tags: philippines maguindanao region culture mindanao
Maguindanao
Maguindanao is a southern province in the [philippines], located on the island of [mindanao]. It is situated along the banks of Pulangi, a major waterway that tends to overflow and turns the surrounding valley into a vast lake (danao).
The Maguindanaon
The Maguindanaon people live in Maguindanao and take their name from the province.
They identify each other as "people of the upstream" (tao sa raya) or "people of the downstream" (tao sa ilud) of the river Pulangi. They were the dominant people in Mindanao until Spanish colonials subjugated them by force - however, to this day, "their spirit remains unconquered" (Benitez).
The Maguindanaon revere the [kulintang] as their most important musical instrument today, which can be played solo or in an [ensemble] of drums and varying combinations of hanging gongs.