The Maranaos are among the

13 Muslim groups in the

Philippines. They are regarded as
the moro people whose way of life
follows their distinct Islamic &
pre-Islamic heritage. But they are
commonly defined as the “people
living around the lake”
Like the other Filipino Muslims,
the Maranao differ markedly from
the Christians, who make up the
overwhelming majority of the
country’s population. Land is
owned by the clan and controlled
by local leaders known as
"datus". The customs of marriage
and the family are Islāmic.
Maranao, largest of the Muslim
cultural-linguistic groups of the
Philippines. Numbering more than
840,000 in the late 20th century.
The largest non-Christian ethnic
group in the Philippines, inhabit
the lands around the lake,
dominating the province of Lanao
del Sur.
 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.
The mosque is the place where
Muslims worship. It is made of
wood and the area can
accommodate about 40-44
worshipers. The mosque is
beautiful decorated with ukkil
designs.
 Maranao women wear special kinds of
clothes which are distinctly their own.
The malong is one kind of dress
material which can be used in many
ways. Women wear it as skirt, a dress,
a blouse or a gown. The rest of the
family use it either as hammock, a fruit
basket, a sleeping bag, a bathrobe, a
baby carriage or a simple market bag.
 Maranao architecture has been
influenced by the Indus and the
Islamic religion. The influence of
Islam man be noted in the ukkil
carvings in maranao homes, mosques
and tool. The Hindu influence may be
seen in the naga or S carvings on the
eaves of houses, bows of a boat, chess
pieces and the Sarimanok.
 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.
The Torogan is the ancestral house
and the royal residence of the
upper-class Maranao. It is
commonly found in Marawi City
and other areas in Lanao del Sur
province. Within the sultanate, no
one can have a house bigger than
the Torogan which is the dwelling
place of the datu along with his
wives and children.
RICE FARMING
METAL ARTWORKING
CLOTH/MALONG WEAVING
WOOD CARVING
 '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.
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.
Rice is the staple food of Filipinos,
and the same is true for the Maranaos.
For important occasions and
gatherings, or even on a regular day,
Maranaos have a special way of
preparing rice. Rice is colored with
turmeric and flavored with salt, laurel
leaves and olive oil, and cooked the
usual way, creating the kuning.
Dodol is a Maranao delicacy that is made
from sticky rice flour, coconut milk, and
sugar. Others add durian to make it more
delicious. It has become a popular Iftar
food aside from being served during
celebrations like weddings and
thanksgivings. The dodol is wrapped in
corn husks or brightly colored cellophane
sheetssheets

Tinadtag is one of the delicacies of the

Bangsamoro. It is crispy and yummy.
FEMININE INSTRUMENT

The kulintang is traditionally

considered a women's
instrument by many groups
Kapa Malong Malong - Also called Sambi
sa Malong, this Maranao dance shows
the
many ways of wearing a malong, a
simple tubular yet highly
functional piece of cloth. The traditional
women’s version shows this cloth of
countless colorful designs; used mostly
as a skirt, woven in many different ways,
depending on the purpose of the wearer.
Other ways the women wear malong is
 Sinkil dance takes its name from the bells worn on the
ankles of the Muslim princess. Perhaps one of the
oldest of truly Filipino dances, the Singkil recounts the
epic legend of the "Darangan" of the Maranao people
of Mindanao.
 The rhythmic clapping of criss-crossed bamboo poles
represent the trees that were falling, which she
gracefully avoids. Her slave loyally accompanies her
throughout her ordeal. Finally, she is saved by the
prince. Dancers wearing solemn faces and maintaining
a dignified pose being dancing at a slow pace which
soon progresses to a faster tempo skillfully manipulate
apir, or fans which represent the winds that prove to be
auspicious. The dancers weave expertly through criss-
crossed bamboos.
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.
 The mosque is the place where
Muslims worship. The corpse is
cleaned and wrapped in a white cloth.
It is then buried in a tarking (grave)
about 1.8 meters deep which is then
covered with soil because of the belief
in the resurrection, the top is not
cemented. Pouring of water over the
grave completes the burial.