MSU Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center

18/02/2026

Alhamdulillah! Ramadan Mubarak rekano langon a mga Meranaw ago Muslim sa Dunya..

07/02/2026

OKIR Art Exhibit 2026 Opens at SM Downtown Premier

The OKIR Art Exhibit 2026 officially opened on February 3 and ran until February 5, 2026, at the 5th Floor Event Hall of SM Downtown Premier, showcasing the richness of Meranaw arts, culture, and craftsmanship.

Led by the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur through the Provincial Tourism, Culture and the Arts Office, in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT)–BARMM and partner institutions, the three-day exhibit featured woven textiles, wood carvings, brass works, paintings, and other traditional crafts by Meranaw artisans.

The opening program included traditional Meranaw dance performances, introduction of participating exhibitors, and a guided tour of the artworks. Students from various universities in Cagayan de Oro actively joined the opening, reflecting growing youth interest in cultural heritage and creative expression.

At the second day of the exhibit, Ms. Ayesha Merdeka M. Alonto or Kaka Con as we call her described okir as a living expression of Meranaw identity and a bridge between communities.

“‘Meranaw’ means ‘people of the lake.’ Our visual language is okir- vines, leaves, spirals that echo water and wind,” she said, explaining that okir embodies both strength (okir a datu) and grace (okir a bae).

She emphasized that okir is a generational art passed from elders to learners and offered to the nation as part of a shared cultural future.

“Beauty can be a bridge… In this space, art doesn’t just display- it connects,” she added.

Ma’am Ayesha also highlighted the role of institutions such as the Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center in documenting, educating, and building ethical partnerships to ensure the survival and growth of traditional crafts.

02/02/2026

FUN FACT:

𝑫𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒍
– 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒏-𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑮𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒂𝒏

The diongal is the horn-shaped ornament at the very top of a torogan’s roof. Its shape is often compared to a cow or carabao horn, giving the torogan a crown-like appearance, almost like a throne, highlighting its status as a royal house of the Meranaw.

While it looks decorative, the diongal also has a deeper meaning. Before Islam spread in the region, some sources believed it could protect the home, warding off evil spirits or bad forces. In this sense, it acts like a symbolic guardian at the highest point of the house.

This protective idea isn’t unique to the Meranaw, many Austronesian and Southeast Asian houses feature curved roof ornaments with similar symbolic or spiritual purposes, like those seen in Batak houses in Indonesia.

At the same time, the diongal is part of the okir tradition, the Meranaw system of flowing, curving designs used in art, carving, and architecture. Scholars emphasize that its main purpose is aesthetic, showing the skill and creativity of Meranaw artisans while connecting to older, pre-Islamic artistic traditions.

In short, the diongal is more than just a decoration. It is a beautiful symbol of protection, artistry, and ancestral culture, making the torogan one of the most unique examples of Philippine traditional architecture.

Source: Master Artisan Lantong Pangcoga, Tugaya, Lanao del Sur

02/02/2026

WORD OF THE WEEK:

𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒈-𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕 (Verb)
Fluctuating / Alternating

Meaning: To fluctuate, to alternate, or to move back and forth between two states. Like the natural rise and fall of the tide.

Derived from the two Meranaw nouns orog (high tide) and irat (low tide), morog-mirat evokes the natural cycle of rising and receding waters, serving as a metaphor for patterned, rhythmic change.

Used to describe changes that move in cycles, not chaos. Life, emotions, work, and seasons can all morog-mirat, it’s sometimes high, sometimes low, but always moving.

Tagalog:

Morog-Mirat (Pandiwa)
Pabago-bago / Salit-salit

Kahulugan: Morog-mirat ay ang pabago-bago o salit-salit na galaw, o paggalaw pabalik-balik sa pagitan ng dalawang kalagayan, tulad ng natural na pagtaas at pagbaba ng tubig-dagat.

Hango sa dalawang salitang Meranaw: orog (taas-dagat) at irat (baba-dagat), ang morog-mirat ay sumasagisag sa likas na siklo ng pag-angat at pagbaba ng tubig, bilang metapora ng maayos at paulit-ulit na pagbabago.

Ginagamit upang ilarawan ang mga pagbabagong umiikot sa siklo at hindi kaguluhan. Maaaring morog-mirat ang buhay, damdamin, trabaho, at panahon — minsan mataas, minsan mababa, ngunit patuloy na gumagalaw.

Example:

Maaaring morog-mirat ang buhay, damdamin, trabaho, at panahon — minsan masagana, minsan pakuntikunti, ngunit patuloy ang buhay.

(Mapakay a so kaoyagoyag, so magugudam, galbuk ago gya masa na morog-mirat, gira kwan na oodarn, igira pman na kapamolipo ogaid na itataros so kapaginentaw.)

31/01/2026

In line with ongoing efforts to strengthen the Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center (MCHC) as a Torogan for all Meranaws most especially the youth, Ms. Ayesha Merdeka M. Alonto today engaged in a meaningful dialogue with young Campus journalists all around Marawi City during the Journalism Skills Training organized by LANTAW: The Alliance of Campus Journalists at Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi.

The activity led by LANTAW President Abdul Hafiz Malawani, a Rappler correspondent and MSU Varsitarian writer, gathered aspiring journalists for a learning session focused on responsible storytelling, ethical reporting, and culturally grounded journalism. The session was also joined by Ms. Sittie Faizah B. Matanog-Pangcoga, DJ of 95.5 Cool FM and Planning Officer of MRP BARMM, who shared insights on media practice and community-based communication. Her presence is MCHC's commitment to work with all experts and stakeholders in the gargantuan work on hand of preserving and promoting the Meranaw culture and its heritages for the next generations to come.

Kaka Con as Ms. Alonto is fondly called emphasized that writing must be guided by Meranaw ethics and moral values rooted in Islamic principles underscoring the role of journalists as custodians of truth, culture, and community responsibility. She encouraged young storytellers to integrate cultural consciousness into their narratives and to use journalism as a tool for preserving identity and shaping collective memory.

The Journalism Skills Training aims to empower young storytellers, sharpen journalistic competencies, and reclaim narratives anchored in truth, culture, and accountability. From reporting fundamentals to ethical storytelling, the roadshow provides a platform to learn, listen, and speak with purpose.

The activity was held at Kalimudan Hall, Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center, MSU Marawi.

30/01/2026

30/01/2026

How do we preserve our identity amid progress?

Tonight on 95.5 Cool FM Marawi’s Ranao Rising, we are honored to bring you an exclusive conversation with the Head of the MSU-Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center. Join us as we explore the beauty of our roots and the strength of our heritage.

💬 Have questions? Drop them in the comments below for our guest!

📻 Tune in: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM 🎙️ Frequency: DXSK 95.5 Cool FM Marawi

26/01/2026

FUN FACTS

LIBOT (also spelled libt or libet)

• You can spot the Libot motif carved on old Meranaw houses across Lanao del Sur especially along beams, bed headboards, and door frames.

• The same shield-like triangle pattern appears on historic Meranaw artifacts displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines and the Aga Khan Museum, labeled as a Meranaw motif.

• If you look closely, Libot looks like rows of small shields locked together similar to how warriors place shields side by side to form a protective wall.

• Similar triangle shield patterns also appear in Maguindanao, Tausug, and even Iranun decorative arts but in museums they are identified under Meranaw design when found on Lanao artifacts.

• On Meranaw brass trays and textiles, Libot is often placed along the edges like a decorative fence wrapping around the main design.

• Many old wooden chests and beds in Lanao del Sur still carry this pattern today, quietly guarding family heirlooms inside.

• Think of Libot as a “woven armor.” A small repeating shapes that together form a strong visual barrier around an object.

26/01/2026

26/01/2026

Word of the week: MERA
also written as M’ra or Mura

ENGLISH
MERA (M’ra / Mura)

noun — A legendary bird often described as a peafowl or peacock, known for its resplendent feathers, ornamental “eyes,” and strong royal symbolism. In folk tales, Mera is portrayed as a majestic creature that embodies nobility, beauty, and spiritual significance. It is traditionally believed to have been introduced by early seafaring peoples, eventually becoming intertwined with cultural identity and myth. Some scholars suggest that the root word mera may be connected to the ethnonym Meranaw, symbolizing the people as the “awakened peacock” of the shores of Lake Lanao.

TAGALOG
MERA (M’ra / Mura)

pangngalan — Isang maalamat na ibon na madalas ilarawan bilang pabo o peacock, na kilala sa makukulay at maningning nitong balahibo, mga palamuting tila “mata,” at sumisimbolong kaharian o maharlikang dangal. Sa mga kuwentong-bayan, ang Mera ay inilalarawan bilang isang maringal na nilalang na kumakatawan sa karangalan, kagandahan, at espiritwal na kahulugan. Pinaniniwalaang dinala ito ng mga sinaunang mandaragat mula sa malalayong lugar at kalauna’y naging bahagi ng mito at pagkakakilanlang pangkultura. Ayon sa ilang iskolar, ang salitang-ugat na mera ay maaaring kaugnay ng pangalang Meranaw, na sumasagisag sa mamamayan bilang “nagising na pabo” ng mga baybayin ng Lawa ng Lanao.

23/01/2026