MARANAO TRIBE

On Courtship and Marriage

Muslim Filipinos observe traditional courtship and marriage practices just like
other Filipino groups (Gowing, 2011). The family enquires, discusses, and suggests
candidates from among the network of people that they know. They consult with each
other to narrow down potential prospects. Usually the father or mother approaches the
other family to suggest a meeting (Huda, 2013).
In addition to, that Major Moro groups expect the man to court and marry a
woman who comes from the same status of his family. Thus, arranged marriage is
mainly due to prestige and the parents wish to enable their children to enjoy a better
social and economic life. According to Gowing (2011), that the essential part of any
proposed union is bride-gift. It is meant to compensate the brides family for the loss of a
woman-member and to reimburse the cost of her upbringing.
Child rearing
A ceremonial preparation of the child for adulthood called pag-islam (meaning,
what Islam has required) or circumcision follows Islamic rites. It may be a simple or
elaborate ceremony done by an imam or another religious personality who performs
prayers and chants (Gowing, 2011). However, prayers are done at home and the boy is
taught his responsibilities as a member of the family and the Islamic community. Islam
regards an uncircumcised male adult as infidel (Sennels, 2010).
Clothes
The most prominent traditional wear is the malong, a large, colorful woven cloth
wrapped around the body. One common way women wear it is around the waist with its
folds draped over the left arm. Men wrap it around the waist like a skirt. The malong has
many uses depending on the need of the wearer. It can be used as a cape, coat,
blanket or umbrella. Maranao or Maguindanao women wear the malong over a blouse
called arbita. Also, they wear a turban called kombong made of muslin fabric. White is
used as kombong when the wearer has been to Mecca.
In Sulu, patadyong is the peoples version of malong. It is smaller and resembles
a sarong worn by people in Indonesia and Malaysia. Sawal or kantyu is loose baggy
pants made of soft cloth and worn by both men and women. Men wear the sawal with a
polo shirt, while women wear it with a sambra, a collarless, V-neck blouse with short
sleeves. Women also wear it with a sablay, a long-sleeved blouse that reaches the hips
(Gowing, 2011).

Music
Music is another important part of the culture. However, it should be noted that
there is a distinction between music for rituals, which is basically vocal without
instruments, and music for entertainment. Kulintang (brass gongs), kagandang (war
drums), ceremonial dances and kambaioka (singers or chanters of improvised poetic
compositions) are played on various occasions. The gabbang is similar to a xylophone,
while suling and saunay are wind instruments. The biyula is a string instrument, and the
kulintangan is an ensemble of gongs and drums. The kudyapi is a two-stringed lute
plucked to make beautiful sounds. The kubing (jews harp) is made of bamboo and
believed to make words and tell stories, if the audience could understand the language
of music.
Moro musicality is also seen in songs and dances. For the Tausug, there are
songs called kissa which tell about the love of datus and princesses, while heroic songs
are contained in parang sibil. The Maranao kandidiagao is a melodious lament over the
dead (Gowing, 2011).
EDUCATION
"Madrasa" (Arabic: , madrasah, pl. , madris, Turkish: Medrese) is the
Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious (of any
religion). Variously transliterations appear: madrasah, madarasaa, medresa, madrassa,
madraza, medrese, etc (WordAnywhere. Retrieved 2007-06-23).
Meanwhile, DepEd has recognized the Madrasah component as among the
strengths found in the entire literacy program of Davao City when it bestowed in 2012
the citys third National Literacy Award under the highly urbanized city category.
Bestowed annually by the National Literacy Coordinating Council (NLCC) and DepEd,
the award placed Davao City in the Hall of Fame, having won the same award in 2008
and 2010.
This year, Davao Citys Madrasah program is chosen as the countrys official
nominee to the 2014 edition of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes.
Initially established in 1967, these Prizes are sponsored by the Republic of Korea
and the Peoples Republic of China, and they are composed of the two UNESCO King
Sejong Literacy Prizes and the three UNESCO Confucius Prizes for Literacy. They are
awarded each year to individuals, governments and non-governmental organizations in
recognition of their distinguished contribution to the promotion of literacy
(EdgeDavao.net, 2014).

References

Anonymous. (2007, June 23). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrasa. Retrieved February 3, 2014,

from wikipedia.com.
Davao, E. (2014). Strengthening Madrasah Education. Edge Davao, 2-3.
Gowing, P. G. (2011). Muslim Filipinos -- Heritage.
Huda. (2013, February 21). https://prezi.com/leiq35vagdoi/untitled-prezi/. Retrieved February 4,
2015, from prezi.com.
Sentenels, A. (2013, January 5). http://www.everyculture.com/East-SoutheastAsia/Maranao.html. Retrieved February 4, 2014, from google.com.