Marawi

Marawi, officially the Islamic City of Marawi (Maranao: ''Inged a Marawi''; fil, Islamikong Lungsod ng Marawi), is a 4th class component city and capital of the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 207,010 people.

Marawi is located upon the shores of Lake Lanao. It is primarily inhabited by the Maranao people. The city is also called the "summer capital of the south" due to its higher elevation and cooler climate, a nickname it shares with Malaybalay.

On May 23, 2017, the city suffered extensive damage during the Battle of Marawi as militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant invaded the city and engaged in a massive urban gunfight. The ensuing battle lasted until October 23, 2017, when Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced the ending of the battle. Major damage of the city was mostly caused by airstrikes carried out by the Philippine Air Force in an attempt to eliminate the militants.

History

Municipality of Dansalan

Marawi was founded as Dansalan in October 1639 by the Spaniards led by conquistador Francisco Atienza who came from Iligan and were attempting to conquer the entire Lake Lanao area. However, it was abandoned later the same year when thousands of Maranao warriors invested the then-fortifying settlement, pressing the Spaniards hard and thus they returned to Iligan, having failed in their quest. The Spaniards only returned to the area when they began the conquest of the Sultanate of Maguindanao in the late 19th century, only to be abandoned once again when the Americans came there in 1900. It served as the capital of the undivided Lanao province from 1907 to 1940. ''Dansalan'' in Meranaw is a place where ships berth – a port of entry.

A tribal leader of Marawi before Spanish colonization was "Datu Buadi Sa Kayo". He collected taxes in his era.

Granting of charter (1940) and change of name to Marawi (1956)

Dansalan became a charted city in 1940. Later, in 1956, Republic Act No. 1552 amended the charter and changed the official name of the city from Dansalan to Marawi.

The renaming of the city as the "Islamic City of Marawi" was proposed by Parliamentary Bill No. 261 in the defunct Batasang Pambansa, the former parliament of the Philippines during the Marcos regime, reportedly to attract funds from the Middle East.

Siege of Marawi (2017)

On May 23, 2017, a pro–Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group called the Maute group attacked the city. The battle of Marawi—also known as the Marawi siege, the Marawi clash, and the Marawi crisis—started on May 23. CNN Philippines reported that the militants had over 500 men. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law on the island of Mindanao, where the fighting was taking place, initially until December 31, 2017, but was later extended to the end of 2018 and then again to the end of 2019. The city was liberated from militant control on October 17 and battle operations officially ended on October 23.

Post-battle period

On January 30, 2018, it was announced that a 10-hectare military base will be established in the city to prevent the reentry of terrorists.

Geography

Marawi has a total land area of . It is located on the northernmost shores of Lake Lanao and straddles the area where the Agus River starts. It is bounded to the north by the municipalities of Kapai and Saguiaran; to the south by Lake Lanao; to the east by the municipalities of Bubong and Ditsaan-Ramain; and to the west by the municipalities of Marantao and Saguiaran. The Bagang beach is situated from the city's commercial center.

The Islamic city also hosts a national park, the Sacred Mountain National Park, which spans the barangays of Guimba and Papandayan covering an area of . The protected area was established on August 5, 1965, by Republic Act no. 4190. The park is dominated by Mount Mupo, a tall extinct volcanic cone. The park is ideal for birdwatching and mountain climbing to the summit that features a small pond.

Topography

Mountains, rolling hills, valleys, and a large placid lake dominate the city's landscape. Angoyao Hills (Barangay Sogod) served as natural viewpoint over the water of the Lake Lanao. Signal Hill (Barangay Matampay), Arumpac Hill (Barangay Saduc), and Mt. Mupo (Barangay Guimba) are considered beautiful but mysterious. Mt. Mupo, located within the Sacred Mountain National Park, is known for its untouched trees and beautiful, perfect cone.

Barangays

Marawi is politically subdivided into 96 barangays.

* Ambolong
* Bacolod Chico Proper
* Banga
* Bangco
* Banggolo Poblacion
* Bangon
* Biaba-Damag
* Bito Buadi Itowa
* Bito Buadi Parba
* Bubonga Pagalamatan
* Bubonga Lilod Madaya
* Boganga
* Boto Ambolong
* Bubonga Cadayonan
* Bubong Lumbac
* Bubonga Marawi
* Bubonga Punod
* Cabasaran
* Cabingan
* Cadayonan
* Cadayonan II
* Calocan East
* Calocan West
* Kormatan Matampay
* Daguduban
* Dansalan
* Datu Saber (Navarro)
* Datu Sa Dansalan
* Dayawan
* Dimaluna
* Dulay
* Dulay West
* East Basak
* Emie Punud
* Fort
* Gadongan
* Buadi Sacayo (Green)
* Guimba (Lilod Proper)
* Kapantaran
* Kilala
* Lilod Madaya (Poblacion)
* Lilod Saduc
* Lomidong
* Lumbaca Madaya (Poblacion)
* Lumbac Marinaut
* Lumbaca Toros
* Malimono
* Basak Malutlut
* Gadongan Mapantao
* Amito Marantao
* Marinaut East
* Marinaut West
* Matampay
* Pantaon (Langcaf)
* Mipaga Proper
* Moncado Colony
* Moncado Kadingilan
* Moriatao Loksadato
* Datu Naga
* Olawa Ambolong
* Pagalamatan Gambai
* Pagayawan
* Panggao Saduc
* Papandayan
* Papandayan Caniogan
* Paridi
* Patani
* Pindolonan
* Poona Marantao
* Puga-an
* Rapasun MSU
* Raya Madaya I
* Raya Madaya II
* Raya Saduc
* Rorogagus Proper
* Rorogagus East
* Sabala Manao
* Sabala Manao Proper
* Saduc Proper
* Sagonsongan
* Sangcay Dansalan
* Somiorang
* South Madaya Proper
* Sugod Proper
* Tampilong
* Timbangalan
* Tuca Ambolong
* Tolali
* Toros
* Tuca
* Tuca Marinaut
* Tongantongan-Tuca Timbangalan
* Wawalayan Calocan
* Wawalayan Marinaut
* Marawi Poblacion
* Norhaya Village

Climate

Marawi's weather is warm and wet throughout the year. With the elevation along Lake Lanao at around , this raised altitude together frequent heavy showers at all seasons, ensures that hot conditions are seldom observed.

Demographics

Language

Maranao or ''Meranaw'' is widely spoken in Marawi; however, local inhabitants can also speak Maguindanao, Iranun, English and Tagalog.

Religion

Marawi is predominantly a Muslim city, with Muslims accounting for 99.6% of the population. Sharia criminal law exists but without stoning, amputations, flagellations, or other punishments typically associated with Sharia as they are against the law of the Philippines. The distribution of alcoholic products and gambling is forbidden and women must cover their heads, though non-Muslims are exempted from this rule. Other than sharia law in personal matters, these laws are not applicable elsewhere in Lanao del Sur.

Economy

The economy of Marawi is largely based on agriculture, trading, and exporting. Most industries in the city are agriculture-oriented. They include rice and corn farming, hollow blocks manufacturing, goldsmithing, and saw milling. Small and cottage-size enterprises are engaged in garment making, mat and malong weaving, wood carving, brassware making, web development, and blacksmithing.

Apart from that, Marawi is home to NPC – Agus 1 Hydro Electric Power Plant and the first of the six cascading Agus Hydro Power Plants.

A new wind and solar energy plant and a new diesel-generated power plant are set to be developed in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur, by two private firms to provide electricity to Marawi and adjoining areas. The project will cost PHP 2 billion and will generate 10 to 30 megawatts of electricity.

Culture

Architecture

The feeling of the unique natural setting of the Maranaos in Marawi is manifested by the presence of many large ''Torogans'', an antique royal high-roofed houses with carvings designed by the Meranau, and the Sambitory Old Building in Barrio Naga in front of Tuaka Laput, Marawi.

Government

;List of Mayors

*

Education

Marawi is home to the main campus of Mindanao State University, the biggest state university in Philippines. Other institutions and colleges are well established in the city and are as follows:

Other notable secondary schools are:

TESDA is also stationed in Marawi which caters to technical training of students for the province.

Within the Mindanao State University is the Aga Khan Museum of Islamic Arts which is named in honor of Sultan Aga Khan who contributed to the realization of the museum. Historical development of the country is bank on the large space upon the conservation of cultural materials. It has huge, collection of indigenous art, displayed ethnic music tape recorded, the native folk dances from different regions of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan, the native tools and weapons used by the Muslims and different artistic designs of houses are the main attractions of museum. Indigenous art and cultural material are being displayed.

Sister cities

;Local
*Malaybalay
*Iligan
*Zamboanga City
*Cotabato City
*Lamitan
*Butuan
* Cagayan de Oro

See also

* List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines

References

External links

Marawi Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
Marawi City Profile
at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Official Website

{{Authority control

Cities in Bangsamoro
1907 establishments in the Philippines
Mountain resorts in the Philippines
Populated places established in 1907
Populated places in Lanao del Sur
Populated places on Lake Lanao
Provincial capitals of the Philippines
Component cities in the Philippines