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A Child of Ranaw

Azlani Alab

            Last week I attended my cousins’ PTA meeting to represent their parents who was out of town for a seminar. And that incident still weighs on my mind. Apparently, I would not be mistaken as their parents because the kids and I don’t have physical similarities. But because I wear a conservative dress (which kind of an alien to their sight) and acted culturally, those people really thought I am Benjie and Monching’s mom.

            Until finally I was given a chance to speak. All eyes were on me. I saw some unfriendly look that as if saying “What have we done? We let an ABU SAYYAF enter this school.” I began my words by saying “Actually I’m just filling in, I’m not here to terrorize you guys.” They thought it was funny so everyone laughed. That ease the tension they felt a while ago. And with my experience in public speaking, persuading them was a piece of cake.

            Everyone I met tells me that if I don’t wear my veil I would not be recognized as a Maranao. It’s true that I speak Maranao quite badly and up to this day, my grammar in Maranao dialect makes people cringe. But despite all this, I consider my self to be real child of Ranao.

            After the meeting, I stayed for a while to wait for my cousins. A guy, a parent I guessed, approached me and asked about my age. Then he commented that’s its nice to know that living in a city like Cagayan de Oro and at my age, I was not influence by the modern world and still maintain to be culture-sensitive. Is it really unusual to see a Maranao lady who wears a conservative dress that does not allow room for perversity? He even got amazed when he found out that I was, I mean I am, a half blood (half-maranao, half-ilonggo). I just smiled and he started telling stories about his observations to the Maranaos here in CDO. During our chatting, I notice how bad his impression to the Maranao, especially the women. And to think he himself is a Maranao. His words left me thinking.

            It irks me to know that the image portrayed by the Maranao woman today is appalling. It is saddening because mostly it is true. During college, I have seen some scenarios that somehow validate this common perception to the Maranao. Unveiled long-haired ladies who wear clothes that almost show their private parts were rampant. I have colleagues who go partying all night in a bar with their Cebuano boyfriends. Are Maranaos allowed to have boyfriend? And worst a Cebuano.

            What is happening with these people? They have reduced their culture to mockery. They rejected the loveliness of their culture by trying to be look like Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton. And the saddest part of all is that they thought they are better than the mestizas because they are pure-bloods. It seems so ironic that I get to be outcasted sometimes yet they are the ones who think that being a Maranao is something to be ashamed of causing them to remove their veils and flaunt their bodies.

           It’s time we redefine what being a Maranao is all about. No matter how many dictionaries define us, it’s what we do that counts. Remember that wherever we go we are representing the people of Lanao.

            I don’t live in Lanao or use “malong” or listen to “bayok”.  I have never- and most likely never will – let “amik” touches my lips. But that doesn’t make me less of a Maranao or just having both Maranao parents make me superior to others.

            I am a Maranao because I believe that our culture is rich in glory and splendor. In my heart I know that being a Maranao isn’t about having pure-blood, it’s about how you feel towards your culture. I am a Maranao because I take pride in what I am.

	1. Written by Norhania Pumbaya Montila on 04-12-2007 15:21 - Registered
	during the time of our ancestors,or let say our grand parents...compare to the present time, it's a big difference..befOre, u caN't see a maranao ladies wearing jeans, because they are not allowed to wear it,in fact, they prefer to use malong,now, it's not just jeans but todays generation,they're trying to imitiate on what they have seen/ obserVEd on teLEVISion..as time goes by, we modernized and as resuLt, we forgot our religion ISLAM..

	2. Written by Norhania Pumbaya Montila on 04-12-2007 15:21 - Registered
	during the time of our ancestors,or let say our grand parents...compare to the present time, it's a big difference..befOre, u caN't see a maranao ladies wearing jeans, because they are not allowed to wear it,in fact, they prefer to use malong,now, it's not just jeans but todays generation,they're trying to imitiate on what they have seen/ obserVEd on teLEVISion..as time goes by, we modernized and as resuLt, we forgot our religion ISLAM..

	3. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 11-12-2007 07:05 - Guest
	mahirap tangapin but that is how it is...kung modernized na nga ang mga babaeng mismong nakatira sa ranao, yun pa kayng mga nakatira sa peragatan? but i know there are some maranao women who are still morally equipped...

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