Maguindanao

This article is about the province. For other uses, see Maguindanao (disambiguation). Province of Maguindanao
Provincial seal of Maguindanao
Map of the Philippines with Maguindanao highlighted Region Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(ARMM) Capital Shariff AguakDivisions - Highly urbanized cities0 - Component cities1 - Municipalities22 - Barangays279 - Congressional districts1 Population 28th largest - Total (2007) 710,829 - Density 163/km² (30th highest) Area 21st largest - Total 4,900.1 km² Founded November 22, 1973Spoken languages MaguindanaoanGovernor Datu Andal S. Ampatuan

Maguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Shariff Aguak and borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, Shariff Kabunsuan to the west and Sultan Kudarat to the south.

1 Economy
2 Geography
- 2.1 Political
- 2.2 Physical
3 Government
4 History
5 Musical Heritage
6 References

Economy

Geography

Political

Maguindanao is subdivided into 22 municipalities, which are in turn divided into 279 barangays. Cotabato City is an independent component city of Maguindanao.

MunicipalityNo. of
BarangaysPopulation
(2007) Area
(km²) Pop. density
(per km²) Ampatuan11 33,702 Buluan 7 32,310 Datu Abdullah Sangki10 33,259 Datu Anggal Midtimbang 7 23,713 Datu Paglas23 29,979 Datu Piang20 49,971 Datu Saudi-Ampatuan14 45,126 Datu Unsay 9 38,891 Gen. S. K. Pendatun19 36,038 Guindulungan11 23,777 Mamasapano18 29,285 Mangudadatu 8 24,300 Pagagawan11 32,995 Pagalungan12 31,052 Paglat 8 23,432 Pandag 8 20,557 Rajah Buayan11 24,973 Shariff Aguak (Maganoy)25 71,971 South Upi11 32,014 Sultan sa Barongis (Lambayong)12 25,767 Talayan15 25,753 Talitay 9 21,964

Physical

Government

Maguindanao is divided into two provincial districts[1] for purposes of electing members to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or the Provincial Board which serves as its legislature. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Maguindanao is composed ten elected members,[2] five from each of the provincial districts the province is divided into. On the other hand, Cotabato City does not elect any provincial officials.[3]

District I: Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Piang, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, South Upi, Talayan, Talitay.
District II: Buluan, Datu Paglas, Gen. S. K. Pendatun, Mangundadatu, Pagagawan, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sultan sa Barongis.

History

Shariff Mohammed Kabungsuwan of Johore introduced Islam in the area at the end of the 15th century. He subsequently married a local princess and established the Sultanate of Maguindanao. The Cotabato Valley formed the sultanate's heartland but its influence extended from the Zamboanga Peninsula to Sarangani Bay and Davao.

The Spaniards launched expeditions to subdue the area throughout the colonial era but they never gained control of the region until the middle of the 19th century.

During the American period, Cotabato became a district of the Moro Province created in 1903 and a province of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu in 1914.

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces enter in Maguindanao Province.

In 1945, liberated in Maguindanao from the Filipino soldiers and Maguindanaoan guerillas used the weapons and Maguindanaoan Kampilan and Kris swords by the attacked from the Japanese Imperial forces defeated beginning the Battle of Maguindanao during the Second World War.

The old province of Cotabato was divided in 1966 into Cotabato and South Cotabato. In 1973, the successor province of Cotabato was split into the provinces of Maguindanao, (North) Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

Maguindanao is the only Muslim-majority province of the four created out of the original Cotabato Province. In 1989, the it opted to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but Cotabato City did not, which, ironically, has since served as the capital of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

On October 31, 2006, voters in Maguindanao's 29 municipalities have approved the creation of a new province to be composed of 10 towns. Of Maguindanao's more than 500,000 registered voters, 285,372 favored the creation of Shariff Kabunsuan province. Only 8,802 voted against it.

Shariff Kabunsuan became the country's 80th province and the 6th in the ARMM.

The new province, carved out of Maguindanao, is composed of the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Sultan Mastura, Parang, Buldon, Matanog and Barira. The creation of Shariff Kabunsuan left Maguindanao with only inland towns and no access to the coast, rendering it landlocked.

The ARMM is now composed of Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and the city of Marawi.

Musical Heritage

Main articles: Music of the Philippines and Kulintang

The native Maguindanaon 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.