Lanao del Sur

Lanao del Sur
Province
Province of Lanao del Sur

Flag
Seal

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°55′N 124°20′E / 7.92°N 124.33°E / 7.92; 124.33Coordinates: 7°55′N 124°20′E / 7.92°N 124.33°E / 7.92; 124.33
Country Philippines
Region Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
Founded 1959
Capital Marawi
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
 • Governor Soraya Alonto-Adiong (Liberal Party)
 • Vice Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. (Liberal Party)
Area[1]
 • Total 3,872.89 km2 (1,495.33 sq mi)
Area rank 33rd out of 81
Highest elevation (Mount Ragang) 2,815 m (9,236 ft)
Population (2015 census)[2]
 • Total 1,045,429
 • Rank 24th out of 81
 • Density 270/km2 (700/sq mi)
 • Density rank 32nd out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays 1,159
 • Districts 1st and 2nd districts of Lanao del Sur
Time zone UTC+8 (PHT)
ZIP code 9300–9321, 9700–9716
IDD : area code  +63 (0)63
ISO 3166 code PH
Spoken languages
Income classification 1st class

Lanao del Sur (Maranao: Ranao Pagabagatan), officially the Province of Lanao del Sur, is a province in the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The capital is the city of Marawi, and it borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf.

Situated in the interior of Lanao del Sur is Lanao Lake, the largest in Mindanao. The Darangen Epic Chants of the Maranao of Lanao del Sur is inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2008. The town of Tugaya is also recognized as a UNESCO Home for Culture and Heritage. The Craftsmanship of the people of Tugaya was formally requested by UNESCO to be included in the UNESCO Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014 once proper documentation from the Philippine government has been completed. Furthermore, scholars have been pushing for the inclusion of the Torogans of Lanao in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Two torogans are currently being campaigned to be put back in Lanao del Sur as they have been moved to Bataan, 1,644.1 km away via land-sea transport, by the controversial Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar company.[3]

Etymology

"Lanao" means "lake", derived from ranao. The province, situated at basin of Lake Lanao, is known as the land of the "Maranaos" (which means "the "people of the lake").[4]

History

Pre-Islamic Era

Prior to the arrival of Islam, the region already had a sophisticated culture, as embodied in various Maranao epics, chants, and recorded history. The people of Lanao used to adhere to Hinduism, polytheist animism, and Buddhism. During this era, various cultural icons developed, such as the torogan, the singkil dance, the darangen epic, the unique Maranao gong and metal craft culture, the sarimanok, the okir motif, and an indigenous suyat script.[5][6]

Sultanate of Lanao

Lanao was first explored by the Spaniards in 1689, upon which they discovered a well-settled community named Dansalan at the lake's northern end. Lanao was the seat of the Sultanate of Lanao.[4]

During the Pre-Spanish time, there are 4 important boundaries hold the power of appointing a new sultan namely: Bakayawan, Dalama, Madamba and Sawer. In appointing a new sultan the permission of these four boundaries are needed to validate the new sultan appointed to his position.

World War II

In 1942, it was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Forces who landed in Southern Lanao. On May 2, 1942, the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Jose Abad Santos was killed by the Japanese Imperial forces in a firing squad at Malabang, Lanao del Sur. In 1945, the first of the liberation forces landed in Southern Lanao and liberated the area with United States, Philippine Commonwealth troops together with the Maranao guerrilla units. They used infantry weapons, the Maranao Kris, Barong and Kampilan swords against the Japanese forces in the Battle of Lanao.

In 1956, Republic Act No. 1552 changed the name Dansalan to Marawi, taken from the word rawi, referring to the reclining lilies abundant in the Agus River.[7]

Lanao province map in 1918

Division

In 1959, Lanao was divided into two provinces, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, under Republic Act No. 2228. Marawi was designated as the capital of Lanao del Sur.[8] The city was renamed the "Islamic City of Marawi" in 1980, and is currently the Philippines' only city having a predominantly Muslim population.[4]

Proposed Maranaw province

In 1971, Republic Act No. 6406, which sought to create a new province out of eastern Lanao del Sur (now corresponding to the province's first congressional district), was approved on October 4, 1971. The province was to consist of the municipalities of Bubong, Ditsaan-Ramain (including what is now Buadiposo-Buntong), Kapai, Lumba-Bayabao (including what is now Maguing), Marantao, Masiu, Mulondo, Saguiaran, Piagapo, Poona Bayabao, Tamparan, Taraka and Wao (including what is now Bumbaran), with the chartered city of Marawi serving as the new provincial capital.[9] The division never took place due to the declaration of Martial law in the Philippines on September 21, 1972, which disrupted the elections for 1973.

Joining the ARMM

In a 1989 plebiscite, Lanao del Sur voted to join the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), but Marawi City elected to remain outside ARMM.[4] It later joined ARMM in 2001 following the plebiscite that sought to expand the autonomous region.

The Battle of Marawi began and ended in 2017. The battle was against ISIL-affiliated militants, a number of which where Malaysian citizens. The battle destroyed most of the cityscape of Marawi City and killed hundreds of civilians and Filipino soldiers.

A petition was released in support for the usage of the torogan as inspiration for the rehabilation of Marawi after the Battle of Marawi. The petition was released in opposition to the possible Manila Rehabilation Effect that the government plans to impose. The Manila-style rehabilation would establish shanty shouses and buildings without Maranao architectural styles, thus destroying Marawi's Maranao cultural skyline. The petition advocates a Warsaw-style Rehabilation Effect, where the culture and styles of a particular area is used as foundation for rehabilitation of built heritage and landscape. Among the local architectural styles that may be used under the Warsaw-style are the okir, sarimanok, and inspirations from the torogan. The Warsaw-style is also foreseen to boost tourism in the city in the long-run due to the cultural aesthetics it would bring.

Governors after People Power Revolution 1986

  • 1986, 1988–1992, Saidamen Balt Pangarungan
  • 1992–1995, Mahid Mutilan
  • 1995–1998, Mahid Mutilan
  • 1998–2001, Mahid Mutilan
  • 2001–2004, Mamintal A. Adiong, Sr.
  • 2004–2007, Mamintal A. Adiong, Sr.
  • 2004–2007, Aleem Mostaqbalb Adiong

Geography

Satellite view of Lanao Lake, situated entirely within the province

Lanao del Sur forms the western portion of Northern Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by Lanao del Norte, on the east by Bukidnon, on the west by Illana Bay, and on the south by Maguindanao and Cotabato. The landscape is dominated by rolling hills and valleys, placid lakes and rivers.

Located within the province is Lanao Lake, the second largest in the country, its waters drained by the Agus River which eventually empties into the Iligan Bay.[4]

The climate in the province is characterized by even distribution of rainfall throughout the year, without a distinct summer season. The province is located outside the typhoon belt.[4]

Administrative divisions

Lanao del Sur comprises 39 municipalities and 1 city.

  •  †  Provincial capital and component city
  •      Municipality

Politics

The politics in the province was dominated by few and prestigious families. But only two (2) families have brought big influence in the province the Dimaporo and Alonto families. Both families have produced Governors, Congressmen, Board Members and Mayors, they were considered the most unforgettable political family in the province. The Dimaporos came from a small town of Binidayan and Balindong (Wato), Governor Sultan Ali Dimaporo became Governor of the province nominating by late Governor General Mamarinta B. Lao AFP, with the help of his siblings and cousin, Congressman Datu Macacuna Dimaporo, Mayor Sultan Naga Dimaporo of SND, Mayor Sultan Muliloda Dimaporo of Binidayan, and Mayor Sultan Panondiongan Maruhom. They once dominated the politics of Lanao. The Family was very known to be an ally of Former President Ferdinand Marcos, they've produced some influential leaders in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur some of them were then Governor Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, Governor Khalid Dimaporo, Congresswoman Imelda Dimaporo, Assemblyman Ismael Ramos-Camid, Mayor Motalib Dimaporo of SND, Mayor Eleanor Dimaporo-Lantud of Pantao-Ragat, Mayor Raida Dimaporo-Papandayan of Tubaran, Congressman Mauyag Papandayan Jr., Mayor Macaondot "Hadji Abdul Rashid" Dimaporo of Magsaysay, Board Member Danny Dimaporo, Mayor Punudarano Datumulok-Dimaporo of Binidayan, Mayor Anwar Datumulok-Dimaporo of Pagayawan, Mayor Magidala "Hadji Halim" Dimaporo-Datumulok, Mayor Sarip Dimaporo of Bumbaran, Mayor Malamit "Hadji Jamil" Dimaporo-Datumulok, Mayor Misbak Datumulok-Dimaporo and Mayor Colaw Datumulok-Dimaporo.

On the other hand, the Alontos, came from Ramain was headed by their ascendant Senator Alauya Alonto with help of his family members, like Mayor Birua Alonto of Marawi had produced Senator, Governors and Congressmen. Upon the Death of Senator Sultan Alauya Alonto, His son, Senator Ahmad Domocao Alonto lead his family with Governor Abdul Ghaffur Alonto they successfully controlled the politics in Lanao del Sur and also produced influential leaders in the province: Governor Princess Tarhata Alonto-Lucman, Congressman Rashid Lucman Governor Mamintal Adiong, Former ARMM-RLA Speaker Abul Khayr Alonto, Former Vice Governor Normala Alonto Lucman, Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., Late Mayor Lacsasa Adiong of Ditsaan-Ramain, Congressman Pangalian M.Balindong, Mayor Jamal Alonto of Bubong, Congressman Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong, then Mayor Ricky Alonto Mamainte of Bayang, Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, Assemblyman Yasser Alonto Balindong, Mayor Ali Adiong of Ditsaan-Ramain, Board Member Alexander G. Alonto, Jr.,Board Member Abdulrashid Alonto Balindong, Abdul Mikhail Alonto B Balindong and ARMM Regional Vice Governor Haroun Al-Rashid Alonto Lucman.

Demographics

Population census of
Lanao del Sur
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 599,982—    
1995 686,193+2.55%
2000 800,162+3.35%
2007 1,138,544+4.98%
2010 933,260−6.98%
2015 1,045,429+2.18%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[2][11][12]

The population of Lanao del Sur in the 2015 census was 1,045,429 people,[2] with a density of 270 inhabitants per square kilometre or 700 inhabitants per square mile.

The majority of people in the province are Maranaos,[4] with some and Cebuanos, Chavacanos, Tausugs, Yakan, and Sama-Bajau.

Maranao is the most commonly spoken language in the province.[4] Also spoken are Cebuano, Tagalog, and Chavacano, followed by English and Arabic.

Religion

The people of Lanao del Sur are predominantly practitioners of Islam,[4] majority of them are Sunni, with a minority of Christians (mostly Roman Catholics and most of them are Cebuanos and Chabacanos). Roman Catholics of Lanao del Sur fall under the jurisdiction of Territorial Prelature of Marawi, a suffragan of Archdiocese of Ozamiz.

Schools/universities

UNESCO Designations in Lanao del Sur

UNESCO has inscribed one Maranao element, the Darangen Chants of the Maranao People of Lake Lanao, in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. The element was earlier inscribed in the UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Representative List in 2005. The organization has also designated the Old Town of Tugaya as a UNESCO Home for Culture and Heritage. UNESCO has recommended for the nomination of Tugaya and all of Lanao del Sur's traditional crafts heritage in Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, following reports made in 2014 and 2015. The Philippine ambassador to UNESCO and France noted that it will be better to inscribe Maranao's traditional crafts in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding as they have been endangered due to the 2017 Battle of Marawi. The nomination is being finalized by the Philippine government, as announced in 2018. The torogans of Lanao are also recommended by UNESCO to be nominated in the World Heritage List once proper documentation and restoration has been completed. Two torogans have been bought by a controversial heritage resort company, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, and were transported to Bataan, sparking a provincial campaign to get back the two royal houses to their ancestral homeland.

Hospitals

  • Amai Pakpak Medical Center
  • Former Libyan Hospital

References

  1. ↑ Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Agriculture: Lanao del Sur Archived 2015-01-19 at the Wayback Machine. (There are major discrepancies among authoritative sources: 4121.3 km² (NAMRIA); 1,349,437 ha (NSCB, this value seems unreasonable and must be assumed as erroneous, see Talk:Lanao del Sur#Area))
  2. 1 2 3 4 Census of Population (2015). Highlights of the Philippine Population 2015 Census of Population. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Darangen Epic of the Maranao People of Lake Lanao". United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lancion, Jr., Conrado M.; cartography by de Guzman, Rey (1995). "The Provinces; Lanao del Sur". Fast Facts about Philippine Provinces (The 2000 Millennium ed.). Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines: Tahanan Books. pp. 94–95. ISBN 971-630-037-9. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  5. ↑ http://ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/central-cultural-communities/the-history-of-the-muslim-in-the-philippines/
  6. ↑ http://www.choosephilippines.com/go/history-and-culture/5772/wildflower-maja-salvador-singkil-lanao-del-sur
  7. ↑ "Republic Act No. 1552 - An Act to Amend the Charter of the City of Dansalan So as to Change Its Name to Marawi and Make Elective Its Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilors, and for Other Purposes". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Republic Act No. 2228 - An Act to Create the Provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Republic Act No. 6406 - An Act Dividing the Province of Lanao del Sur into the Province of Maranaw and Lanao del Sur". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Province: Lanao del Sur". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  11. 1 2 Census of Population and Housing (2010). Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (PDF). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  12. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
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