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Name: Karen Anne M. Banquiao Instructor: Dr. Annierah M. Usop

Course, Year & Section: BSA-1A Date & Sem.: 09/09/2019 1st Semester
Code No. & Descriptive Title: GE 711 Cultures of Mindanao Score: __________

Title of the Report: Maranao

Maranao, are the second-largest Muslim group after the Maguindanao in the Philippines. The
name Maranao translates to mean “People of the Lake”. Long before the Spaniards arrived in the
Philippines, the Maranao people already had their own culture and civilization. As a result of the fierce
defiance of the Maranaos to adopt Christianity, the Spaniards were unsuccessful in their attempt to
colonize the region. Hence, the culture and traditions of the tribe are well preserved. 

 Religion/ Beliefs
- The Maranao were the last to be converted to Islam. Almost all Maranaos are Muslims, but
some groups living in the hills around Lake Lanao are committed to a version of Islam that is
fused with traces of pre-Islamic traditions. The Maranao are a splinter group of the
Maguindanao who took up Islam; families tracing their religious origins to Sharif
Kabunsuan, who introduced the religion to the region.

 Family
- Maranao villages are made up of a few nucleated households: several families may live under
one roof in a food-sharing relationship. A typical Maranao dwelling has no partitions inside.
On both walls of the house are sleeping quarters with an aisle down the center. Each family
occupies one sleeping quarter. In the rear of the dwelling is a communal kitchen.
- Until the bride-price is paid in full, the groom lives with the bride's family, only later
establishing his own house. Within the multifamily dwellings, a single family eats together
and has its own sleeping area. At least one married child remains in the house to take care of
the parents.
- Though permitted under Muslim law, taking more than one wife is not common because it
would shame the first wife's family. Physical abuse by a husband or an insult from him in
public are grounds for divorce. If a husband cannot tolerate his wife's actions, he is supposed
to appeal to her relatives or to community leaders. Because families mediate conflicts, and
custom stipulates a "cooling off” period before the finalization of divorce, which requires
return of the bride-price if the wife has no sufficient grievance, divorce is rare.

 Houses
- There are three types of maranao houses. The lawig or small house are used by the common
maranao residents. The mala-a-walai or huge houses are used by rich maranao residents.
And the torogan, torogan is the traditional residence of the reigning Sultan of the Maranao
people and his family. The symbol of a high status family. It is where the community
traditionally gathers for wedding, thanksgiving, rites, enthronements and vigils for the dead.
It is a masterpiece due to their unique designs called okir or okkil. Okir is a geometric and
flowing design based on an elaborate leaf and vine system. The best known torogans can be
found at Dayawan, Marawi City and a few are around in maranao lake. In the traditional
community, the torogan used to be the biggest house. It has the biggest hall as well. It was
also the guesthouse for strangers. Its walls and floors were made of huge slabs of lumber and
the posts were whole tree trunks set on flat rocks and often carved into certain shapes.

 Dialects
- Their language is Maranao and Chabacano.

 Places Or Areas
- Roughly 90 percent of the Maranao live in the province of Lanao del Sur, with the remainder
living in Lanao Del Norte and parts of Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur, and Bukidnon. The
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mercantile, cultural, and educational center of the Maranao is Marawi (formerly Dansalan),
the capital of Lanao del Sur.

 Fashion
- The malong, a sarong whose edges are often connected by a langkit, a second piece of cloth
of contrasting design, is the main article of traditional clothing for both sexes. Ceremonial
apparel for a datu (male title-holder) consists of an embroidered coat and long, tight-fitting
pants; a tobao, a matching silk cloth; and a dagger tucked into a 12-cm wide (5-in-wide)
waist sash. A bai (female title-holder) wears a long-sleeved blouse (often embroidered); a
malong of locally woven silk; a necklace of gold coins; and a kobong veil (formerly, a crown
and a special coiffure). Colors range from yellow for sultans to red or maroon for other titles.
An attendant holds a large umbrella over the title-holder, while others carry a kris (sword)
and a brass basin, symbols of authority and wealth, respectively.

 Livelihood
- Source of livelihood is agriculture, including the production of such crops as rice, corn, sweet
potatoes, peanuts, papayas, bananas, and betel nuts. Lake fishing is also a traditional source
of livelihood. As a people, the Maranao are widely distributed and contribute significantly to
the market and trade industry. For instance, the awang (dugout boat) used principally in Lake
Lanao is both unique and extremely ornate. Textiles, on the other hand, symbolize the socio-
economic rank of the wearer through the intricacies of the design motifs woven into the
fabric, as well as, the richness of the colors used.

 Special Cuisine/ Delicacies

- Maranao Cuisine features a unique blend of flavors and spices setting it apart from other
Philippine cuisines. It traces its origin from the indigenous people inhabiting the lands around
Lake Lanao in the island of Mindanao. Their history of trade and migration adds to the rich
flavor of their cooking. Majority of Maranao people are Muslims thus their cuisine is
governed by the Halal diet law.
 Kuning
Rice is colored with turmeric and flavored with salt, laurel leaves and olive oil, and
cooked the usual way, creating the kuning. The word has a Malay origin which literally
means "yellow" thus kuning is usually translated as "yellow rice" but is sometimes
referred to as "turmeric rice."
 Palapa
Palapa is an important ingredient in Maranao cooking. It is made of caramelized shallots
(sakurab in Maranao), ginger and chili peppers. It is mainly used as an ingredient in
many Maranao dishes such as the bakas piaparan, yellow fin tuna cooked in coconut
milk, turmeric and palapa. Palapa is also used as a garnish adding more flavor to cooked
food.
 Grated Coconut
It is usually roasted and mixed with meat such as piarun a odang (spiced shrimp), piarun
a manuk (spiced chicken) and piarun a atay (spiced chicken liver).
 Rendang
Rendang is a dish that originates from Indonesia and through trade and migration. It is
usually cooked with beef and is described as caramelized beef curry. The coconut milk
used in its preparation is reduced to a dark and sweet consistency. Rendang may be
compared with beef caldereta with a hint of latik and curry.

 Itik/ Songs
- Traditional Maranao music is old yet affluent. It is poignant, unveils subdued emotions. The
rhythm is eccentric and such cadence fills customary gatherings in every Maranao Festivities.
 Kambayok
- Is chanting of poetic verses with a theme revolving in a festivity being celebrated, it can
only be done by someone who is well versed to narrate historical origin and geneology.
Kambayok highlights the contribution of remarkable people and the significance of
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historical events that has craft the Maranao culture to its best. This session is called
Kambayoka.
 Kapangobing
- Is the traditional means of expressing one’s love and adoration to someone, reciprocated
or not it is the acceptable means of customary courtship in Maranao. It is performed
through a Flute like instrument made of bamboo.
 Kandarangen
- Is about the epic tale “Darangen” reliving the immortal life of Bantogen, his death and
his resurrection comprised with politics highlighted with courtship, love and sacrifices, a
valor in his finest, a depiction interpreted through singing and dance, stories and
aesthetics derived from truly a wealth of knowledge. In 2005 was proclaimed by
UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

 Dances/ Instruments
- Musical instruments include the kulintang (a horizontal series of eight knobbed gongs
played with two sticks), a dabakan (a wooden drum also played with two sticks), various
hanging gongs (agong, pamulsan, and babandir), the insi (a bamboo flute), kobing (jew's-
harp), and kotyapi (a two-stringed instrument with a soundbox in the shape of an abstract
crocodile). In the kalilang ensemble, females play the kulintang with its subtle melodies
while men strike the hanging gongs. Formerly, all girls and boys learned to play so they
would be proficient by the time they were of marriageable age. Girls could display their
expertise to boys; a boy would accompany a girl he was courting, considering it a shame if
rivals outdid him in skill.
- Among Maranao dances, the singkil is the most famous, mastering it having once been a
requirement for aristocratic girls. Two pairs of bamboo poles are crossed; the dancer,
maintaining a grave expression and waving a fan, steps in and out of the poles as they are
rapidly clapped together. Another well-known dance is the sagayan, a male war dance.

 Superstitious Beliefs
 TONONG - supernatural spirits who live in lakes and other places. Mipato is a tonong
from Lake Dapao. He looks like a big carabao with golden horns. 
 DROPPING COINS - Maranaos drop coins or other metallic objects, like nails into lakes
or big rivers whenever they cross it, in the belief that if they failed to do so the tonong
inhabitants might drown them as they crossed.
 WITCHES - Maranaos also believe in witches that fly around and cast spells on familiars
called pantak that can also fly and kill an enemy upon the order of their witch-master.
 FAMILIES FROM EVIL SPIRIT - Maranaos also believe that there are families who are
descendants of evil spirits and who can order a snake to kill their enemies.
 NONOK - is a tree that grows to great size, as also believed to be inhabited by spirits who
prey on people.  
 KOKOK - Just like the nonok, kokoks can get you confuse of roads or places, making you
see repetitive destination or spot. Sometimes kokok can appear differently and will take
you to their king.  
 TAPPING ONE'S STOMACH - tapping one's stomach at night will attract ghosts to
come and suck out one's internal organs.  
 FULL MOON - During a full moon, one should not look at the moon, because if one saw
a cat on a tree, one would become crazy. And if the moon had a crown of light around it
that meant a beautiful and famous woman in a clan would die. 
 RAINBOW - If a rainbow appears on sunlight, it is a sign that a Datu or a famous person
would die. For children, they may not point at the rainbow for they may cut their fingers
accidentally.  
 SICKLY CHILD - A sickly child should have a chicken or a rooster named after him,
which will become valuable property. If the rooster is killed by someone, he must pay a
large sum of money. If it is a hen, he must pay for all the eggs it could have produced for
the rest of its life if it lived.
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 CHICKEN - Chickens are not allowed to enter the house for it is believed to be a bad
omen. When it enters the house, therefore, anyone has the right to kill it, no matter who
owns it and it can be eaten without any objection from the owner. 
 TAKING A BATH IN LAKE LANAO - If a child takes multiple bath at the lake, he will
grow more than one head here in this world or in the hereafter. 
 DREAMS - If one dreamed of losing his teeth, it means a forthcoming death of a close
relative. If surrounded by big water, means death. If a lizard fell on ones' hand, it would be
an announcement of the death of one's father or mother. If a girl dreamed of being bitten by
a snake, she is near to be engaged.
 ADAN - It is believed that if one climbed a tree while the azan (call of prayer) is being
sung, one might fall and break his bones. This phenomena is called "naas" because of its
connection to Islam. 
 MAKAWGIS - Is a big man who flies and takes people, mostly children who have bunch
of kotos (lice). 
 OMACAAN - Is a very old giant who lives in Lake Lanao. He once one an ally of the
people of the lake
 DIRECT HANDLING OF A CHILI - If one handed a chili directly to other one's hand,
they will soon become enemies unless they tightly or painfully pinch each other skins
before parting off. 
 SINGING WHILE IN THE BATHROOM OR WHILE COOKING - If one loves to
sing while cooking or taking a bath, he or she is destined to marry an old person.
 MIRROR - One should cover the mirror when it is raining or the lightning are striking
because an evil spirit will appear on it.

 Celebrated Special Days

- On certain Islamic holidays, the souls of the dead visit their kin; the latter offer the souls
food, which is later distributed to neighbors or given to the tuan, who recite prayers for the
dead. At the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, people clean their family graves and at
night light them with candles. They also light candles or lamps in their houses so that they
might catch a glimpse of the Lailatol Kadr, an angel with a turban and a long white beard
who has the power to grant wishes (some enter trances in order to see him). This is the "night
of power" when God will answer any prayer.

 Marriages
- Courting a Maranao lady could be difficult. A suitor should be the most hardworking and
patient bachelor in town. A go-between who will mediate for the contracting parties of the
groom needed. The parents of the groom contact the parents of the bride regarding the desire
of their son marry. The woman's family announces the dowry. When all is settled, the
wedding celebration takes place in fun and merriment.

 Burial Belief And Traditions

- Following Islamic regulations, a dead body cannot stay overnight in the house and is buried
as soon as possible. Close kin wash and enshroud the body while other relatives arrive to
give monetary aid; the immediate family serves food to the relatives. In the grave pit, the
imam asks the deceased the questions that an angel will ask him or her later; this is an
unorthodox custom, as is the planting of flowers, laying of stones, or laying of cement to
mark the grave. The imam reads a prayer and pours water on the four corners and center of
the now-sealed grave to "awaken" the deceased. Relatives may guard the grave so that balbal
or langgam (corpse-eating ghouls) will not defile the body.
- The dead soul lingers on earth for 100 days. Mourning rituals last for three (formerly seven)
days; these include having tuan (the community's religious men) recite prayers for the dead
and receiving guests in the evening, who entertain themselves with eating, playing parlor
games, or sometimes gambling with cards. Tuan offer prayers on every Friday or every 10
days until the 100th day after the death, when a large feast is held where several tuan recite
prayers.
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References:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maranao
http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-groups-in-the-philippines/maranao/
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/13531/RP
http://thingsasian.com/story/maranao-tribe-lake-lanao
http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-groups-in-the-philippines/maranao/
https://www.livinginthephilippines.com/culture-and-people/philippine-culture/culture-and-
traditions/1287-maranaos-culture-customs-and-traditions
https://prezi.com/oc5j9ks9v8cf/maranaos-culture-customs-and-traditions/
https://lanaodelsur.gov.ph/tourism/traditions-and-festivals/
https://www.everyculture.com/East-Southeast-Asia/Maranao.html
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/Mindanao_Culture/mindanao_customs.htm
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/maranao-0
https://globalmarawi.blogspot.com/2019/04/superstitious-beliefs-of-maranaos.html
https://www.pinasmuna.com/2013/03/introduction-to-maranao-cuisine.html