Previous Ginoo and Binibining Pilipinas Saudi Arabia pageants featured various tourism spots like Boracay Island and Bohol province and shimmering costumes and festivals like the Panagbenga (Baguio) and Maskarras (Bacolod).
This year, SE Productions gives tributes to the rich culture of the South, the Islamic City of Marawi and the people of Maranao.
The Maranaos, which means the "people of the lake", lived in isolation far from the sophisticated life of the cities. They settled around the edge of Lake Lanao, located in Marawi, Philippines.
The Maranaos are the largest Moro and cultural minority in the Philippines, numbering more than 840,000 in the late 20th century. They are known for their brasswork, fine mosques, rish raiment, exotic dances, and love for music. Usually artistic, the Maranao lavish elegant pageantry and celebration. Their festivals are rich in vivid hues of red and purple seen on bright banners and intricate silk malongs on both men and women.
Among the Maranao, feudal standings once strictly defined and inclusive are still visible. The leading class is composed of sultans, datus and their closest kin, sometimes referred to as "of royal" in reference to their ancestors who were once the ruling sultans of Lanao. Many of them maintain their high positions because of wealth, land ownership and generally, political positions to which they are now elected or appointed.
Maranaos are known for their mysticism, royalty, and beauty which are evident in their music and dances. Accompanied by the agong and kulintang, Filipino Muslim dance is marked by intricate hand and arm movement along with shimmering costumes
Maranaw art is very distinctive.
The attires worn by Maranaos feature long skirts for the women, frequently woven with metallic threads, and shorter, wrap-around skirts for the men.
The women also frequently have overskirts and scarves draped from the shoulder.
Batik design is also common with this costumes. It shows the mix of Arab, Malaysian and Chinese. Elaborate umbrella makes a nice fashion statement, usually used by a Muslim princess.
The malong is traditionally used as a garment by numerous tribes in the Southern Philippines and the Sulu Archipelago. Its origin is from the ethnical group of Maranao, Maguindanao and T’boli located in Mindanao.
Handwoven malongs are made by the weavers on a backstrap loom. Very rare malong designs and styles can indicate the village in which the malong was made.
Handwoven malongs, which are costly- made of cotton and silk, are likely to be used only at social functions, to display the social and economic status of the wearer.
But a malong in royal colours is worn only by Maranao men and women of royal status.
information from: www.maranao.com
photos by: www.yandanholth.com
