The Architecture of Maranao Tribe:Adopting the Indigenous into

the contemporary

Gizelle Grace AmbasanAR 46Prof. Rowena Santos DelgadoUniversity of the Philippines in MindanaoFirst Semester, 2008-09

MaranaoMaranao……

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 ArtMaranao Art

OkirOkir 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 byJojie Alcantara

the the MARANAOMARANAO househousethe Maranao arrange their the Maranao arrange their houses in a line pattern along houses in a line pattern along a river, road or lake shorea 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 sheetsusing several carved sheets

the woven split rattan the woven split rattan SapiyaySapiyay,,or the mosquito or the mosquito screen, used as screen, used as dividers or dividers or headboardsheadboards

Bundles of rice stalks are Bundles of rice stalks are placed under woven mats to placed under woven mats to serve as bedsserve as beds

A long pillow stuffed with A long pillow stuffed with dried dried lala’’inging, 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 Jojie Alcantara

bed.

the MARANAO housethe MARANAO house

The Maranaos have three The Maranaos have three types of house: lawig the types of house: lawig the small houses, malasmall houses, mala--aa--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 ground2.21 meters above the groundRoof, 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 househouse

The main room (without The main room (without partitions) measures about partitions) measures about 7.86 to 18.9 meters

Photo by Jojie Alcantara

7.86 to 18.9 meters Floor plan

RoofingRoofing

Roof Detail of Maranao HouseSteep and shaped like carabaoSteep and shaped like carabao’’s hornss horns

THICK COGON GRASSTHICK COGON GRASS are used and lash this to a split are used and lash this to a split bamboo frame with rattanbamboo frame with rattanbut if there are enough but if there are enough BAMBOOBAMBOO, this is used for roofing , this is used for roofing instead:instead:Some use Some use WOOD SHINGLESWOOD 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.

WINDOWSWINDOWS

FrontFront: : to watch neighbors pass byto watch neighbors pass by

Right sideRight side: : to check the carabao inside its corral to check the carabao inside its corral below the house, esp. at nightbelow the house, esp. at night

Sliding windowsSliding windows: : ““push the covers to the side to openpush the covers to the side to open””

PORCHPlaced in front and fenced to prevent children from

falling off

KitchenKitchen

Built a Built a half meter lowerhalf meter lower and is at the and is at the BACKBACK

MARANAOMARANAO CustomsCustoms

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 closeup within a close--knit family knit family larger than that composed of larger than that composed of his parents and siblingshis parents and siblings

Some use Some use kapok kapok but others use the cottony but others use the cottony flowers of flowers of masawmasawseeds for their seeds for their pillowspillows and and mattressesmattresses..

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 springpiece 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 werlike 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 strandsSmall, low, round brass tables are used as tables. Brass strandsand 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 containerIn 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 riceharrow, 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 ContextMaranao is rich in ornamentation at the same time meaning. They also have a need to create create symbols like the sarimanoto represent their social and community life.

with its fertile waters. http://www.ph.net/htdocs/education/sarimano.htm

Signs and SymbolsSigns 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 SS--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 Sultanor the large Sultan’’s s house, and it its interior house, and it its interior beams and posts.beams and posts.

TOROGANTOROGANAncestral house of the upper-class MARANAO, reminder of the bygone days when carving is an art exclusive to sultansand 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 HouseModified Torogan House

The roof of Torogan was originally made of cogon grassbut during the American regime the son of Datu Pimbarat changed it to G.I. sheets.

Maranao Inspired...Maranao Inspired...

Concete Maranao House-

Maranao Inspired ResturantPearl Farm ResortPhoto by Jojie Alcantara.

Maranao Inspired House-http://mindanao.blog.co.uk/2007/04/02/torogan_a_traditional_maranao_house

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 country’s 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 resemblanceresemblance

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/visualhttp://www.koleksyon.com/filipinoheritage/visual--arts/prearts/pre--colonialcolonial--period2.aspperiod2.aspFolk Architecture; Perez, Encarnacio, PacanayFolk Architecture; Perez, Encarnacio, Pacanayhttp://www.pbase.com/jojie_alcantara/marawi_cityhttp://www.pbase.com/jojie_alcantara/marawi_cityhttp://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/filipiniana/viewessay.asp?aidhttp://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/filipiniana/viewessay.asp?aid=32&art_id=32&pg=3=32&art_id=32&pg=3http://www.flickr.com/photos/pheryhandog/2354618660/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pheryhandog/2354618660/ http://www.flyphilippines.com.ph/davao/pearlfarmhttp://www.flyphilippines.com.ph/davao/pearlfarm--info.htmlinfo.html