Marana o

Ayesha Raine A.
Abdul
MARANAO
 Tribe
The Maranao people, also spelled Meranao, Maranaw,

and Mëranaw, is the term used by the Philippine government to
refer to the southern tribe who are the "people of the lake", a
predominantly-Muslim region of the Philippine island of Mindanao.
They are known for their artwork, weaving, wood, plastic and metal
crafts and epic literature, the Darengen.
 History
The name "Maranao" (also spelled "Meranao" or "Meranaw")
means "people of the lake" (lanaw or ranaw, archaic danaw,
means "lake" in the Maranao language). This is in reference
to Lake Lanao, the ancestral homelands of the Maranao people.[3]
The original endonym of the ancestral Maranao is believed to be
"Iranun" or "Iranaoan".[4][5] This group later diverged, resulting in
the modern Maguindanao and the Iranun people (whose names
can also be translated to "people of the lake"),[6] while the ancestral
Iranuns who stayed in Lake Lanao became known as the
Maranao. All three groups are still closely related and share similar
cultures. They speak the mutually-intelligible Danao
[4][5]
languages. As with other Indigenous and Mindanao Lumads,
during the nominal occupation of the Philippines by the Spanish,
and later the American and the Japanese, the Maranaos had tribal
leaders whom they called Datu. In the 14th century, upon the
arrival of Islam, they developed into a kingdom with a Sultan due
to the influence of Muslim missionaries.
 Region
Maranaos number about 1,720,000. Along with the Iranun and

Maguindanao, the Maranao are one of three, related, indigenous
groups native to Mindanao. These groups share genes, linguistic
and cultural ties to non-Muslim Lumad groups such as
the Tiruray or Subanon. Maranao royals have varied infusions of
Arab, Indian, Malay, and Chinese ancestry.
 Language
Maranao is an Austronesian language spoken by the Maranao
people in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.
Because of the mass influx of Cebuano migrants to Mindanao,
many Maranaos are also fluent in Cebuano.
Arabic, a Central Semitic language, is spoken by a minority of the
Moro people, as it is the liturgical language of Islam. Most
Maranaos, however, do not know Arabic beyond its religious use.
Chavacano (sometimes spelled as Chabacano or Chabakano) is a
Philippine Spanish Creole that gained popularity as a major
language during the short-lived Republic of Zamboanga. Most
Maranaos with part-Tausug or Yakan from Zamboanga and
Basilan are conversant, specifically the Zamboanga dialect known
as Zamboangueño.
 People
The Maranao is a royal-heavy community replete with sultans,

datus & bae labis. This came about when Islam was introduced to
Lanao & has survived through colonization.
The sultanate system remains a significant part of the Maranao
society to this day. It symbolizes royal authority & stands in its
domestic affairs like armoring its culture & heritage, patching family
disputes & chronicling the legitimacy of royal bloodlines through
the ‘salsila’.
They are very clannish too. It is their way to protect their ‘bangsa’
& their heritage.
Traditionally, the Maranao society is divided into two strata.
Namely, Mapiyatao (Pure)and Kasilidan (Mixed blood). Kasilidan is
further subdivided into categorlies which are as
follows; Sarowang (Non-
Maranao), Balbal (Beast), Dagamot (Sorcerer/Sorceress)
and Bisaya(Slave). The Mapiyatao are those natives who are
entitled to ascend to thrones and has a pure royal bloodline. On
the other hand, the Kasilidan are those natives who are suspected
of mixed bloodline. However, due to the changes brought by time,
these social strata are beginning to decline due to the rise of
wealth of each and every Maranao families.
 Culture
Maranao culture can be characterized by:
o Lake Lanao
o Sarimanok (Papanoka Mra and Mara-patik)
o Torogan, the highest form of a Maranao royal house, where
the architecture used is the most aesthetic in the Philippines
o Darangen, a UNESCO Intangible cultural heritage
o Kirim, pre-Hispanic handwriting based from Arabic letters
with 19 consonants and 7 vowels
o Singkil, a Philippine dance
o Okir on wooden artifacts and brasswares
o Kapmorod and Kakhalilang with Sambolayang and
Pasandalan a Morog and Marigay for Kazipa sa Manggis
o kaplagod (Racing horse)
The culture of the Maranaos is centered on Lake Lanao, the

largest in Mindanao, and the second-largest and deepest lake in
the Philippines. This lake is the subject of various myths and
legends. It supports a major fishery, and powers the hydroelectric
plant installed on it; the Agus River system generates 70% of the
electricity used by the people of Mindanao. A commanding view of
the lake is offered by Marawi City, the provincial capital.
o Art
Sarimanok, Papanoka "Mra" or "Mara patik" is a legendary
bird of the Maranao that is a ubiquitous symbol of their art. It is
depicted as a Hoodhud (Arabic) with colorful wings and feathered
tail, holding a fish on its beak or talons. The head of Sarimanok is
like the head of a Hoopoe (Balalatoc in maranaw) and is profusely
decorated with scroll, leaf and spiral motifs (okir). It is a symbol of
good fortune.
The Maranao have also developed their own adaptation of
the Ramayana epic, the Maharadia Lawana. They also have a
traditional dance, the Singkil, which was based on another local
Ramayana adaptation, the Darangen.
o Music
Maranao kulintang music is a type of
a gong music. Sarunaayfis also found among both Muslim and
non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines. Kobbing is a
Maranao instrument and Biyula is another popular Instrument.
Biyula is a string instrument. In 2005, the Darangen Epic of the
Maranao people of Lake Lanao was selected by UNESCO as
a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
o Cuisine
Maranao cuisine is quite spicy, with spices mixed up.
Traditionally cultivated spices, locally known as palapa (Bontang,
native product in Gandamatu) are a common condiment. It is made
of stewed scallion bulbs or “sakurab” in Maranao. Thinly
sliced scallion bulbs and gingerare caramelized by slow cooking
and mixed with chilies and coconut oil.
Dishes are intertwined with important cultural rituals across all
aspects of Maranao culture: from birth to death.
 Costume
The costumes used during the singkil are

among the most colorful and intricate
Maranao attires.
The Maranao Princess costume is made
from silk or cotton. The garments are
ornate, decorated with metallic threads
embroidery, sequins, pearls, and long
beads. The dancer also has intricate
jewelry, like bangles and etc. Her
headdress is a work of art. It is made of
silk and brass, decorated with tassels and
dangling beads.
The Maranao Prince outfit consists of a colorful long silk shirt
adorned with metallic golden threads, matching long pants with
similar decorations, an enormous metal necklace, and a knotted
cap decorated with exquisite gold embroidery.
 Tradition
o 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
perfomred through a Flute like instrument made of bamboo.
o Kaganat sa Darangen
Is the most aristocratic of the Maranao traditional dances,
should be performed by someone who has the aptitude to
move theatrical. Mere movement of fingers to switching of
fans and graceful swaying of the hips all to deine the
obstacle Prince Lomna encountered as he fought beast
mountain when he proposed marriage on his fathers’ behalf
in Guindolongan.
o Another tradition that is practiced by the Maranaos is called
“parental” marriage. In that case, parents will be the ones to
adjudicate who will marry their son or daughter. The parents
of both sides will have an agreement how much dowry will be
given by the parents of groom side to the parents of the bride
side. In our culture, dowry is the amount of money given by
the parents of the male side before marrying the bride. After
the agreement is settled, there will be a “kandialaga,”
wherein there will be a one-week celebration before the
official “kakawing,” or the wedding ceremony. This is
practiced probably because they want to retain the pride of
their family, especially when the family came from a royal
and big family.
o ‘Adat’ is a very important characteristic of the Maranao
culture. It is the totality of their metaphysical interpretations
of Islam infused with their pre-Islamic culture.
o Just like in any Muslim customs, eating pork & exposing skin
are strictly prohibited. They pray 5 times a day facing the
Kaaba in Mecca. While they’re very patriarchal, Maranao
women are also well protected.
 Belief
The Maranao are Muslim. In recent years, Maranao who have
studied in Islamic universities in the Middle East have worked
towards the elimination of traditional spirit beliefs and associated
rituals. In addition to the religious merit, much social prestige
comes from sponsoring the construction of religious buildings,
such that every community now has a mosque
and madrasah (Islamic school). Moreover, large numbers of
Maranao make the pilgrimage to Mecca.
In addition to Muslim religious officials, such as the imam (prayer
leader) and kali (judge), there are pandarpa'an , usually old
women, through whose possessed bodies spirits speak
and pamamantik , practitioners of magic and counter magic.

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Marana o

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Ayesha Raine A.

The Maranao people, also spelled Meranao, Maranaw,

Maranaos number about 1,720,000. Along with the Iranun and

The Maranao is a royal-heavy community replete with sultans,

The culture of the Maranaos is centered on Lake Lanao, the

The costumes used during the singkil are

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