Shariff Kabungsuan Festival highlights sultanates, entry of Islam in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY -– This year’s Shariff Kabungsuan Festival, a cultural laced
remembrance of the coming of Islam in mainland Mindanao was relived with the
Moro tradition highlighted by deeper understanding of those responsible in
bringing faith to indigenous peoples thousands of years ago in the city.

A street
dancing, dubbed Kuyog” street dancing festival and re-enactment of the landing
of the famous Muslim cleric, Shariff Kabungsuan, who brought Islam in mainland
Mindanao also highlighted the week-long celebration that ended Saturday, Dec. 19.

This year,
event organizers featured Tandung (veil) fashion show” where Moro women
showcased the evolution of beautiful and colourful veil known as hijab.”

From
traditional and old fashioned design to modern use of veil were presented even
as the Moro women also showcased their traditional Muslim dress and famous
women Muslim gown used during wedding occasion.

We would like
to educate our sisters on the correct and right usage of hijab,” said Ammarah
Sahara Biruar-Dumama, fashion show organizer and World Ambassador for Hijab in
the Philippines.

While we
levelled up to modern fashion, the modesty aspect of it remained,” she added.

A thanksgiving
event, more known as Pagana” capped the celebration where Moro leaders and
ordinary folks together feasted on food prepared for the celebration.

Girlie
Frondoza, Cotabato City tourism officer, said the evolution of Maguindanao and
Cotabato City sultanates was re-enacted to educate young Moro people about a
very important event in Islam history in Cotabato City – the Mamalu and
Tabunaway descendants.

The event
relieved the story that around 1515, Shariff Kabungsuan arrived at the mouth of
Rio Grande de Mindanao to bring Islam into the island which, at that time, was
ruled by Rajah Tabunaway with his brother Mamalu.

Rajah
Tabunaway met Sharif Kabungsuan at the Pulangi river where the latter noticed a
ring in Tabunaway’s finger and asked him what was it and from whom. Tabunaway
replied it was given to him by his father Shariff Maradja. Then they realized they were cousins.

Shariff
Maradja first came to Maguindanao in 1460 and married a local woman. Tabunaway was one of his children.

Tabunaway
invited Kabungsuan deep inside Maguindanao but the latter refused unless all
the people of Tabunaway are converted to Islam.
Tabunaway agreed and mass Islamization transpired. Tabunaway’s brother Mamalu refused and fled
to the mountains bringing with him his followers who are now the so called
Indigenous Peoples (IPs) living in the uplands of Mindanao. They are now called clans of Mamalu composed
of Bagobo, Manuvu, Tiruray, Subanun and Matigsalog. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)