Artisans

The Maguindanaon and their Inaul

The name “Maguindanao” came from the family or dynasty that ruled almost the whole island of Mindanao, most particularly Cotobato. In later years, the term referred to the Muslim people who lived in the valley of Pulangi located in the Southwestern part of Mindanao. As such, the people now known as Maguindanaon are called “people of the plain”. A prince from Johore who set foot in Mindanao in the 15th century introduced Islam in the 15th century after the fall of Mecca in 1511. With the arrival of this prince, Sharif Kabungsuan, came the total Islamization of the area.

The Muslims in Mindanao are composed of eleven ethnic groups, each having its own language and though some groups may speak a single language, these come in different variations.

Cotobato, having been the center of sultanates in Mindanao, is the center of the sultanate of Maguindanao whese the ancestral land of upland indigenous communities such as the Tasaday, Teduray and the Subanun are also located. The Maguindanao was instrumental in thwarting western colonialism when the whole Mindanao was under its control.

The 20th century, Maguindanao’s political power diminished after the introduction of Christianity after resisting and fighting this for a long time. By the 1970s, only a quarter of its original seat of power remained as the Philippine government created other provinces that became the homeland of other Filipino settlers which were mostly Ilonggo and Cebuano. These places are now known as Maguindanao, Cotobato, South Cotobato, Sultan Kudarat and Saranggani province.

Inaul is Maguindanao’s local handwoven fabric, whose two ends were sewn together to create a single tubular piece called malong. The inaul fabric can also be called malong, however, the malong cannot always be classified as inaul as, unlike the inaul which is handloomed and made of either cotton silk, the malong is usually made of cotton and can be crafted by machine. Some inaul fabrics are more intricate than others, being interwoven with real gold threads and depicting designs very much Maguindanaon in nature.

Characterized by striking colors and patterns interspersed by gold or silver threads, with symbols depicting a very rich Muslim culture and heritage, the Inaul is most commonly worn by Maguindanaon women as skirts but can be manipulated in to function in many different ways.