Superstitious beliefs of Maranao

From sweeping at night to singing while cooking or fearing to face the mirror when lightnings are
striking, one or the other, we still believe in it. We still believe in the superstitious beliefs our
grandmothers told us which their grandmothers told them and their grandmother’s grandmother's told
them too. It’s a fact.

EXPLAINATION:

In the Lanao area, as in all other places in the Philippines, there are many beliefs, considered
superstitious, that you didn't even know existed. These beliefs however, are historically passed down
from generation to generation, some are sensible make-believes and some are just teachings on values
and attitudes to live a good and prosperous life.

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.
In the Lanao area, as in all other
areas in the Philippines, many
beliefs and practices
considered superstitious are still
very popular. One of these is the
belief in
the tonongs, supernatural spirits
that live in lakes and other places.
Legend tells of
a tonong named Mipato who is
said to have been seen around
Lake Dapao. He
looks like a big carabao (water
buffalo) with golden horns.
Anyone who tries to
catch him will drown in the lake.
According to one story, he
appeared and blocked
some Spanish soldiers who were
crossing the lake. The soldiers
fired on him, but he
disappeared. Suddenly, the water
rose and drowned all the soldiers.
It has become
the custom for Maranaos to drop
coins or other metallic objects, like
nails, into any
lake or big river whenever they
cross it, in the belief that if they
failed to do so the
resident tonong there might drown
them as they crossed
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.
In the Lanao area, as in all other
areas in the Philippines, many
beliefs and practices
considered superstitious are still
very popular. One of these is the
belief in
the tonongs, supernatural spirits
that live in lakes and other places.
Legend tells of
a tonong named Mipato who is
said to have been seen around
Lake Dapao. He
looks like a big carabao (water
buffalo) with golden horns.
Anyone who tries to
catch him will drown in the lake.
According to one story, he
appeared and blocked
some Spanish soldiers who were
crossing the lake. The soldiers
fired on him, but he
disappeared. Suddenly, the water
rose and drowned all the soldiers.
It has become
the custom for Maranaos to drop
coins or other metallic objects, like
nails, into any
lake or big river whenever they
cross it, in the belief that if they
failed to do so the
resident tonong there might drown
them as they crossed
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.
In the Lanao area, as in all other
areas in the Philippines, many
beliefs and practices
considered superstitious are still
very popular. One of these is the
belief in
the tonongs, supernatural spirits
that live in lakes and other places.
Legend tells of
a tonong named Mipato who is
said to have been seen around
Lake Dapao. He
looks like a big carabao (water
buffalo) with golden horns.
Anyone who tries to
catch him will drown in the lake.
According to one story, he
appeared and blocked
some Spanish soldiers who were
crossing the lake. The soldiers
fired on him, but he
disappeared. Suddenly, the water
rose and drowned all the soldiers.
It has become
the custom for Maranaos to drop
coins or other metallic objects, like
nails, into any
lake or big river whenever they
cross it, in the belief that if they
failed to do so the
resident tonong there might drown
them as they crossed
TONONG - supernatural spirits who live in lakes and other places. Mipato is atonong from
Lake Dapao. He looks like a big carabao with golden horns.

EXPLAIN:

In the Lanao area, as in all other areas in the Philippines, many beliefs and practices considered
superstitious are still very popular. One of these is the belief in the tonongs, supernatural spirits that
live in lakes and other places. Legend tells of a tonong named Mipato who is said to have been seen
around Lake Dapao. He looks like a big carabao (water buffalo) with golden horns. Anyone who tries to
catch him will drown in the lake. According to one story, he appeared and blocked some Spanish
soldiers who were crossing the lake. The soldiers fired on him, but he disappeared. Suddenly, the water
rose and drowned all the soldiers. It has become the custom for Maranaos to drop coins or other
metallic objects, like nails, into any lake or big river whenever they cross it, in the belief that if they
failed to do so the resident tonong there 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.
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.
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.

NONOK - is a tree that grows to great size, as also believed to be inhabited byspirits who prey on
people.

KOKOK - Just like the nonok, kokoks can get you confuse of roads or places, makingyou see repetitive
destination or spot. Sometimes kokok can appear differently and will take you to their king.

CARRYING PILLOW -
nobody should carry a pillow
without a pillow case. It is
believed that a ghost would be
attracted to it and would run after
the one holding
it.
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.
MINDING BEAUTIFUL
UNUSUAL THINGS - If one
appreciated, commented or
disturbed something unusual;
things, events, and others. It will
cost your life. Death
will come after few days.
CARRYING PILLOW - nobody should carry a pillow without a pillow case. It is believed that a
ghost would be attracted to it and would run after the one holding it.
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 on 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.
MINDING BEAUTIFUL UNUSUAL THINGS - If one appreciated, commented or disturbed
something unusual; things, events, and others. It will cost your life. Death will come after few days.

*Among themselves, Maranao do not use surnames, but in dealing with Philippine educational or
bureaucratic systems, individuals use the name of a father, grandfather, brother, or prominent ancestor
as a second name. In one community, a person may register under one relative's name as a surname; in
another, he or she may register under another. This allows Maranao to vote in different jurisdictions,
something they understand not as electoral fraud but as a right of descent.