The Architecture of Maranao Tribe:

Adopting the Indigenous into

the contemporary
Gizelle Grace Ambasan
AR 46
Prof. Rowena Santos Delgado
University of the Philippines in Mindanao
First Semester, 2008-09
Maranao
Maranao

Maranao are the
Maranao are the
graceful
graceful
"people
"people
of the lake"
of the lake"
,
,
living on the
living on the
northern edge of
northern edge of
Lake Lanao.
Lake Lanao.
They are
They are
Mindanao's last
Mindanao's last
group to be
group to be
converted to
converted to
Islam.
Islam.
Maranao Art
Maranao Art

Okir
Okir
or
or
okkil
okkil
refers to the
refers to the
ranfe of folk
ranfe of folk
motifs, usually of
motifs, usually of
plants and
plants and
geometric forms,
geometric forms,
that are
that are
prominent in
prominent in
Maranao art
Maranao art
work.
work.
Maranao Art..
Maranao Art..

Okir Art is also
Okir Art is also
seen in the
seen in the
torogan houses,
torogan houses,
in the panolong
in the panolong
-
-
a carved beam
a carved beam
that protrudes in
that protrudes in
the front of the
the front of the
house and is
house and is
adorned with okir
adorned with okir
motif.
motif.
Arts and Crafts...
Arts and Crafts...
Photos taken by
J ojie Alcantara
the
the
MARANAO
MARANAO
house
house
the Maranao arrange their the Maranao arrange their
houses in a line pattern along houses in a line pattern along
a river, road or lake shore a river, road or lake shore
Like many ordinary houses in Like many ordinary houses in
the south, the old Marano the south, the old Marano
house is simply house is simply one big one big
partitionless room. partitionless room.
Bed spaces are created by Bed spaces are created by
using several carved sheets using several carved sheets
the woven split rattan the woven split rattan
Sapiyay Sapiyay, ,or the mosquito or the mosquito
screen, used as screen, used as dividers or dividers or
headboards headboards
Bundles of rice stalks are Bundles of rice stalks are
placed under woven mats to placed under woven mats to
serve as beds serve as beds
A long pillow stuffed with A long pillow stuffed with
dried dried la la ing ing, or banana leaves, , or banana leaves,
is placed at the head and a is placed at the head and a
long mat at the foot of the long mat at the foot of the
bed.
Photo by J ojie Alcantara
bed.
the MARANAO house
the MARANAO house
The Maranaos have three The Maranaos have three
types of house: lawig the types of house: lawig the
small houses, mala small houses, mala- -a a- -walai walai
the large houses and the the large houses and the
torogan. torogan.
Raised on pilings from .31 to Raised on pilings from .31 to
2.21 meters above the ground 2.21 meters above the ground
Roof, walls, flooring, doors, Roof, walls, flooring, doors,
and windows are made of and windows are made of
bamboo material lashed bamboo material lashed
together with rattan. together with rattan.
Usually has 9 to 12 posts, Usually has 9 to 12 posts,
depending on the size of the depending on the size of the
house house
The main room (without The main room (without
partitions) measures about partitions) measures about
7.86 to 18.9 meters
Photo by J ojie Alcantara
7.86 to 18.9 meters
Floor plan
Roofing
Roofing
Roof Detail of Maranao House
Steep and shaped like carabao Steep and shaped like carabao s horns s horns
THICK COGON GRASS THICK COGON GRASS are used and lash this to a split are used and lash this to a split
bamboo frame with rattan bamboo frame with rattan
but if there are enough but if there are enough BAMBOO BAMBOO, this is used for roofing , this is used for roofing
instead: instead:
Some use Some use WOOD SHINGLES WOOD SHINGLES for the roof. However, this is for the roof. However, this is
not the traditional practice. not the traditional practice.
And most of the houses have no ceiling. And most of the houses have no ceiling.
WINDOWS
WINDOWS
Front Front : : to watch neighbors pass by to watch neighbors pass by
Right side Right side: : to check the carabao inside its corral to check the carabao inside its corral
below the house, esp. at night below the house, esp. at night
Sliding windows Sliding windows: : push the covers to the side to open push the covers to the side to open
PORCH
Placed in front and fenced to prevent children from
falling off
Kitchen
Kitchen
Built a Built a half meter lower half meter lower and is at the and is at the BACK BACK
MARANAO
MARANAO
Customs
Customs
On entering a Maranao house, On entering a Maranao house,
a new world unfolds. The a new world unfolds. The
interior is one cavernous hall interior is one cavernous hall
going down the entire length of going down the entire length of
the house, from doorway to the house, from doorway to
rear kitchen. To left and right of rear kitchen. To left and right of
the center aisle are living areas the center aisle are living areas
for the different but related for the different but related
families who inhabit the house. families who inhabit the house.
Rows of chests are used as Rows of chests are used as
dividers and along the wall are dividers and along the wall are
utility shelves. Each family is utility shelves. Each family is
allotted an area where the allotted an area where the
members eat, work and sleep. members eat, work and sleep.
Cloth partitions are unfurled to Cloth partitions are unfurled to
separate one family from separate one family from
another at night. The kitchen at another at night. The kitchen at
the rear is common to all. the rear is common to all.
Children are therefore brought Children are therefore brought
up within a close up within a close- -knit family knit family
larger than that composed of larger than that composed of
his parents and siblings his parents and siblings
Some use Some use kapok kapok but others use the cottony but others use the cottony flowers of flowers of masaw masaw
seeds for their seeds for their pillows pillows and and mattresses mattresses. .
If there is a baby, his cradle is hung up from the roof beam on If there is a baby, his cradle is hung up from the roof beam on a a
piece of rope attached to a reel spring piece of rope attached to a reel spring
In times past, MARANO revised a bamboo spring that functioned In times past, MARANO revised a bamboo spring that functioned
like a coiled spring to which the four corners of the malong wer like a coiled spring to which the four corners of the malong were e
tied with pieces of strong rope hanging from the frame. tied with pieces of strong rope hanging from the frame.
There are shelves along the wall. There are shelves along the wall.
Small, low, round brass tables are used as tables. Brass strands Small, low, round brass tables are used as tables. Brass strands
and brass tray cuspidors are well arranged in the room. and brass tray cuspidors are well arranged in the room.
In the kitchen, the stone stoves, pots and pans, water container In the kitchen, the stone stoves, pots and pans, water containers, s,
the plaited bamboo the plaited bamboo tapaan tapaan on which fish or meat is smoked. on which fish or meat is smoked.
Under the house are farming and fishing equipment, the plow and Under the house are farming and fishing equipment, the plow and
harrow, the mortar and pestle, and a big vessel for storing rice harrow, the mortar and pestle, and a big vessel for storing rice. .
Aspects of Meaning...
Aspects of Meaning...
Maranao's principal okir Maranao's principal okir
designs are the designs are the
sarimanok, the naga and sarimanok, the naga and
the pako rabong. These the pako rabong. These
designs are not made designs are not made
just for ornamentation, it just for ornamentation, it
has a meaning and has a meaning and
history. history.
The sarimanok is the The sarimanok is the
stylized design of a bird stylized design of a bird
holding a fish in its beak holding a fish in its beak
or standing on a base in or standing on a base in
the shape of fish. While the shape of fish. While
its meaning derives from its meaning derives from
epics and myths, it also epics and myths, it also
alludes to Lake Lanao alludes to Lake Lanao
with its fertile waters.
In the aspect of human Context
Maranao is rich in ornamentation
at the same time meaning. They
also have a need to create
create symbols like the sarimano
to represent their social and
community life.
with its fertile waters.
http://www.ph.net/htdocs/education/sarimano.htm
Signs and Symbols
Signs and Symbols
The naga has the form of The naga has the form of
an elaborate mythical an elaborate mythical
serpent with a vigorous serpent with a vigorous
S S- -curve and numerous curve and numerous
curvilinear motifs to curvilinear motifs to
suggest its scales. The suggest its scales. The
pako rabong is a stylized pako rabong is a stylized
growing fern with a broad growing fern with a broad
base gracefully tapering base gracefully tapering
upwards. The sarimanok upwards. The sarimanok
and naga are found in the and naga are found in the
panolong, the extended panolong, the extended
floor beam of the torogan floor beam of the torogan
or the large Sultan or the large Sultan s s
house, and it its interior house, and it its interior
beams and posts. beams and posts.
TOROGAN
TOROGAN
Ancestral house of the
upper-class
MARANAO,
reminder of the bygone
days when carving is an
art exclusive to sultans
and young daughters
were jewels to be
hidden in towers and
secret rooms.
1980: the torogan of
Datu Pimbarat at Amito,
Marantao, Marawi City
was still standing, badly
needing of repair, and
looking not even a
skeleton of its former
glory.
Modified Torogan House
Modified Torogan House
The roof of Torogan was originally made of cogon grass
but during the American regime the son of Datu Pimbarat
changed it to G.I. sheets.
Maranao Inspired...
Maranao Inspired...
Concete Maranao House
-
Maranao Inspired Resturant
Pearl Farm Resort
Photo by J ojie Alcantara.
Maranao Inspired House-
http://mindanao.blog.
co.uk/2007/04/02/torogan_a
_traditional_maranao_hous
e
Maranao Inspired..
Maranao Inspired..
Situated in Samal
Island, the Pearl Farm
Resort features an
architecture that is
predominantly
influenced by the
Maranao/Samal tribal
ethnic characteristic. It
has become one of the
countrys foremost
tourism landmarks for
its depiction of regional
traits in a modern four
star resort. It was
recently featured as
one of the venues for
the 1994 Miss & Interior
Design
Universe Pageant. The
interiors of the different
houses focus on the
Yakan, Tausug, Maranao
and Badjao culture and
craft.
Neovernacular is seen in
the adaptations of
elements, it borrows
traditional forms primarily
for stylistic reasons.
Pearl Farm Resort is Pearl Farm Resort is
designed in such a way designed in such a way
that it relates to its that it relates to its
environment. . The resort environment. . The resort
is seen as a part of the is seen as a part of the
island, there is a island, there is a
resemblance resemblance
between them. Contexualism is being
between them. Contexualism is being
observed.The architect gave justice to the
observed.The architect gave justice to the
original creative design by using it properly. He
original creative design by using it properly. He
created a mood and identity. The sad thing about
created a mood and identity. The sad thing about
the adaptation of these design is that, the
the adaptation of these design is that, the
meaning of it is gone. Maranao uses these
meaning of it is gone. Maranao uses these
design elements not for ornamentation but for
design elements not for ornamentation but for
interpretation of their beliefs and tradition. Since
interpretation of their beliefs and tradition. Since
we have differences in culture, beliefs, and
we have differences in culture, beliefs, and
tradition; it is impossible to have a common
tradition; it is impossible to have a common
interpretations. And for the Maranao it is
interpretations. And for the Maranao it is
somewhat inappropriate if other people use their
somewhat inappropriate if other people use their
distinct designs without giving importance of its
distinct designs without giving importance of its
meaning.
meaning.
References:
References:
http://www.koleksyon.com/filipinoheritage/visual http://www.koleksyon.com/filipinoheritage/visual- -arts/pre arts/pre- -
colonial colonial- -period2.asp period2.asp
Folk Architecture; Perez, Encarnacio, Pacanay Folk Architecture; Perez, Encarnacio, Pacanay
http://www.pbase.com/jojie_alcantara/marawi_city http://www.pbase.com/jojie_alcantara/marawi_city
http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/filipiniana/viewessay.asp?aid http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/filipiniana/viewessay.asp?aid
=32&art_id=32&pg=3 =32&art_id=32&pg=3
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pheryhandog/2354618660/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pheryhandog/2354618660/
http://www.flyphilippines.com.ph/davao/pearlfarm http://www.flyphilippines.com.ph/davao/pearlfarm- -info.html info.html