Maranao Culture

Music plays an integral part in the daily life of every person. It is used for religious activities, for entertainment, for work and for other everyday activities. In Muslim Mindanao, music is an important part of the culture of the Islamic groups. Note that in the Southern Philippines, the Asian musical cultures come together. The music of Muslim Mindanao blends West Asian mysticism and Southeast Asian animism. In addition, an old Malay music and a later form of Indian music coexist on these islands. Unaccompanied singing and the use of bamboo instruments are characteristics of practices common in Malaysia. The chanting of melismatic melodies is a reminiscent of Indian and Islamic music. The gong playing with basses induce practices observed

The Maranao inhabit Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. The term Maranao means “people of the lake”, after their traditional territory in the area surrounding Lake Lanao. The Maranao are a splinter group of the Maguindanaon who took up Islam. As a people, the Maranao are widely distributed and contribute significantly to the market and trade industry.

Maranao’s musical culture also revolves around the kulintang music. The Maranao gong and ensemble is very similar to the Maguindanaon ensemble. However, the Maranaos only use four instruments namely: the kulintang, the agong, the babandir and the dabakan. The Maranao’s instrumental music is called boniboniyan. The kulintang pieces in Maranao can be classified into inandang, binalig and bargo.

The Maranao’s kulintang music is used as an agent to unify the community. It is used as a means of learning and practicing ethical principles. Kulintang music is also used as a channel for various forms of expressions. It is also used as a medium of entertainment and hospitality. Kulintang music is played with freedom, responsibility and self-discipline. A kulintang musical performance gives opportunity for people to socialize. It also gives opportunity for people to meet, act and react according to the ethics and ideals of the Maranao society. The formalization of the performance points out the virtue of the amateur giving priority to the expert. This keeps the politeness that prevails

Music is used for coping and for generating pleasure, for creating occasion and for affirming self-identity. It is also used to let people enjoy and appreciate serene moments. Music also gives opportunity for people to socialize and interact with each other. It is also used as a way to express one’s self comparably in the Maranao musical culture. Music conveys significations through non-verbal means. It is also used as a means of learning and practicing ethical principles which is presented in the Maranao culture. Music influences people on how they act and feel about certain situations. It also helps to develop one’s sense of self and one’s presence to self and