top of bamboo poles placed at the center of muslim.

MALONG The Maranaos are also known for their gold and purple malong.

Malong is the traditional tube garment of the Maranaos.

If you will notice, the colors green, yellow, red, violet and blue dominated the Muslim arts.

METAL WORKS  Muslim people of the Philippinens are noted for their skills in metalworks.

They produce weaponry swords and decorative containers in brass and silver.

CUISINESpicy taste in their foods.

Palapa

Palapa

FOODS

Rendang

PHOSAN

Inaloban A Tilapya

Phesasati-a-odang

Sinapalan Manok

Udang

Pesuwanan Karabao

LEGEND OF THE MARANAO FOOD According to a scholar, food is one of

the panabi-nabian, prophet, a mercy and a gift from Allah. "When the world was created, mankind had no food to eat. The soil was asked to feed mankind but it refused because it does not have enough to feed mankind. And so one of the sons of Fatima, Asa, was buried so that Nabi Adam will also be fed and be able to move. For seven days Nabi Saopak was buried. After seven days, it grew. On the head part grew a coconut, on the heart grew the palay, on the pelvis grew cotton, and on the lower art grew a white chicken. The palay was harvested and fed to mankind."[