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.
Maranao is the most commonly spoken language in the province. Also spoken are
Tagalog and
Cebuano , as well as
English and
Arabic .
Points of interest in the province include:
- Moncado Colony
- Mindanao State University (Main Campus)
- Kalookan Lake
- Aga Khan Museum
- Torogan (of Tuka)
- Islamic Center of the Philippines (the country's largest dome)
- Tallest Minarets of Marawi
- Abu Bakar Mosque (largest mosque in Lanao del Sur)
- Lanao People's Park (only park in Lanao del Sur)
- Lanao Library
- Ayala Resort Hotel (only hotel in Lanao del Sur)
- Dansalan Market (natively known as Padian)
- MSU Golf Course
Lanao del Sur is subdivided into 39
Municipalities and 1
City .
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 charactarized by even distribution of rainfall throughout the year, without a distinct summer season. The province is located outside the typhoon belt.
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.
See Also: Music of the Philippines
Kulintang
The native Maranao 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.
