MARANAO

BASIC FACTS
Maranao or meranaw is the term used officially by the Philippine government in reference to the
southern tribe who is commonly called as People of Lake Lanao, a predominantly Muslim region in
thePhilippines island of Mindanao referring to the indigenous people who inhabited the lands around Lake
Lanao.
The Maranao are primarily an inland group, comparatively isolated until recently from coastal peoples
and the influence of colonial powers. Of the major Muslim groups in the Philippines, the Maranao were the last
to be converted to 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. They are said to be
closely affiliated with a group or subgroup possibly antecedent to the Maranao, varyingly called Iranon, Iranun,
Illanun, and Ilanon.
The word Maranao, also spelled Maranaw is a misnomer as it does not have a sense in reference to
nouns such as people, place or thing. The prefix MA- means 'to be', i.e., Maranao means to be lake.
POPULATION
The Maranaos are part of the wider Moro ethnic group, who constitute the largest Moro ethnic group.
They have an approximate number of 1,142,000 which is the 1.25% of the total Philippines population. They
are also considered as the second largest muslim group after the maguindanao in the Philippines.
LOCATION
They are located in many areas including lanao del sur, lanao del norte, bukidnon, cotabato,
maguindanao, zamboanga del sur, zamboanga city, misamis oriental, Iligan city, Cagayan de oro city, basilan,
sulu, tawi-tawi, manila and cebu. While, the principal town of the maranao people is the marawi city which is
the capital region of the Lanao Del sur. Roughly 90 percent of the Maranao live in the province of Lanao del
Sur, with the remainder living in Lanao del Norte and parts of Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur, and Bukidnon.
GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
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.
The Maranaos of Lanao were acquainted with the sultanate system when Islam was introduced to the
area by Muslim missionaries and traders from the Middle East, Indian and Malay regions who propagated Islam
to Sulu and Maguindanao. Unlike in Sulu and Maguindanao, the Sultanate system in Lanao was uniquely
decentralized. The area was divided into Four Principalities of Lanao or the Pat a Pangampong a Ranao which
are composed of 17 royal houses (Sapolo ago pito a Panoroganan or The Seventen (17) Royal Houses) with
specific territorial jurisdictions within mainland Mindanao. This decentralized structure of royal power in Lanao
was adopted by the founders, and maintained up to the present day, in recognition of the shared power and
prestige of the ruling clans in the area, emphasizing the values of unity of the nation (kaiisaisa o bangsa),
patronage (kaseselai) and fraternity (kapapagaria).
The Sultanate system has remained important as an integral part of the Maranao society, symbolizing
royal authority, cultural heritage and Islamic influence. At present, Maranaos trace their lineage, legitimacy and
authority through their Salsila that has chronicled the origins of the Lanao royal houses.

WAY OF LIFE
The mercantile, cultural, and educational center of the Maranao is Marawi (formerly Dansalan), the
capital of Lanao del Sur. The life 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 (show
picture of lake lanao). 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.
The Maranao are principally farmers and fishermen. Their primary source of livelihood is agriculture
including the production of crops such as rice, corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, papayas, bananas, and betel nuts..
The eastern part of Lake Lanao is fertile for rice cultivation. Fertile land has brought surpluses of several crops.
Cottage industries such as cloth and mat weaving, wood carving, and metalwork in brass, silver, and gold are
popular. They are also known for selling straw mats, yard goods, blankets, and metalware throughout the
Philippines. Lake fishing is also a traditional source of livelihood in them. Aside from this, they are also famous
for their artwork, sophisticated weaving, wood and metal crafts, and their epic literature, Darangen.
CULTURE
Maranao and their culture can be best described by the Lake Lanao, Sarimanok, Darangen (a UNESCO
Heritage), Singkil (a popular and world's recognized Philippine dance), Okir on wooden artifacts and
brasswares, Capmorod and Kacculilang.
In terms of marriage, they are followed Islamic way of marriage. They mostly wanted a fixed marriage
in order to retain the wealth of the family. The parents of the groom contact the parents of the bride regarding
the desire of their son to marry. The womans family announces the dowry and when it settled, the wedding will
be held and celebrate in a very prestigious way. maranao are very rich in terms of culture heritage.
The Maranao version of Islam includes many elements of pre-Islamic belief and ritual, particularly those
connected with agriculture, the spirit world, and the cycles of nature. Islamic beliefs strongly reflect Sufi
influence, especially in vocabulary and chants at rituals.