THE MARANAO: traditions, folklore, literature, dances and Festivities PDF

Preview

Summary

THE MARANAO: traditions, folklore, literature, dances and festivities. It tackles the Maranao's richness of cultures, traditions and the occasions they celebrate. This will help the students in finding the Maranao's cultural heritage....

Description

MUSLIM GROUPS IN THE PHILIPPINES

THE MARANAO Literature Maranao literatures are express in oral and written tradition. Islam influences their Islamic festivities and celebrations, including religious and ritual practices. Maranao literatures include folklore literature such as legends, myths, epics, folktales, and the symbolic speech of courtship, proverbs, riddles, poems, songs and ballads. Maranao musicality and rhythmic dancing play a vital role in expressing joy and bravery as depicted in sagayan (war dance). Their music is the language of grandeur nobility, courtship, and other endeavors. The Maranao epic song, known as the Darangen was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2005 as one of the Masterpieces. The Darangen is an ancient epic song that encompasses a wealth of knowledge of the Maranao people who live in the Lake Lanao region of Mindanao. The Darangen, which spans 17 cycles and 72,000 lines, commemorates events in Maranao history as well as the trials of mythical heroes. The epic, in addition to having compelling narrative content, uses symbol, metaphor, irony, and satire to explore the underlying themes of life and death, courtship, love, and politics. The Darangen also contains Maranao-specific customary law, social and ethical standards, aesthetic attractiveness, and social ideals. Elders still consult this ancient text when administering customary law. The Darangen, which means "to narrate in a song," predates the Islamization of the Philippines in the fourteenth century and is part of a larger epic culture linked to early Sanskrit traditions that stretches across most of Mindanao. Despite the fact that the Darangen was mostly passed down orally, portions of the epic were written down in manuscripts employing an old writing system based on the Arabic alphabet. During wedding ceremonies that extend several nights, specialized female and male artists sing the Darangen. Performers must have an exceptional recall, improvisational abilities, lyrical creativity, knowledge of customary law and genealogy, a perfect and graceful vocal technique, and the ability to perform in front of a live audience.

Folklore

The Agamaniyog folktales are quite famous among the Maranao people. To a significant part, these stories are about the sultans and their family, as well as their ties with their subjects. The Agamaniyog folktales depict their way of life, customs and traditions, and other cultural traits found in the Maranao cultural inventory.

Traditions Kapangobing is the traditional means of expressing ones love and adoration to someone, reciprocated or not it is the acceptable means of customary courtship in Maranao. It is performed through a flute like instrument made of bamboo. Polygamy is one of the Maranao traditions that is still followed today, particularly among Maranao males. When a person marries multiple wives or husbands, this is known as polygamy. Historically, Maranao leaders, especially those of royal descent, were the ones who used to practice polygamy. Many Maranaos adopted polygamy as a result of their influence, and it gradually became a part of our culture. The Maranaos also follow a tradition known as "Parental Marriage.” In that instance, it will be up to the parents to decide who their son or daughter would marry. Both sides' parents will agree on how much dowry the groom's parents will give to the bride's parents. The amount of money provided by the male side's parents before marrying the bride is known as dowry in our culture. Following the agreement, a "kandialaga," or one-week celebration, will take place before the official "kakawing," or wedding ceremony. This is most likely done to preserve their family's pride, especially when the family is in financial difficulty. This is generally done because they wish to keep their family's pride, especially if they come from a royal or large family.

Dances and Festivities Traditional Maranao music is both old and prosperous. It’s moving and elicits hidden emotions. The cadence is unusual and it fills traditional gatherings in every Maranao Festival. Specifically played by a lady who is skilled in chanting and careful in thudding of Kolintang, as well as having the discipline to lead an ensemble of musicians, with others playing Agong and Dabukan to round out the tune.

The music and dance of the Maranao Traditional Dance are both influenced by the Maranao epic tale “Darangen.” It is significant in most Maranao rites and celebrations because it satisfies the expression of how nature and historical events have influenced Maranao custom. This is a unique form of dancing. Pre-historic entertainment at its finest because the development of Moro heritage is captivating and nostalgic. Singkil is the popular Maranao dance and it is a ritual performed by the Princess to show her agility as she becomes a woman confirming her aptness. Singkil dance is hopping and stepping pattern with grateful hand and body movement to tell a story. It is danced with accompaniment of bamboo poles clicking the beating. It recounts the fateful story of Princess Gandingan who was caught in the forest during an earthquake caused by the Diwatas. The crisscrossed clicking bamboo poles represents the vines and trees she gracefully eluded away from. Kaganat sa Darangen is the most aristocratic of the Maranao traditional dances and it should be performed by someone who has the aptitude to move theatrical. Mere movement of fingers to switching of fans and graceful swaying of the hips. Kapa Malong-Malong is the Maranao dance that illustrates different ways of wearing malong, a functional tubular skirt intricately weaved worn to special occasions. The dance highlights Malong’s colorful designs as it is elegantly worn by both men and women. Sagayan Festival is a cultural event in Lanao del Norte using as its base a Maranao dance. Sagayan (war dance) is inspired from the epic Darangen. The enactment of hero Bantogan as he prepares himself for battle against his enemies. All the movements of a warrior are illustrated in combative dance, the mere holding of the Kampilan armored with shield. The intense yet graceful expression of the dance demonstrates discipline and gallantry, a display of suppressed emotion hungers for victory....