FILAMER CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

College of Teacher Education

Accredited Level IV– ACSCU-ACI
Roxas Avenue, Roxas City, Capiz 5800

GE10 PHILIPPINE POPULAR CULTURE

Lesson 8: Popular Culture of Philippine Regions

Popular Culture in BARRM
Music
A Maguindanaoan kulintang ensemble is a gong-chime collection
of instruments important to the musical culture of the
Maguindanao people in the Southern Philippines. Kulintang music
is used for celebratory occasions such as festivals, weddings,
engagement parties, and baptisms, as well as in musical
competitions. Certain musical families in the province of
Maguindanao specialize in this art form, passing down the
tradition from generation to generation, and everyone interested
in learning is welcome. Children typically learn through osmosis
by observing their elders play at festive occasions. Each kulintang
song is family-specific and region-specific, and well-versed
musicians can distinguish between regional and family styles of
playing.
The entire ensemble consists of five percussion instruments
played by five musicians at a time.
It is a misconception that kulintang music is Islamic. Islam
became the primary religion of the island of Mindanao and the
province of Maguindanao in the 14th century, primarily as a result
of trade between Muslim Indians, Malaysia, and Mindanao.
However, before this time the Maguindanao used kulintang music
in healing ceremonies and other pre-Islamic animist rituals.
There are other Filipino ethnolinguistic groups in the Southern
Philippines that have their own distinct kulintang traditions. These
include the Maranao, Blaan, Tboli, Manobo, Bogobo, Sama, and
Tausug. The Indonesian and Malaysian gamelan are related to
the kulintang ensemble.
Unique to the Maguindanao is the use of kulintang music for
courtship and in contests between individual musicians or village
ensembles. On the gandingan, suitors send their love interests
sweet messages through apad, tones that mimic human speech
in the poetic language of Maguindanao. Messages may also be
sent on the kulintang and agong. This method allows courting
without public displays of affection, which is frowned upon in
Muslim society.
Gong instrument competition is a modern concept popular with
younger musicians. Held during weddings and festivals, such
contests occur between individual musicians and/or ensembles,
representing different villages. The kulintang, gandingan, and
agong are all used in these competitions as musicians attempt to
show their virtuosity and skills on each instrument. The winners
are determined by who receives the loudest applause from the
audience.
Film
Cotabato City (August 12, 2020)- The best film and photograph
entries for the Bangsamoro Short Film Peacetival and
Photography Contest were awarded during the regional
celebration of the International Youth Day 2020 on Wednesday,
August 12, in Cotabato City
Wednesday’s awarding ceremony was led by the Bangsamoro
Youth Commission of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (BYC-BARMM).
  “Inged II: Ukha The Story Untold” directed by
Hassanodden Hosni Hashim was awarded Best Short Film
and received P200,000.00 cash prize.
 “Displaced” directed by Aedrian Araujo, the 2nd Best Short
Film and received P100,000.00 cash prize
 “Mael” directed by Prince Nor-Anzarrih Matalam, the 3 rd
Best Short Film
Literature
LEGEND OF SARIMANOK
The Sarimanok is a legendary bird that serves as the symbol of
the Maranaos. Came from the words “sari” (a garment of different
colors deeply related to their culture) and “manok” (rooster with its
beautiful and colorful feathers), it, accordingly, represents good
fortune and prosperity and is also an essential trademark of their
art forms.
The folklore of Sarimanok is traced back to a folk hero named
Rajah Indarapatra, who married a water nymph, Putri. They had
two sons: the Seen, who is ancestor of the present day
maranaos, and Unseen, who became the deity that they call on in
their rites and rituals. Accordingly, the two brothers made an
agreement to protect each other from malevolent spirits that could
cause illnesses.
The itotoro or the totem bird (rooster), which is taken-cared of by
the Seen (Maranaos), served as the link to the Unseen spirits.

Painting and Sculpture

National Artist Dr. Abdulmari Asia Imao
His signature paintings incorporate vibrant colors and motifs such
as the sarimanok, fish, and okir patterns.
He attributed his use of these motifs and striking colors like blue,
green, yellow, pink, purple, and orange to his Bangsamoro origin
and his experience working in a fish port, where he witnessed the
diverse colors of the fishes he hauls for a living.
In 1968, he was recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Young
Men (TOYM) of the Philippines. This recognition led him to
become a full-time sculptor and painter, focusing on mastering
Moro culture and arts.
On June 9, 2006, the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA), conferred upon Dr. Imao the title of National Artist
for Visual Arts.
He was the first Bangsamoro artist to receive this prestigious
recognition since 1972. Dr. Imao’s works mainstreamed and
introduced Moro arts and culture throughout the entire country.
Aside from his paintings, among his masterpieces are sculptures
and murals found in different parts of the Philippines, such as the
Amandagat Monument in Batanes, the President Elpidio
Quirino Monument on Roxas Boulevard, the Industrial Mural
at the Philippine National Bank in San Fernando, La Union, the
Mural Relief on Filmmaking at Manila City Hall, the Antonio
Pigafetta Monument in Fort San Pedro, Cebu City, the Sultan
Kudarat Mural at the Philippine International Convention Center
(PICC), and statues of Panglima Unaid and Captain
Abdurahim Imao at Sulu’s Provincial Capitol.
Dr. Imao’s relentless pursuit of knowledge and his profound love
for his cultural roots culminated in his well-deserved recognition
as a National Artist. Today, his works inspire emerging
Bangsamoro artists across the nation, encouraging them to
embrace and showcase their individual cultures and
talents.
The life story of this esteemed national artist reaffirms the notion
that there is an artist in every child waiting to paint and mold their
dreams. He passed away on December 16, 2014, leaving behind
a legacy not only for the Bangsamoro but for the entire country.

Performing
CULTURAL DANCE
The highlight of the celebration included the most awaited cultural
dances of the Maranao. It is characterized by colors and
instrumental sounds with elegant fabric decorations. Most of the
Maranao’s traditional and cultural dances were created from
the Darangen, an ancient epic of the Maranao community that
was well performed at festivals and occasions for entertainment.
Kapmalo-malong
Kapmalo-malong, also known as Sambi sa Malong, is an elegant
cultural dance that exemplifies different ways of using malong.
Performed by men and women, the dance highlights malong‘s
colorful designs and how it is worn.
To fully absorb the steps of this dance, one must learn and
understand the significance of malong – a simple tubular yet
highly functional piece of cloth for all Filipino-Muslim.
Marawi City Schools Division Superintendent Anna Zenaida Unte-
Alonto of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education
(MBHTE) stressed that they are proud to enjoy
wearing malong and landap every Wednesday of the week along
with her teaching personnel and staff.
“As a Bangsamoro, we should always be proud and preserve our
culture and Lanao Del Sur is looking forward to the strengthening
of our own identity. As MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal said, ‘we
must not forget who we are despite of modern generation’,” SDS
Alonto said.
Singkil
One of the most famous royal dances of the Maranaos is
the singkil, a popular form of dancing in which the woman is
elegantly dressed and gently steps in and out of the clipping
bamboos while holding a fan and moving to the accompaniment
of kulintang [a set of eight small gongs of bronze, on a wooden
stand in the shape of a Sarimanok] and agung [a set of two wide-
rimmed, vertically suspended gongs used by Filipino-Muslim]
which are the main instruments used in singkil music.
“Our culture really speaks of our identity [and] shows that we have
a form of civilization even prior to the conception of the Philippine
Republic. As a Bangsamoro, I am proud to say that the popular
Singkil dance was originated in BARMM region particularly here in
Lanao del Sur Province,” Rep. Adiong added.
Kapagapir-apir
Another famous Maranao dance is Kapagapir-apir in which the
ladies gracefully perform with their hands, holding fancily colored
fans, and then slowly moving in small steps [kakini-kini] while
twisting and balancing, with fans covering their faces.
Architecture

 Torogan, which showcases the best of Mëranaw okir

(literally, “carving”). On the façade, there are panolong or
wing-like house beams with a pakorabong (fern) or naga
(serpent) motif. Inside, there are carved panels and the tinai
a walai, the “intestines” of the house or central beam
(Peralta, 1975: 29). A traditional way of testing the torogan’s
 durability was to have two carabaos fight inside the
structure. If it collapsed, it was not deemed worthy to be
occupied.
The torogan is a partition-less structure housing many
families. Each is a given a “sleeping space,” provided with
mats and sleeping pads, and separated from one other by
cloth partition. Each sleeping space also serves as the
family’s living room, working space, and dining room. Visitors
are not allowed into the gibon or paga, the room for the
datu’s daughter, and the bilik, a hiding place at the back of
the sultan’s headboard. The torogan may also have the
lamin, a tower-like structure serving as a hideaway for the
sultan’s daughter. The flooring of the house is of
barimbingan wood; the walls of gisuk wooden panels,
profuse with okir; and the roof of cogon grass secured on
bamboo frames by rattan (Alarcon, 1991: 65-66).
 Masjid (mosque) inspired by West Asian architecture. There
are two types of mosque. The first is the ranggar, a small
Muslim house of prayer and worship made to accommodate
a few individuals for the daily prayers, built in the rural areas
of the Muslim masses, and more similar in design to
Southeast Asian prayer houses (Tan, 1985: 14). The second
is the masjid, a bigger, permanent structure which comes in
various architectural designs, most of which are simple and
decorated with okir.
One outstanding example is the pagoda-like, three-tiered
mosque in Taraka, Lanao del Sur. The interior of the
mosque is laid out according to the nature of salat (Islamic
prayer), which is announced from tall minarets. The direction
of Mecca, which the congregation faces, is marked by a
mihrab or niche/recess in the wall. Sermons are said by the
preacher standing on the mimbar (staired pulpit), which is of
 okir-carved wood. Wudu or places of ablutions are located
near the mosque (Majul, 1977: 80-784).
Very little is known of the early architectural designs of the
Mëranaw mosque, because (1) many of the earlier mosques
used temporary materials like wood, bamboo, and cogon; (2)
the remaining earlier types were either demolished,
destroyed by fire or earthquake, or remodelled according to
West Asian designs; (3) the yearly sojourn to Mecca
influenced and eventually changed all earlier types; and (4)
very little has been written on the subject (A. Madale, 1977:
13).

Fashion

 Bina Batik, derived from the owner’s moniker “Bina” and

“Batik,” a traditional Filipino textile art form, aims to promote
local fabric, support sustainable fashion, generate eco-
friendly collections, and preserve BARMM’s cultural heritage
on a global scale.
In the BARMM, notable Inaul patterns include binaludan,
known for its wavelike patterns; karanda, modeled after a
treasure holder; lombayan, symbolizing love and
melancholy; siko karuwang, distinguished by its elbow-
shaped design; siko andong, recognized for a pattern
resembling a shorter tail’s small tip, and binaludto, famous
for its rainbow colors.
Bina Batik offers a diverse range of clothing, including folk
jackets, wraparounds, modern Filipiniana, saya, blazers,
“paldapis,” and its best-selling bolero.
 Mangumpig incorporates Malaysian, Indian, and Thai
fabrics, fostering engagement between Bangsamoro and
people worldwide.

REFERENCES:
Sarimanok rising: The colorful culture of Maranaos - BARMM
Official Website (bangsamoro.gov.ph)
The Maguindanaoan Kulintang of the Southern Philippines
(centerforworldmusic.org)
International Youth Day: BARMM recognizes young film
makers, photographers - BARMM Official Website
(bangsamoro.gov.ph)
Abdulmari Asia Imao: The First Bangsamoro National Artist -
BARMM Official Website
Cultural Diversity Among the Bangsamoro in Mindanao: A
Survey of their Traditional Arts - Budayaw Festival
Inaul Vestures: Ageless, State-of-the-Art Bangsamoro
Fashion Drift - BARMM Official Website