1.
HB
- **Etymology**:
- "Maranao," "Meranao," or "Mranao" comes from
"ranao," meaning "lake"
- Translates to "people of the lake."
- **Geography**:
- Traditional home surrounds Lake Lanao, the
second largest lake in the Philippines.
- Located in Lanao del Sur, near the border of Lanao
del Norte.
- Triangular area with a base length of 28.8
kilometers; elevation between 780 to 2,300 meters
above sea level.
- Cooler temperatures compared to surrounding
areas.
- **Marawi City**:
- Located at the northern tip of Lake Lanao; major
urban center.
- In the Maranao language, "Marawi" means "a
place where things are inclined or centered."
- Bisected by the Agus River, the lake's only outlet.
- **Historical Background**:
- **Kingdom of Bumbaran**:
- Earliest records from oral traditions (salsila)
reference this kingdom.
- **Legend**: Kingdom sank into Lake Lanao after
inhabitants refused conversion to Islam, leading to
four survivors becoming the ancestors of the
Maranao.
- **Islamic Influence**:
- Early 16th century: Sharif Muhammad
Kabungsuan, an Arab-Malay preacher, arrived in
Malabang.
- Introduced Islam, settling with a local princess,
establishing a new political order.
- Indigenous administrative structures were
integrated into a sultanate system.
- Islam fostered political integration among
Maranao despite challenges from the Maguindanao
royalty.
- Maranao leadership traditionally tied to
Maguindanao until its decline.
.2. Governance
- **Pre-Islamic Political Structure**:
- Maranao were organized into **barangay**
(independent, kinship-based political units).
- Settlements around Lake Lanao organized into
**four pengampong** (states):
- **Bayabao**
- **Masiu**
- **Unayan**
- **Balo-i**
- Local leaders called **datus** (chieftains)
administer these units.
- **Community Structure**:
- Maranao live in **agama** (hamlets), each
defined by at least one **torogan** (great house)
for community gatherings.
- Each agama organized into **bangsa**
(ambilineal descent lines), each with at least one
hereditary title.
- The titleholder represents the **bangsa**; some
may hold the title of **sultan** at a superior
political level.
- **Political Community**:
