TH E MARANAO

COMMUNITY
Presented by:
Group 13
Antonio, Rica Mae C.
Arquero, Mikaela Richelle
Fabrero, Ivy
 MARANAO
The Muslim Maranao, the largestCnon-Christian
OMMUNITY ethnic group in the Philippines, have lived
around Lake Lanao in western Mindanao since at least the 13th century, having separated from
kindred coastal people at that time. Some Maranao maintained relations with these Ilanun,
joining them in slave-raiding in the Philippine and Indonesian archipelagos. Legends, however,
locate Maranao origins in Bembaran, a kingdom that sunk to the bottom of the sea because it
rejected Islam. Sarip Kabongsoan of Johore (in Malaya) converted the neighboring Magindanao;
his descendants went to the Lanao region and intermarried with descendants of refugees from
Bembaran.
 Maranao people are refered to as lake
dwellers or people of the lake. They
inhabit the land of Lanao Del Norte
and Lanao Del Sur in Mindanao.
 Isolated until the arrival of coastal
people and the influence of colonial
powers.
 They were the last to be converted
into Islam.
They were a rallying point for partisan activity against the
Spanish, the Americans, the Japanese, and the Republic of
the Philippines, particularly during times of martial law.
Many Maranao are strongly resistant to a centralized
Philippines government, with some openly revolting
against it. They prefer a federal form of government, with
more regional autonomy, or, alternatively, secession, so as
to be able to align themselves with a Muslim country or to
become an independent nation.
MARANAO
COMMUNITY
 The Maranao tribe never
established a single state but
they are divided into many
groups called “sultanates” which
were in continual warfare with
each other. Maranao villages are
made up of a few main
households: several families
may live under one roof in a
food- sharing relationship.
 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.
 Communities are clustered
around a Mosque and a Mala–a-walai is a single room and partitionless structure, is a house of
Torogan, belongin to the a well-to-do family. Although architectural ornaments are present in
preminent economic household the structure, the house does not have the panolong – an elaborately
in the area. carved beam extension identified with the royal torogan. The okir
 MARANAO
C OMMUNITY
The Maranao are principally farmers and fishermen. The eastern part of Lake Lanao is
fertile for rice cultivation. Fertile land has brought surpluses of maize, peanuts, sweet
potatoes, coffee, citrus fruits, and exotic varieties of tropical fruits. Cottage industries such
as cloth and mat weaving, wood carving, and metalwork in brass, silver, and gold are
popular. Maranao are known for selling straw mats, yard goods, blankets, and metalware
throughout the Philippines.
 LOC ATION AND HOMELAND OF THE MARANAO
C OMMUNITY
Maranao (in their own pronunciation, Meranao or M'ranao) means "people of the lake,"
referring to Lake Lanao, which lies 670 m (2,200 ft) above sea level in western Mindanao.
the largest non-Christian ethnic group in the Philippines, inhabit the lands around the lake,
dominating the province of Lanao del Sur (609,000 or 91% of the population in 2000)
stretching to its south.
 The Maranao is a royal-heavy community replete with
sultans, datus & bae labis. This came about when Islam  Maranao is an Austronesian language
was introduced to Lanao & has survived through spoken by the Maranao people in the
colonization. The sultanate system remains a significant provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del
part of the Maranao society to this day. It symbolizes Sur. This script is called Batang Arab
royal authority & stands in its domestic affairs like (Arabic letters). Written Maranao literary
armoring its culture & heritage, patching family disputes texts are known as kirim.
& chronicling the legitimacy of royal bloodlines through
the “salsila”.They are very clannish too. It is their way to
protect family heritage & properties.
 SOC IAL O R G ANIZATIO N
 Social interaction divisions(age and sex): At the age of six,
around when schooling begins, males and females are
separated from physical interaction. Around the age of
puberty, 16 or so, men are prohibited from approaching a
girl who is along.

 Village and house organization: Villages consists of 3-4

households, each of which have large families of 10 or
more.

 Social organization, clans, moieties, lineages, etc: Linage

plays one of the most important roles of the society seeing
as how tightly interwoven the community is. Social
organization is based both on kinship, as well as individual
personality traits and skill. Positive attributes of an
individual can result in honor and high status, as well as
determine his line of work. Women usually maintain the
subordinate role of the household, helping with gathering of
food, weaving and artistic work, as well as caring for the
children. Members of one village can be a member of
another village because of how interwoven the kinship
relationships are, a village consists of those who share a
descent group rather then common spatial territories.
AN
TES OF PASSAGE: BIRTH
S OF PASSAGE: MARRIAGES
LONG
 The Maranaos, one of
the last tribes in
Mindanao is adapting to
modern society without
completely losing their
ethnic identity and like
any other indigenous
group, they try to escape
the modernizing
influences of the present.
 THE BATTLE OF MARAWI
recently the Maranao people experienced traumatic events in their
lives. they are still currently rebuilding what has left of them.