Lanao del Sur

Lanao del Sur
Province

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Map of the Philippines with Lanao del Sur highlighted
Coordinates: 07°55′N 124°20′E / 7.917°N 124.333°ECoordinates: 07°55′N 124°20′E / 7.917°N 124.333°E
Country Philippines
Region Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
Founded 1959
Capital Marawi City
Government
 • Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. (Liberal Party)
 • Vice Governor Arsad Marohombsar (Liberal Party)
Area[1]
 • Total 3,872.89 km2 (1,495.33 sq mi)
Area rank 33rd out of 81
Population (1 May 2010)[2]
 • Total 933,260
 • Rank 27th out of 81
 • Density 240/km2 (620/sq mi)
 • Density rank 34th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 1
 • Municipalities 39
 • Barangays 1,159
 • Districts 1st and 2nd districts of Lanao del Sur
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 9300 to 9321; 9700 to 9716
Dialing code 63
ISO 3166 code PH-LAS
Spoken languages Maranao, Cebuano, Filipino

Lanao del Sur (Filipino: Timog Lanao), officially the Province of Lanao del Sur (Filipino: Lalawigan ng Lanao del Sur), is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The capital is the Marawi City, and it borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf. Found in the interior of Lanao del Sur is Lanao Lake, the largest lake in Mindanao.

Geography

Subdivisions

Lanao del Sur is subdivided into 39 municipalities and 1 city.

City:

Municipalities:

Physical

Lanao del Sur forms the western portion of Northern Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by Lanao del Norte, on the east by Bukidnon, on the west by Illana Bay, and on the south by Maguindanao and Cotabato. The landscape is dominated by rolling hills and valleys, placid lakes and rivers.

The climate in the province is characterized by even distribution of rainfall throughout the year, without a distinct summer season. The province is located outside the typhoon belt.

History

Sultanate of Lanao

Lanao comes from the word ranao, meaning "lake." Lanao centers on the basin of Lake Lanao; thus, it is the land of the Maranaos, the "people of the lake."

Lanao is the seat of the Sultanate of Lanao.

When the Spaniards first explored Lanao in 1689, they found a well-settled community named Dansalan at the lake's northern end. Dansalan became a municipality in 1907 and a city in 1940.

During the Pre-Spanish time, there are 4 important Boundaries hold the power of appointing a new sultan namely: Bakayawan, Dalama, Madamba and Sawer. In appointing a new sultan the permission of these four boundaries are needed to validate the new sultan appointed to his position.

World War II

In 1942, it was occupied by the Japanese Imperial forces who landed in Southern Lanao. On May 2, 1942, the former chief justice of the supreme court of the Philippines Jose Abad Santos was killed by the Japanese Imperial forces in a Firing Squad at Malabang, Lanao del Sur. In 1945, the first of the liberation forces landed in Southern Lanao and liberated the area with United States, Philippine Commonwealth troops together with the Maranao guerrilla units. They used infantry weapons, the Maranao Kris, Barong and Kampilan swords against the Japanese forces in the Battle of Lanao. In 1956, Republic Act NO. 1352 changed the name Dansalan to Marawi, taken from the word rawi, referring to the reclining lilies abundant in the Agus River.

Division

When Lanao was divided into two provinces under Republic Act No. 2228 in 1959, Marawi was made the capital of Lanao del Sur. In 1980, the city was renamed the Islamic City of Marawi. It is now the only chartered city in the country with a predominantly Muslim population.

Proposed Maranaw Province

In 1971, Republic Act No. 6406, which sought to create a new province out of eastern Lanao del Sur (now corresponding to the province's first congressional district), was approved on October 4, 1971. The province was to consist of the municipalities of Bubong, Ditsaan-Ramain (including what is now Buadiposo-Buntong), Kapai, Lumba-Bayabao (including what is now Maguing), Marantao, Masiu, Mulondo, Saguiaran, Piagapo, Poona Bayabao, Tamparan, Taraka and Wao (including what is now Bumbaran), with the chartered city of Marawi serving as the new province's capital. The division never took place due to the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines on September 21, 1972, which disrupted the elections for 1973.

Joining the ARMM

In a 1989 plebiscite, Lanao del Sur voted to join the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), but Marawi City elected to remain outside ARMM. It later joined ARMM in 2001 following the plebiscite that sought to expand the autonomous region.

Politics

The politics in the province was dominated by few and prestigious families. But only two (2) families have brought big influence in the province the Datumulok-Dimaporo and Alonto-Adiong families. Both families have produced Governors, Congressmen, Board Members and Mayors, they were considered the most unforgettable political family in the province. The Datumulok-Dimaporos came from a small yet progressive town of Binidayan, Governor Sultan Ali Dimaporo became Governor of the province nominating by late Governor General Mamarinta B. Lao AFP, with the help of his siblings and cousin, Congressman Datu Macacuna Dimaporo, Mayor Sultan Naga Dimaporo of SND and Mayor Sultan Muliloda Datumulok of Binidayan. They once dominated the politics of Lanao. The Family was very known to be an ally of Former President Ferdinand Marcos, they've produced some influential leaders in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur some of them were Congerssman Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, Governor Khalid Dimaporo, Congresswoman Imelda Dimaporo, Former Mayor Motalib Dimaporo of SND, Mayor Eleanor Dimaporo-Lantud, Former Mayor Raida Dimaporo-Papandayan of Tubaran, Former Mayor Abdul Rashid Dimaporo of Magsaysay, Former Board Member Danny Dimaporo, Former Assemblyman Ismael Camid, Former Mayor Punudarano Datumulok of Binidayan, Former Mayor Anwar Datumulok of Pagayawan, Dimnatang Radia, Former Mayor Halim Datumulok, Former Mayor Sarip Datumulok, Former Mayor Misbak Datumulok and Colaw Datumulok.

On the other hand the Alonto-Adiong, came from Ramain was headed by Senator Alauya Alonto Adiong with help of his family members, like Mayor Birua Alonto of Marawi had produced Senator, Governors and Congressmen. Upon the Death of Senator Sultan Alauya Alonto, His son, Senator Ahmad Domocao Alonto lead his family with Governor Abdul Ghaffur Alonto they successfully controlled the politics in Lanao del Sur and also produced influential leaders in the province: Governor Princess Tarhata Alonto-Lucman, Congressman Rashid Lucman Governor Mamintal Adiong, Former ARMM-RLA Speaker Abul Khayr Alonto, Former Vice Governor Normala Alonto Lucman, Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., Late Mayor Lacsasa Adiong of Ditsaan-Ramain, Congressman Pangalian M.Balindong, Mayor Jamal Alonto of Bubong, Congressman Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong, Former Mayor Ricky Alonto Mamainte of Bayang, Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, Assemblyman Yasser Alonto Balindong, Mayor Ali Adiong of Ditsaan-Ramain, Board Member Alexander G. Alonto, Jr.,Board Member Abdulrashid Alonto Balindong and ARMM Regional Vice-Governor Haroun Al-Rashid Alonto Lucman.

Demographics

Population census of Lanao del Sur
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 599,982—    
1995 686,193+2.55%
2000 800,162+3.35%
2007 1,138,544+4.98%
2010 933,260−6.98%
Source: National Statistics Office[2]

The majority of people in Lanao del Sur are Maranaos, with some and Cebuanos, Chabacanos, Tausugs, Yakan, and Bajau.

Lanao del Sur is a predominantly practitioners of Islam, majority of them are Sunnites, with a minority of Christians, mostly Roman Catholics and most of them are Cebuanos and Chabacanos.

The main languages are Maranao and Cebuano. Other language spoken is Chabacano, spoken by both Christians and Muslims. Maranao is the most commonly spoken language in the province. Also spoken are Tagalog, Cebuano, Chavacano, as well as English and Arabic.

Attractions

Points of interest in the province include:

Lakes and waterfalls

National parks

Museums and historic structures

Mosques/Islamic buildings

Leisure parks

Other

Musical and dance heritage

The native Meranau of Lanao del Sur have a fascinating culture that revolves around kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, found among both Muslim and non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines.

Meranau native culture:

Schools/University

Hospitals

References

  1. ↑ Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Agriculture: Lanao del Sur (There are major discrepancies among authoritative sources: 4121.3 km² (NAMRIA); 1,349,437 ha (NSCB, this value seems unreasonable and must be assumed as erroneous, see Talk:Lanao del Sur#Area))
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  3. ↑ National Statistical Coordination Board (2006-04-27). "2006 Factsheet". Retrieved 2006-06-24.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lanao del Sur.
 Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Norte Bukidnon
   Lanao del Sur  
Illana Bay (Moro Gulf) Maguindanao Cotabato