Marawi, officially theIslamic City of Marawi (Maranao:Bandar a Marawi;Filipino:Lungsod ng Marawi;Jawi(Batang Arab):مدينة مراوى الإسلامية), is acomponent city and capital of theprovince ofLanao del Sur,Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 207,010 people.[4]
Marawi is located upon the shores ofLake Lanao.[6] It is primarily inhabited by the Maranao people. The city is also called the "Summer Capital of the South" due to its higher elevation and cooler climate,[7][failed verification] a nickname it shares withMalaybalay.[8][better source needed]
On May 23, 2017, the city suffered extensive damage during theSiege of Marawi as militants affiliated with theIslamic State invaded the city and engaged in a five-monthurban warfare,[9] until when Defense SecretaryDelfin Lorenzana announced the ending of the battle in October.
Dansalan (Marawi's prior name) derived from theMëranaw word "dansal", which means rendezvous; literally, it also means arrival[10] (in other source,[11] "where the waves come to shore"). Being known as the destination point for arriving boats,[11] the place refers to a port,[12] hence, the "Place of Destination and Purpose."[13]
Meanwhile,Marawi is derived from the word "rawi", which means reclining, in reference toAgus River.[10] On the other hand, this present name is in honor of the city's martyred hero in Kuta Marahui (Fortress of Marawi) in 1895.[11]
Dansalan began as a port.[11] A sovereign of Marawi before 1639 was "Datu Buadi Sa Kayo" who imposed taxation.[citation needed]
Around the original Meranaw fortification, Spanish captain Francisco Atienza founded a settlement calledDansalan in October 1639. His forces had come fromIligan and were attempting to conquer the entire Lake Lanao area. However, it was abandoned later the same year when thousands of Meranaw soldiersinvested the then-fortifying settlement, pressing the Spaniards hard and thus they returned to Iligan, having failed in their quest.[12]
The Spaniards only returned to the area when they began the conquest of theSultanate of Maguindanao in the 19th century.[12] They made attempts to capture Marawi, aMaranao stronghold, twice until they succeeded in 1895 with the deaths of DatuAmai Pakpak and Datu Sinal.[14] They abandoned the place again upon the arrival of the Americans in the Mindanao in 1898.[12][14]
Dansalan was created as a municipality by theMoro Province legislative council on May 24, 1907;[13][15] served as the capital of the undividedLanao Province since its declaration by the American colonial government.[10][11]
Dansalan was the last to become a chartered city under the country'sCommonwealth era with the approval of Commonwealth Act No. 592 on August 19, 1940.[11][17] DuringWorld War II, the Japanese invaded Dansalan and established a "comfort station" in the city, where local girls, teenagers, and young adults were kidnapped and turned into sex slaves under brutal "comfort women" system, where victims were routinely gang-raped and killed by Japanese soldiers.[18][19][20] Afterthe Second World War, inauguration took place on September 30, 1950.[21] It was renamedMarawi City on June 16, 1956 through Republic Act (RA) No. 1552 which amended the charter.[11][22][10][13]
Upon division of Lanao province through RA No. 2228 in 1959, it was made capital ofLanao del Sur.[11][23]
The city, being the country's only predominantlyMuslim chartered city, was declared "Islamic City of Marawi" throughCity Council Resolution No. 19-A on April 15, 1980.[10][11][13] This was proposed by Parliamentary Bill No. 261 in the defunctBatasang Pambansa, the country's former parliament during theMarcos regime, reportedly to attract funds from theMiddle East.[7]
The Marawi Grand Mosque after the 2017 siege, pictured in 2020.
On May 23, 2017, a pro–Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group called theMaute group attacked the city. TheBattle of Marawi—also known as the Marawi siege, the Marawi clash, and the Marawi crisis—started on May 23.CNN Philippines reported that the militants had over 500 men.[24] Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte declaredmartial law on the island of Mindanao, where the fighting was taking place, initially until December 31, 2017,[25] but was later extended to the end of 2018 and then again to the end of 2019.[25][26] The city was liberated from militant control on October 17, 2017 and battle operations officially ended on October 23, 2017.
The 2017 siege resulted tointernally displaced persons contributing to a significant population increase in certainbarangays, later led to the creation of new ones.[28][29] Since then, theCommission on Elections (COMELEC) held two separate plebiscites in the city, eventually establishing fivebarangays.[30][31]
Results of plebiscites for the creation of barangays, 2023–2024
Proposed barangay
Mother barangay
Choice
Total votes
Turnout (%)
Registered voters
Yes
No
Votes
%
Votes
%
2023 plebiscite(City Ordinances 07-10 and 05-10, series of 2022)[30]
Boganga II
Boganga
948
99.79%
2
0.21%
950
95.77%
992
Datu Dalidigan
Sagonsongan
473
99.37%
3
0.63%
476
99.17%
480
2024 plebiscite(City Ordinances 20-11, 18-11, and 19-11, series of 2023)[31]
The plebiscite for the creation of twobarangays on March 18, 2023, marking the first exclusively local electoral exercise in the city post-siege,[28] was held in five polling precincts.[34] With96.88% of registered voters participated, majority of them later ratified the proposal.[35][32] The creation became effective, months prior tothe Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October.[36][37]
Another plebiscite, seeking for the creation of three additionalbarangays, was held on March 9, 2024,[31] in eight clustered precincts.[38] With93.73% voter turnout, the proposal was ratified, almost unanimously.[39][40]
Marawi has a total land area of 8,755 hectares (21,630 acres).[41] It is located on the northernmost shores ofLake Lanao and straddles the area where theAgus River starts. It is bounded to the north by the municipalities ofKapai andSaguiaran; to the south by Lake Lanao; to the east by the municipalities ofBubong andDitsaan-Ramain; and to the west by the municipalities ofMarantao and Saguiaran.[7] The Bagang beach is situated 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) from the city's commercial center.
The Muslim majority city also hosts a national park, theSacred Mountain National Park, which spans the barangays of Guimba and Papandayan covering an area of 94-hectare (230-acre). The protected area was established on August 5, 1965, by Republic Act no. 4190.[42] The park is dominated by Mount Mupo, a 900-foot (270 m) tall[43] extinct volcanic cone. The park is ideal for birdwatching and mountain climbing to the summit that features a small pond.[44][better source needed]
Mountains, rolling hills, valleys, and a large placid lake dominate the city's landscape. Angoyao Hills (Barangay Sogod) served as natural viewpoint over the water of the Lake Lanao. Signal Hill (Barangay Matampay), Arumpac Hill (Barangay Saduc), and Mt. Mupo (Barangay Guimba) are considered beautiful but mysterious. Mt. Mupo, located within theSacred Mountain National Park, is known for its untouched trees and beautiful, perfect cone.[citation needed]
Marawi's weather is warm and wet throughout the year. With the elevation along Lake Lanao at around 2,300 feet (700 m),[3] this raised altitude together frequent heavy showers at all seasons, ensures that hot conditions are seldom observed.
The economy of Marawi is largely based on agriculture, trading, and exporting. Most industries in the city are agriculture-oriented. They include rice and corn farming,hollow blocks manufacturing,goldsmithing, andsaw milling. Small and cottage-size enterprises are engaged in garment making, mat andmalong weaving,wood carving,brassware making,web development, andblacksmithing.[7]
Apart from that, Marawi is home to NPC – Agus 1 Hydro Electric Power Plant and the first of the six cascading Agus Hydro Power Plants.
A new wind and solar energy plant and a newdiesel-generated power plant are set to be developed in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur, by two private firms to provide electricity to Marawi and adjoining areas.[59][60][better source needed] The project will cost PHP 2 billion and will generate 10 to 30 megawatts of electricity.[59]
The feeling of the unique natural setting of the Maranaos in Marawi is manifested by the presence of many largeTorogans, an antique royal high-roofed houses with carvings designed by the Meranau, and the Sambitory Old Building in Barrio Naga in front of Tuaka Laput, Marawi.
Marawi is home to the main campus ofMindanao State University, the biggest state university in Philippines. Other institutions and colleges are well established in the city and are as follows:
Mindanao State University – Lanao National College of Arts and Trades (Public)
Philippine Integrated School Foundation, Inc. (Private)
RC-Al Khwarizmi International College Foundation Inc. – Science Laboratory School (Private)
Marawi City National High School (Public)
Dansalan National High School (Public)
Lake Lanao National High School (Public)
Batabor National High School (Public)
Angoyao National High School (Public)
Aba Al-Khail Computer School (Private)
International Academy of Marawi (Private)
Miftahus Sala'am Integrated Academy (Private)
SMD Foundation Academy – Integrated Science High School (Private)
Masiricampo Abantas Memorial Islamic and Science Academy (Private)
TESDA is also stationed in Marawi which caters to technical training of students for the province.
Within theMindanao State University is theAga Khan Museum of Islamic Arts which is named in honor ofSultanAga Khan who contributed to the realization of the museum. Historical development of the country is bank on the large space upon the conservation of cultural materials. It has huge, collection of indigenous art, displayed ethnic music tape recorded, the native folk dances from different regions ofMindanao,Sulu andPalawan, the native tools and weapons used by the Muslims and different artistic designs of houses are the main attractions of museum. Indigenous art and cultural material are being displayed.
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