The Aga Khan Museum

The Aga Khan Museum is one of the significant Islamic Landmarks in Marawi City and one of the pioneer units of Mindanao State University – Main Campus. It was opened on June 13, 1962, as one-room affair. The museum was first known as the University Folk Arts Center founded by Dr. Mamitua D. Saber.

The museum has the biggest Philippine Muslim collection in the country. It was named after His Royal Highness, Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan (Aga Khan IV). It was Aga Khan IV who made the construction of the museum possible where important memorabilia and priceless artifacts of the Meranao people are displayed.

 

A sculptured  of Prince Aga Khan

The Aga Khan Museum was officially opened to the public on March 23, 1969. It aimed to: collect and preserve folk art specimens and artifacts of the thirteen Muslim tribes and other indigenous minorities of the MINSUPALA Region; organize a systematic collection that could be useful to scholars, researchers of Philippine Muslim culture; encourage research in and to lend assistance to the revival and salvaging of folk arts; and spread knowledge about the people of these regions in effort towards cultural integrat

A masgit, a torogan, and a lamin

Several replicas of the classic Muslim architecture are displayed inside the Aga Khan Museum. At left is a masgit, a traditional Maranao mosque showing Indian and Malaysian influences. At the center is a torogan, a traditional royal house. At the right is a lamin, a traditional Maranao princess dormitory.

Alotang is a Maranao bamboo xylophone mounted on the langkongan (stand). It is made of bamboo gongs and it is used by the children learning to play the kolintang.

Kobing is a Maranao bamboo jaw’s harp. A type of mouth-resonated instrument consisting of a flexible tongue fixed at one end to a surrounding frame.

Saronay is a Maranao metal xylophone mounted on the langkongan. It is played in the same manner as the kolintang. A beginner plays the saronay before she can play the kolintang in a formal kalilang exhibition.

Tagotok is a Maranao bamboo percussion instrument used for entertainment and for driving away birds. A rice field watcher plays the tagotok to entertain himself in hut in the middle of the field.

Kotiyapi is an ornately-carved two-stringed guitar. It is the largest musical instrument of a Maranao orchestra, used for serenading.

This is a replica of a lepa boat, a traditional Sama D’Laut or Badjao houseboat of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Battle of Marawi

Behind us is a painting that depicted the Battle of Marawi, the Spanish colonial authorities’ attempt to conquer and Christianize the thriving civilization at the mouth of Agus River. The Battle of Marawi consists of three stages; the first was in 1639 when the Spanish joint military and religious expedition was launched against the Maranaos, under the command of Captain Francisco de Atienza and Fray de San Pedro. They were not able to succeed and were driven back to Iligan.

The second stage took place in 1891 when General Valeriano Weyler led the operations with 1242 heavily armed Spanish and Filipino soldiers against the Maranaos. General Weyler captured the Fort Marahui which was defended by Datu Amai Pakpak and his followers in surprise attack at dawn on a Muslim holiday.

The third was on March 10, 1895 when General Ramon Blanco and his 5000-strong army marched toward Marawi. After heavy bombardment of Fort Marahui and hand-to-hand fight between the Spanish-Filipino forces and the Maranao fighters armed only with brass cannons (laila/lantaka), kampilans, spears and krises, General Blanco finally took possession of Fort Marahui.

The ceramics displayed in the museum were projects of MSU-Filipinas Foundation. The designs adopted the Maranao art, okir.

Maranao women produced intricate and colorful embroideries and clothing. Here is a fine example of kapangantowiras, a sequin embroidery which is a traditional Maranao women’s handicraft.

Displayed at the second floor is a replica of a traditional royal bed. In front is the Maranao dining set composed of tabak (brass food tray), todong (food cover), kararao (drinking water container), tangla or panalagadan (water pot stand), sakdo (drinking water dipper), doda’i (used for spitting or for washing of hands before and after eating).

Possibly the single most important artifact at the Aga Khan Museum is the antique copy of the Qur’an. It was sent all over the world including the Philippines, distributed at the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, Hijrah 1309 (in 1893) by authority of Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire.

Visiting the Aga Khan Museum of Islamic Arts creates an appreciative stance and understanding on the rich Maranao history, culture and heritage.