Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

[Sinjin P.]

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM of the Philippines is composed of five provinces and one city namely: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and the Marawi City. Cotabato City is the regional center and the seat of the ARMM regional government, although the city itself is part of Region XII.

Executive Order No. 36 moved Basilan from Region IX and Marawi City from Region XII.

History

The region was first created on August 1, 1989 through Republic Act No. 6734 otherwise known as the Organic Act in pursuance with a constitutional mandate to provide for an autonomous area in Muslim Mindanao. A plebiscite was held in the provinces of Basilan, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Palawan, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur; and in the cities of Cotabato, Dapitan, Dipolog, General Santos, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga to determine if the residents would want to be part of the ARMM.

Of the areas where the plebiscites were held only Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi voted favorably for inclusion in the new autonomous region. The ARMM was officially inaugurated on November 6, 1990 in Cotabato City, which was designated as its provisional capital.

In 2001 a new law was passed for the expansion of the ARMM to include the areas which initially rejected inclusion and the provinces which were carved from them, however only Marawi City and Basilan with the exception of Isabela City opted to be integrated in the region.

Politics

Executive The region is headed by a Regional Governor. The Regional Governor and Regional Vice Governor are elected directly and through a block vote similar to the United States President (albeit without an electoral college structure). Regional ordinances are created by the Regional Assembly, composed of Assemblymen, also elected by direct vote. Regional elections are usually held one year after general elections (national and local) depending on what legislation from the Philippine Congress. Regional officials have a fixed term of three years, which can be extended by legislative act.

Since September 30, 2005, Zaldy Ampatuan and Hooky Alonto Adiong have been the governor and vice-governor, respectively, of this region.

Legislative

The ARMM has a unicameral Regional Assembly headed by a Speaker. It is composed of three members for every congressional district. The current membership is 24, where 6 are from Lanao del Sur including Marawi City, 6 from Maguindanao, 6 from Sulu, 3 from Basilan and 3 from Tawi-Tawi.

[Sinjin P.]

Basilan is an island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Isabela City and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula. Basilan is the northernmost among the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago.

Basilan is seen as one of the strongholds of the Islamic separatist group, the Abu Sayyaf. This group kidnapped a group of tourists from Palawan and brought them to Basilan, including an American Christian missionary couple.

History

The island's early settlers were the Orang Dampuans, who were the ancestors of the Yakan. The legendary Datu Kalun maintained a stronghold in Lamitan town until the Spaniards crushed it in 1637. Jesuit missionaries arrived a few years later.

The Dutch attacked Basilan in 1747 but were repulsed by the natives. The French attempted to occupy the province in 1844, but they, too, failed. Soon thereafter, the Spaniards built a stone fort named after Queen Isabela II.

When the town of Zamboanga became a chartered city in 1936, it included Basilan. On July 1, 1948, Basilan itself became a separate city. The city was converted into a province on December 27, 1973.

[Sinjin P.]

Basilan - A Province To Be Watched

Description

Basilan is one province in a setting that reflects the true description of an island paradise. Blessed with natural bounties since its early years of existence, it has been called by merchants and travelers as an island of hope. The province, bestowed with different cultures and traditions and rich in aquatic resources, was once considered the trading center of Mindanao in the early days.

The kilometer-wide channel that opens to the port of Isabela, provincial capital, is lined on both sides by mangroves and Samal houses on stilts. Across is Malamawi Island, the gateway to Basilan, where can be found the Badjao, Samal-Luaans-Banguingui, and Muslim cemeteries. The island boasts of the only lake in the province with wild ducks and is home to the Panigayan fishing village, an ideal spearfishing destination.

In the heart of Isabela is the Santa Isabel Cathedral with its modern architectural design. Beside the cathedral is a display center of native handicrafts like mats, bags, and other products made of buri.

Not far from Isabela proper is the Kaum Purnah Mosque and Muslim Village, which shows Muslim culture through at least three tribes. The 400-meter-high Calvario Peak and its Chapel of Peace are a delight to photographers. Sumagdang Beach is a natural swimming resort amidst coconut plantations, mini rice fields, and fishponds while Kumalarang River boasts of a 14-meter-high waterfalls.

The next town of Lamitan is the best place to see the Yakan, a peace-loving people known for colorful clothes handwoven with intricate geometric designs as well as for elaborate weddings and festivals.

Geography

The province of Basilan has an aggregate historical jurisdiction of 135,892 hectares, with mainland Basilan encompassing an area of 124,892 hectares. It is separated from the mainland of Mindanao by a strait of about 17 miles wide at its narrowest point. Basilan is geographically located between latitude 6°15' and 7°00' longitude 121°15' and 122°30'.

Political Subdivisions

Basilan has eight municipalities, namely; Isabela, Lamitan, Tuburan, Tipo-Tipo, Sumisip, Maluso, Malamawi, Lantawan.

Climate

Basilan, as part of Mindanao, is outside the typhoon belt. The annual average rainfall is 1,100 millimeters and mean annual temperature is 26.6° C. Source of rainfall is the southwest monsoon and intertropical convergence zone (mc). Prevailing winds are from the southwest with a speed of 4 knots.

Language / Dialect
Approximately 55% of the people speak Chavacano; 20% Samal; Joloano, Yakan, and Maranao; 10% Visayan; 10% Tagalog, 5% llocano and other dialects.

Major Industries

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood of the people of lsabela, in particular. There are a few industries operating here and all are agro-based. Copra trading is the leading commercial activity while coconuts are planted almost throughout the year. Rubber-sapping and logging complement the people's major occupations.

Mineral deposits of gold, manganese, iron, ore, copper, and coal are also found in Basilan.

[Sinjin P.]

Lanao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Marawi City and 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, where the Maria Cristina Falls, the largest waterfall in the country is located.

History

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."

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, although it was inaugurated as such only in 1950. In 1956, Republic Act NO. 1352 changed the name Dansalan to Marawi, from the word rawi, referring to the reclining lilies in the Agus River.

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.

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.

[Sinjin P.]

Lanao Del Sur - Cradle Of Muslim Art

Description

Lanao del Sur is the land of the Maranaos, “people of the lake,” among the most devout of Muslim tribes as well as the most artistic. Nowhere is this more evident than in the the people’s most natural way of life and the land’s most attractive sites.

The life of the Maranaos centers on Lake Lanao, the second largest and deepest in the Philippines and one of the most breathtakingly beautiful. The lake is surrounded with myths and legends. The climate here is envigorating and fine grazing land stretches into the distance. A commanding view of the lake is offered by Marawi City, the provincial capital.

The unique natural setting of the Maranaos is perhaps best manifested in Marawi Cty, by the presence of the many large torogans, the Maranao houses, which are characterized by an antique royal high roof with curved designs. The city’s Aga Khan Museum, located within Mindanao State University, is a repository of Maranao and other Moro artifacts. It boasts a huge collection of indigenous art and cultural materials, ethnic music, the native tools and weapons used by the Muslims, and Muslim houses of different artistic designs. Founded in 1962, the university draws the most crowds to the city.

The Maranaos’ flair for the creative is exhibited by their numerous ceremonial artifacts and everyday tools trimmed with the sensuous "okir" (carving) and colorful "nagas" (serpent figures). Their long, low, and sleek boats sport a rainbow of brilliant colors matched only by the exuberance of the malong, the native wear of the Maranao women. Worn as a shirt or dress, used to cover the head or as a blanket, the highly decorated malong is violet, purple, green, red, yellow, floral, and geometric.

Geography

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. Rolling hills and

Climate

The province has a cool and pleasant climate that falls dominantly under type F, which is distinguished by an even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. The Philippine summer is not quite distinct here. The wettest month is February and the dryest month is June. Lanao del Sur is outside of the typhoon belt

Language / Dialect

The Maranao dialect is the most commonly spoken. Also spoken are Tagalog and Visaya as well as English and Arabic.

[Sinjin P.]

Maguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Shariff Aguak and borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south. To the west lies the Moro Gulf.

History

Shariff Mohammed Kabungsuwan of Johore introduced Islam in the area at the end of the 15th century. He subsequently married a local princess and established the Sultanate of Maguindanao. The Cotabato Valley formed the sultanate´s heartland but its influence extended from the Zamboanga Peninsula to Sarangani Bay and Davao.

The Spaniards launched expeditions to subdue the area througout the colonial era but they never gained control of the region until the middle of the 19th century.

During the American period, Cotabato became a district of the Moro Province created in 1903 and a province of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu in 1914.

The old province of Cotabato was subsequently divided first into Cotabato and South Cotabato in 1966 and later, Cotabato into 3 more provinces which were Maguindanao was created in November 22, 1973, along with North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

Maguindanao is the only Muslim province of the four created out of the former Cotabato Province. In 1989, the province opted to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but Cotabato City did not, which ironically serves as the capital of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

[Sinjin P.]

Maguindanao - The Seat Of Muslim Mindanao

Description

The essence of the ancient Islamic faith and culture remains in good health and well-being in the province of Maguindanao, home of the Muslim Maguindanaos, traditionally a peace-loving, inland-dwelling people. Maguindanao is the only predominantly Muslim province of the four that were created out of the former province of Cotabato. Today it holds the seat of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The ARMM Compound, located on Gov. Gutierrez Avenue, is a showcase of a unique blend of modern and Muslim architecture. It houses the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center, the Regional Museum, the Regional Library, and almost all regional offices of Region 12.

Perhaps Maguindanao is most popularly known for Rio Grande de Mindanao, the second largest river in the Philippines and the longest in Mindanao. Water sports and boat racing are ideal activities here, and are usually held to coincide with the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival and the Feast of Hariraya Puasa. Celebrated every December 19, the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival is a colorful commemoration of Kabunsuan’s arrival via Rio Grande de Mindanao more than 500 years ago to introduce Islam to the natives.

Cotabato City's most famous landmark is P.C. Hill, a stone fort towering over the city with a height of 90 feet and now housing the Cotabato City Internal Defense Command. This historic hill served as a watch tower for the natives. It commands a panoramic view of the city and Rio Grande de Mindanao. The oldest church in the city is Tamontaka Church at Barangay Tamontaka. It was built in 1872 following Spanish architecture and design.

Geography

Maguindanao is bounded on the north by Lanao del Sur, on the east by North Cotabato, on the west by the Moro Gulf, and on the south by Sultan Kudarat.

Climate

The province's climate is generally characterized by a more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. Compared to other regions of the Philippines, Maguindanao has the lowest frequency of very cloudy or over-cast days.

[Sinjin P.]

Tawi-Tawi is an island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The capital of Tawi-Tawi is Panglima Sugala and the province is the southernmost in the country. To the northeast lies the province of Sulu and to the west is Sabah in Malaysia. Tawi-Tawi also covers some islands in the Sulu Sea to the northwest, the Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island and the Turtle Islands, just 20 kilometers away from Sabah.

[Sinjin P.]

Tawi-tawi - Wildlife Mecca Of Muslim Mindanao

Description

Wild cattle, wild hogs, and monkeys of the brown and white variety are just some of the many exotic fauna that abound in the forests of mainland Tawi-Tawi. Lying at the southwestern tip of the Philippines, accessible in only a matter of hours from Sabah in Malaysia, Tawi-Tawi is a province to visit for its natural zoos and a world all its own.

At Sibutu, wild hogs come in rampaging bands of black, reddish brown, white, and spotted black and white. A hunter's paradise, Sibutu also boasts of the sleek and rare "labuyo" or wild rooster, birds of the edible variety – the balud, tabon, kingfisher, orioles, dandunay of the peacock variety, and more – as well as pet birds such as green, gold, and white parrots, canaries, lovebirds, and so much more.

Seagulls, known to the natives as “tallah-tallah,” have settled by the thousands at Gusong Reef in Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi to lay their eggs there. Gusong Reef is a top producer of the delicious turtle eggs, ranking second to the Turtle Islands. Bongao Peak is a veritable monkey sanctuary, which also provides a view of the expanse of sea and the necklace of islands for miles around.

Tawi-Tawi can easily transport one to a whole other world. Eye-catching Sitangkai is considered the “Venice of Tawi-Tawi.” The Royal "Kupunga" rises straight out of an Arabian setting. The Malay influences as well as tribal arts and crafts are very much visible in the province. Here, it is not uncommon to see folks dressed in colorful malongs, the women adorned in beads and brass trinkets.

Bongao, the provincial capital, is the only place in the province where simple amenities can be availed of. Lodging is spartan. Bazaars and small cafes crowd the commercial center. At the marketplace, foodstalls serve seafare and native delicacies like the "tapa" or cured boar's meat.

Geography

Tawi-Tawi lies at the southwestern tip of the country. Irregular in shape, with splashes of white sandy beaches and rock-bound coasts, the province has 107 islands and islets with a combined land area of 462 square miles.
spacer spacerPolitical Subdivisions
The province is composed of ten municipalities: Balimbing, Bongao, Cagayan de Tawi- Tawi, Simunul, Sitangkai, South Ubian, Tandubas, Turtle Island, Languyan and Sapa-Sapa. There are from ten to more than thirty barangays in each municipality. Each barangay is administered by a Barangay Captain.

Climate

Tawi-Tawi has two seasons: dry and wet The climate is generally moderate. The wettest months are from August to November. The other months of the year are generally dry with occasional rain showers.

Language / Dialect

The prevailing dialect is Samal, which is widely used in varied tones and accents. The Tausug dialect is also spoken, as are English and Filipino (Tagalog). Many local traders can speak Malay and Indonesian.

Major Industries

Agriculture, fishing, and agar-agar farming are the leading source of livelihood of the people of Tawi- Tawi, with quite a number engaged in the barter trade business. Copra is the top agricultural produce, followed by root crops, fruits, and vegetables.

[Sinjin P.]

Sulu is an island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Jolo and occupies the middle group of islands of the Sulu Archipelago, between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. It is home to the Royal Sultanate of Sulu.

[Sinjin P.]

Sulu - Land Of Treasures And Farers Of The Sea

Description

Far-flung Sulu is the southernmost part of the Philippines, lying between the Sulu Sea on the north and the Celebes Sea on the south. With fishing as its most important industry, it is classified as a First Class Province in terms of income.

The glorious Sulu Sea is dotted with coral reefs, such as the pearl farm at Marungas Island, and provides some of the world's best dive spots. Tubbataha Reef is its best known site, a 33,200-hectare underwater splendor drawing divers from all over the world with its marvelous marine wilderness and special ecosystem. Because of its fabulous beauty, the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park was honored by UNESCO in December 1993 as the first natural site in the Philippines to be inscribed in the prestigious World Heritage List.

The provincial capital is Jolo. Its walled city is the smallest in the world, with its historic brick walls that lay proof to the city’s historic and continuous strife. At the entrance of the city are four gates that were used as watch towers and several mounds that were the burial grounds of Spanish and American soldiers who died in the hands of the Muslim warriors. Another attraction of the city is the Provincial Capitol with its moorish-inspired architectural design.

The province nurtures a harmonious coexistence of the two most dominant religions in the Philippines, Catholicism and Islam. There are Muslim mosques situated in each barangay, most notable being the Tulay Mosque. The existing churches of Christian faith in the province are the Jolo Parish Church, Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel, and Jolo Evangelical Church.

Geography

The Sulu Archipelago is the southernmost part of the Philippines. It lies between the Sulu Sea on the north and the Celebes Sea on the south.

The province consists of over 400 scattered and almost isolated islands, stretching from the tip of Zamboanga southwestward towards Borneo. It forms one of the three connections of the Philipines with Borneo.

Climate

Sulu is outside of the typhoon belt. Its climate is warm, humidity is generally moist, but precipitation is constant throughout the year. February is considered the coldest month while May to August are the hottest, with mean relative humidity of 86%, one of the hottest in the country. January to April is considered the dry period, with a monthly average of 7 to 9 inches of rainfall. The mean annual temperature is 26 degrees centigrade and the maximum is 27 degrees centigrade.

Language / Dialect

The principal dialect of the natives of Jolo is Tausug. The rest speak Samal, Cebuano, Chavacano, Tagalog, and other dialects. English is widely spoken.

Major Industries

Far-flung Sulu is surprisingly a first-class province by income classification. While there is an absence of mineral deposits, Sulu nevertheless abounds in timber resources. Lying outside the typhoon belt, it is blessed with a year-round bounty from both land and sea.

Due to the character of the soil and climate, the province of Sulu grows a greater variety of products than any other part of the country. In addition to all the crops of the islands, which are abaca, coconut, and fruits like oranges, lanzones, and jacks, other fruits that do not grow in the northern islands are harvested here, such as the mangosteen and durian.

Fishing is the most important industry. Trepang and pearls are extensively gathered. Sea turtles and fish of all kinds are caught. Otherwise the people engage in the industries of boat building, mat weaving, coffee processing, and fruit preservation (durian and mangosteen).

[Sinjin P.]

Credits to:
*Wikipedia
*Department of Tourism Official Website
for the photos and articles

[flesh_is_weak]

cool..a thread for the armm...naa baya ko classmate gikan basilan...

btw, i would like to visit mindanao someday...wa pa gyud katunod bisan ug usa lang ka square-meter of mindanao soil...hehehe...

[Sinjin P.]

Yeah, with my vacant time, I'll try to create a thread for each region in the Philippines so that we'll have new outlets for discussion

[flesh_is_weak]

[url]http://www.webalice.it/paopadd/ [url]--naay picture didto sa royal palace of sulu--a fine piece of architecture if you ask me...

[Sinjin P.]

Btw, has anyone been to these places? I hope you could share some photos.

[Rajah_Soliman]

6 years after the war: Camp Abubakar transformed into an economic zone

By Noel Y. Punzalan

MATANOG, Maguindanao (PNA Features) – Barely six years after its fall, traces of the once impregnable Camp Abubakar, the scene of many mortal combat between government forces and Moro rebels, are nowhere to be found.

Sensibly, the camp, once home to some 15,000 rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has been transformed into a vast plantation area for various crops such as vegetables, fruits, rice, corn, coconut, coffee, marang, watermelons, banana, pumpkins, radish, string beans, tomatoes, among others.

Peace and development has reigned in this 32,000-hectare former MILF bastion where Muslim guerillas and government troops fought their fiercest battles during the summer of 2000, killing hundreds of combatants from both sides.

The once heavily fortified rebel base that nestles between the towns of Buldon and Barira is an epitome of development in Central Mindanao where people can now move around freely out of harms way.

Gone is the so-called flashpoint section of southern Philippines.

The erstwhile MILF stronghold carries a new name - Camp Duma Sinsuat, now the home of the 603rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army and its support contingent, the 54th Engineering Battalion.

The camp’s sprawling terrain, previously creeping with 15,000 MILF fighters, has in its place thousands of farmers harvesting their crops all-year round since the Philippine government developed the area after the war in 2000.

Barangay Sarmiento, once dubbed as the gateway to the vast Camp Abubakar, is now also a thriving community lined with various trading shops and houses built near coconut farms.

In addition, the village entry point that one-time splashed the “Welcome to Camp Abubakar” billboard now banners “Welcome to the Home of the Army’s 603rd IB.” marker.

Schoolchildren walking towards school are teeming along the roadsides as motorists honk their ways while driving the 15-kilometer stretch of the Secretary Narciso Ramos highway.

Except for several Army checkpoints along the way, the atmosphere of peace prevails in this area.

Matanog Mayor Nasser Imam quipped in an interview: “Everything is normal in this area now.”

In retrospect, state forces hoisted the Philippine flag at the vanquished camp on July 8, 2000 after a two-week gun battle with hard lined Moro fighters, signaling its reversion to government control from being the nerve center of MILF guerilla forces in Mindanao the past three decades.

Six months after its capture, then Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency through the EDSA II people uprising against predecessor President Joseph Estrada over plunder charges.

Backed by a ten-point development agenda, the Arroyo government waged an "all-out peace" campaign in the country with her administration resuming stalled peace overtures with the MILF.

Subsequently, the government pursued the conversion of the camp into an economic zone, pumping in P100-million development plan for the area.

As a result, the fall of Abubakar paved the way to stabilize relations between government and MILF over relief and rehabilitation undertakings in the war-ravaged area.

The event led to the government and MILF’s forging of a ceasefire in 2003 in the region that both parties respect up to now.

Since then, local folks, most of them MILF sympathizers, returned home and started life anew as ordinary citizens.

"We are now living as peaceful farmers here,” said one-time rebel and current local farming cooperative leader Huron Maslog in Maguindanaon dialect during an interview.

“We have also accepted the presence of Camp Duma Sinsuat here and we see no problem with that because it contributed much to the improvement of our place in terms of peace and security,” he added. leader here.

Maslog said Matanog is blessed with an “A-1 soil”, according to experts from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM), which boosted their efforts in obtaining bountiful harvests.

In 2005, DAF-ARMM officials hastily contacted buyers of pumpkins and watermelons as far as the cities of Davao, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro after a 10-hectare pilot area they planted with the crops recorded an unexpected 100 percent yield.

“You see, any seed you throw to the ground here grows by itself unattended,” the beaming, dark-skinned Maslog said. (PNA Features)

ALM

[J_lim2k2]

anyone in the forum who is from ARMM?

[tigidig14]

JOLO 1944


JOLO 1984


BASILAN 1984

C/O UTexas

[Ady001]

Good! May ARMM na....

I was only wondering why Marawi has the highest poverty incidence in the country...