MODULE 2: LESSON 2

INSTITUTIONS OF MINSUPALA BEFORE THE ADVENT OF

ISLAM

I.Activity:

Task No. 1: “Follow the Leader”

1. For you what is the best quality of a being leader? Explain. (10pts.)

The best quality of a leader is having integrity. Integrity is the foundation of good
leadership, and one must stand for their beliefs. No matter how hard a situation, a good
leader inspires with his principles without compromising; they refrain from making false
promises or take shortcuts, choosing thoughts and action over personal gain. Delivering the
said promises as ethically and morally grounded is necessary to pay the dividend in the long
run.

Another quality a leader must possess is that he must be innovative. Innovative people
are always open to new ideas and discussions. They listen to everyone actively and also
motivate others to think out of the box. This quality gives them an edge over others since
they are always hunting for creativity and innovations.

2. Do your local leader/s in your engud possess that quality? If not, how can
you help or what can you suggest to uplift your community? (20pts.)

Everyone has their own positive and negative side, similarly to the leader
of our community he have both good and bad qualities in terms or rulings and
leading our place. In my own opinion some of the leaders in my place
somewhat known to be not that transparent. They lack transparency as they
do not possess the integrity to be a deserving leader, they make false
promises resulting to a backward development or slow progress in our place.

I suggest to my fellow M’ranaw to be more perceptive in choosing the

right leaders that can really give the change and the progress that our city
needs. We must be vigilant, and we must think for the real improvement of
our community.

And as a fellow resident of our place I can volunteer my energy and skills to a
local organization. It is a great way to give back to your community. Whether a hospital, food
bank, youth group, senior’s home, or animal shelter there are tonnes of local organizations
that would benefit from your time.

3. During Pre-Islamic and Pre-Colonial Period, can you identify at least ten
Characteristics of a person to be considered as the community Chieftain or Datu?
Discuss why these characteristics are very important to be a leader? (50pts.)

The Datu usually obtained his position by inheritance. However, one could also become
 a Datu through display of his prowess and valor in battle, or by proving his leadership skills
or other traits useful for the barangay survival. A datu is an expert in the customary law, a
just and fair mediator in conflicts within the tribe, exudes a spiritual life, a respected and
esteemed individual in the tribe.

A person to be considered as the community Chieftain or Datu, one must have the
following characteristics. A Chieftain or Datu has conviction, humble, knowledgeable,
trustworthy, dependable, and a good listener. A datu has a wide perspective and
consequently, a broad mind. These characteristics must be possessed by any leaders in
leading a community or their constituents. It makes a leader more dependable and trust-
worthy. He will have the sympathy and support of the people when a leader shows these
kinds of characters.

Task No. 2: “In The Olden Days”

1. Is the M’ranaw Pangampong Islamic or un-Islamic system of government?

Justify and support your argument firmly by citing example/s. (25pts.)

A pengampong/pangampong is a Maranaw state or principality that contains

one central government and several local government units. The Lanao Sultanate
had the traditional laws i.e. the taritib and igma or the adat laws or traditional
laws and Shari’ah (Islamic laws). The political structure of Lanao Sultanate was
comprised of council of elders, house of board of advisers, the house of bais
(titled ladies), imāms (prayer leaders), kalis (judges), gurus (teachers), askars
(army), pananalsilas (genealogy experts), defence units headed by a radia-laut
(naval and army commander)(Racman M. S., 2018) and the forty-three sultans
who ruled the pagawidan (supported) states and pagawid (supporting) states.

Therefore it is an Islamic system of government since they also follow the

Shari’ah Law which is from the Qur’an and Hadith of the prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w).

2.Cite ten pre-Islamic practices that are still widely practiced by the M’ranaw
people at present. Explain why you consider those.(50pts)

Maratabat - Maratabat is the Maranaos’ deep sense of personal honor,

dignity, self-esteem, and reputation. It is a natural charactersitic of a M’ranaw.
Parental Marriage - 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. 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.

Artworks - Most of the artworks of the Maranaos are designed with “okir.” Famously
known for their artworks, okir is a flowing and geometric design used by the Maranaos to
 beautify their artworks. Mamandyang, awang or dugout boat, torogan, and their cultural
attires were some of Maranao artworks that have an okir-inspired design.Torogan is an
ancient house of the Maranaos where the sulutan or datu lived. Mamandyang is a long strip
of cloth attached around the corner of the house. Maranaos are very particular in designing
their artworks. Their landap and malong, which are tubelike cloths or skirts, are also
designed with okir. Even their cultural attires are inspired and designed with okir.

Polygamy - Polygamy is one of the traditions of Maranaos that is still practiced upon
to this day, especially for Maranao males. Polygamy is when a person marries more than one
wife or husband. During the ancestral times, Maranao leaders, those who have royal blood,
are usually the people who used to adapt polygamy. Due to their influence, many Maranaos
adapted polygamy and it eventually became a part of our culture.

3. Name the item below and discuss its magical (superstitious) representation in
the torogan – from its design, motif or pattern to its meanings and symbolism.
(40pts.)

II.Analysis:
Task No. 3: “Civilized or Barbaric?”
1. What are the 12 criteria for civilization?(60pts.)

2. Given the criteria you have provided in number one, assess and discuss each if
the Moro people possessed an advance culture and qualified to be called as
civilized people. Follow the template below: (120pts.)

CRITERIAFOR ANALYSIS–7pts REMARKS–3pts

CIVILIZATION (Civilized or Uncivilized)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Task No. 4: “Article Review/Critical Analysis”

 1. Notes on the Contact History of Mindanao and Sulu by Juan R. Francisco (50pts.)

IV.Application:
Task No. 5: “Reasonable Reasons”
1. In his book, how did Chau-Ju-Kua describe these islands (The Philippine
Archipelago) and their inhabitants? Discuss your answer emphasizing its historical
setting. (30pts.)

2. How did the traditional socio-political organization of the indigenes look like
prior to the coming of Islam and Christianity in MINSUPALA Region? (20pts.)

3. What kind of leadership and governance did the pre-Islamic native observe?
(10pts.)

4. In the context of the M’ranaw political administration, how and in what way
women (Bai-A-Labi, Potre Maamor, etc.) acquired power to govern certain
principality? (30pts.)

5. How did the natives resolve conflict the traditional way? (15pts.)

6. In the traditional M’ranaw legal and justice system, distinguish the rules or
powers and functions of the Pulokloksen from the Rumah Bityara? (20pts.)

V. Assessment:
Task No. 6: “Wansapanataym”
Today, the M’ranaw are increasingly imbibing modern ways while [for some
reasons] they try to preserve and conserve their traditional power structure, culture,
and society as handed down to them by their ancestors. However, we cannot also
deny the over-lapping jurisdictions between the traditional administration and the
modern concept of political framework which these two authority systems are in
mutual rivalry, competition, and conflict that lead to the state of confusion among the
M’ranaw as both systems meet in the historical and contemporary contacts in a
M’ranaw socio political setting. In this matter, compare and contrast the political
system of the M’ranaw during the pre-colonial period (Pangampong) with our
present government. Just fill-in the spaces below: (140pts.)

Features Traditional Constitutional Analysis and

Government Government–5pts Conclusion–10pts
(Pangampong)–5pts

Example: With the continuing

Western influences in
 The Philippine
government,the
external system has
been gaining increasing
power and impact to
Source of Sultanate or Datuship Government of the the M’ranaw affairs,
Authority/Power Philippine Republic thereby weakening
gradually the
position of their
traditional system.
Furthermore,the
M’ranaw integration to
National body politics
Resulted to the decline
of their sultanate (royal
houses) and
sovereignty.

Territorial Jurisdiction

Local or Regional
Territorial Units

People or Citizen

Leaders or Power-
Holders

Ascension to or
Recruitment for Office

Instrument of Social
Control

Religion or Creeds