MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 15 (PIA) -- The lone Islamic City in the country marked its 33rd founding anniversary Sunday with a cultural fest called Kalilang (celebration) sa Ranao.
Gongs and kulintang were resounded as residents wearing colourful Maranao garb and malongs marched to the City Hall Grounds to join the city government in celebrating the richness of Maranao culture and strong history of the city and its people.
Home to some 180,000 residents, Marawi is the melting pot of the 40 municipalities of Lanao del Sur. It has 96 barangays with Lake Lanao dominating its landscape.
It is considered as the center of religion, politics and commerce of the Maranaos or lake dwellers.
The city offers a unique and rich experience from the scenic sight of the mountain across the lake called by locals as “sleeping lady” down to the serene Lake Lanao, to the sound of azan at every nook and corner of the city at prayer times, to the sight of locals, and onward to the academic milieu of Mindanao State University.
Dansalan, the city’s original name, was explored by the Spaniards as early as 1940. In August 24, 1981, Maranao warriors led by Amai Pakpak routed and defeated the Spanish forces driving them back to Iligan Bay.
Dansalan was derived from the word ‘dansal’ which means destination point. It was proclaimed as a municipality under the Act of the Moro Province Legislative Council by the American colonial government.
It was given a charter as a city on August 14, 1940 and subsequently renamed to Marawi in June 16, 1956 through Congressional Amendment of the Charter sponsored by Senator Domocao Alonto.
Recognizing that 92 percent of its population are Muslims, Marawi was declared as Islamic City on April 15, 1980. (APB/PIA10)
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