Travels 215: The Grand Ranaw

Having been to the Islamic City of Marawi brings you closer to the grand Ranaw, the beauteous lake that the Maranao, as a people’s name is derived. Maranao, as a tribe is derived from the English word “people of the lake” and lake is called ranaw or ranao.

One fine day, in the Municipality of Tugaya as well as in our visit to the Torogans in Tuca, in Marawi City, I have felt Ranaw in all her glory, seen her and captured by her. My heart jumps for happiness when I saw from a distance, children swimming one humid afternoon and which waters of Ranaw is inviting.

 

Historically, the Spaniards in 1689 explored the rest of Ranaw to be surprised by a well-established settlement called Dansalan at the northern end of Ranaw.  Since then and in 1907, Dansalan becomes a Municipality, which became now, the Islamic City of Marawi.

 

What made Ranaw grand is it awe-inspiring and expansive presence in the entire Lanao region. The origins of Ranaw was a result of a tectonic movements from a volcanic activity. Grand and regal, Ranaw forever becomes a shining cool and inviting waters which gained for myself trust, confidence and calmness amidst the chaotic pictures of what Ranaw truly was and is.

Travels 214: Appreciating Maranaw’s living traditions

One of the rare occasions I had visiting Lanao del Sur and in particular, the Islamic City of Marawi was when I went to the Municipality of Tugaya, the epicentre of arts and culture in all of the province as well as those in Mindanao and the Philippines. I am rather impressed of how creativity and craftsmanship ruled the municipality as every household virtually has something associated to arts and culture interwoven into their lives.

                                      Maranao family’s artistic interior in their humble home

When I asked our guides why Tugaya becomes the epicentre of arts and culture of the people of Lanao del Sur, they matter-of-factly informed me and Habagat Central, that because the municipality has no agricultural opportunity and the land is one that is stony and vegetation is a virtual impossibility, they instead, shifted their energy into craftsmanship and into the arts.

The first family we had visited were makers of wooden chests in-laid with coral stones. The ones I saw in many shops in Manila are indeed came from Tugaya. They have so much to offer to those who wanted wooden products and their craftsmanship is unbelievably modernist and in keeping with the demands of the interior design and keeps on evolving.

                                                The wooden chest with coral stone inlaids

                                                 Wooden jars with coral stone inlaids

                                               Huge wooden drums with intricate carvings

                      A fellow travel blogger, Habagat Central taking photos of the wooden drums

The second family we visited were makers of handwoven clothing, mostly commonly called “malong” used by Maranao women in special occasions. Handwoven malong are best made in Tugaya and they have some distinct markings to separate it from those copying from their word. Mostly, these malongs are embroidered and are handcrafted. Impressively, they have preserved their family’s designs and traditions.

                                            Maranao ladies displaying their special Malong

                                 Blogger Habagat Central pose for his UP inspired sablay “Malong”

The third family we visited were makers of brassware and brass-related products. They shared to us that there is a dearth in the production of brassware and metal-base products due to an expensive raw materials, high demands of capital and limited market where their products can best be sold. A family then offered to show us the finished products they produced and I was enthralled and impressed.

                                                 brassware moulds at a family’s backyard

                                       brassware displayed in the house of a Maranao in Tugaya

The Municipality of Tugaya is one destination in Lanao del Sur that serves the most definitive arts and crafts as well as creative spirit among the people of the lake, as the Maranaos are known for. I also observed that the Maranaos are the exceptional tribe of the 13 ethnolinguistic groups of Muslim Filipinos and those I am most proud to have shared to the mainstream Filipino culture and arts.

Travels 213: The Majestic Dilimbayan Tugaya Central Mosque

The great emphasis of my recent trip to Lanao del Sur and the Islamic City of Marawi has brought me to the heart of culture, arts, crafts in all of the province, the Municipality of Tugaya. I have been to this most scenic municipality of Lanao del Sur because I and my fellow blogger friend along with our guides, wanted to see how crafts are made in Tugaya. We were never disappointed at what we saw.

First off, my motivations always is to see a grand Islamic structures and architecture which stems from the fact that I saw the most beautiful mosques in Malaysia and Brunei, these are what I saw in the Philippines too.

                                              The Dilimbayan Tugaya Central Mosque

From Marawi City, we took a 30 minutes drive and I knew that the problem in going there is accessibility. When visitors going to Tugaya on public transport only, one must remember that the last trip back to Marawi City is 1pm and beyond that, will be problematic as no public transport ply these route so regularly. Also, when you go there on public transport, you will have to walk considerable distance to the center of the Municipality.

Upon arriving in Tangkal in Tugaya, we were informed that Adel Tamano and his broods hails from this great municipality. The municipality is the epicentre for maranao arts and commerce of crafts.

The Dilimbayan Tugaya Central Mosque was built in January 15, 1962 by the very residents who considered it its central most. The most is situated at the banks of Lake Lanao.

                                        Interiors of the Dilimbayan Tugaya Central Mosque

When I went to take Travey for a spin at Dilimbayan Tugaya Central Mosque, it drizzled shortly and afterwards, sunshine yet again. The dark clouds hovering Lake Lanao is nowhere to be found again.

The majestic Central Mosque was a bastion of the religious in Tugaya, one that I am forever impressed.