IRANUN CULTURES AND TRADITIONS

Literature

Ancient Iranun was identical with that of the Darangan Period. Some Iranun geneanologists say that Darangan Period was one of the periods of the ancient Iranun. The hero of the Darangan was Rajah Bantugen. The seat of the government was in Benbaran (situated in the north west of Bukidnon) near Wao. It was a name of a civilization of people during ancient time. The civilization was more on mystic and rituals activities. The Darangan was composed of decades with different episodes. It described most the characteritics of the Iranun as people. The true meaning of love and wisdom, leadership, livelihood (economics and industry) socio-political, humanity and other good quality and characteristics were described in the episodes of Darangen. Iranun oral tradition say that Darangan as a civilization was composed of six (6) federal states which Bembaran was the capital. These federal states were: Da Madiar a Linog, Sawlaya A Salg, Daguwatan sa Oray, Pindulunan sa Ragat, Sadurog ko Marandang, and Bembran. Their rulers were Batara Mangadka, Batara Mapalala Makaug, Batara Bakuludan sa Waki, Batara Lumuday sa Barat, Batara Tundugen, Batara Rinawraw Tubpaan, and Batara Bantugen respectively. The cabinets were: Daranda, Mabaning, and Lumbatan. The adore and beloved princess was Princess Lawanen.

Iranun has many bayoks. Usually the oldfolks/elders during those times were using bayok in their communication. Examples of these bayoks are: Biwang Kawanan Tinday o Pagilidan Pipandaraan, Iranun Pipparasan, Ranaw Gilanggumilang, Maguindanao rawaten, Slangan da marimbang which connotes nobility and maharlika. Others like: Pidzan pagzir so ganding na so kapanganonen bo na maliwanag den sa dar which means hospitability and courteousness. Benar e rinaw so ragat na sisirungen a barat so karante o alongan which means problems and sorrows.

The principal village ( principality) was Benbaran, the capital of the Darangan civilization, wherein the Turugan (royal house) was established. Turugan was the official residence and court of the Ayunan Pangadapen O Inayunan O Kampong sa Ilian a Benbaran ( Official Royal Court of the Most Respected and Honored Leader of Benbaran), His Majesty Ayunan Pangadapen Pasandalan A Murog, the great ruler. All important matters either personal or non personal business transactions were done in the Turugan. Other villages (principalities) were Bugabong A Kumara, the village of Her Majesty Paramata Gandingan. Bugabong A Kumara was civilized as Benbaran. Iranun experts in Darangan say that Benbaran and Bugabong A Kumara were equal and parallell. Sarbaka Kilaten, Gamaniyog were states of Bugabong a Kumara.

Music, Musical Instrument and Plays

Darangen as a song was the most popular name or title of a song during the Darangan Period. Darangen as a title of a song described the entire civilization. Man and woman knew very well to perform/sing darangen. Darangen as a song was usually sang at night. Bayok was another name of a song which usually performed by two or three performers. The Mranaw sometimes called Kambayoka. The performers were called Unur. Mamayog was another name of a song, performed by one gentleman and one lady. The mamayog described the loyalty and courteousness of a husband to his wife during the ancient Iranun (Darangen Period). Some Iranun folks identified another song entitled Darangen a Babay (Most Beloved and Adored Lady) was commonly sang/ performed in the Slangan Principality. Princess Tinabon was the star who was being described in the song.

The kulintang, agong, gandingan, pamindira, and dibakan were usually and commonly used as musical instrument. It was called in the Iranun as Lima A mamagenesupa (Lima Ka Daragia in Ranaw). This musical instruments were usually used during fiest day or durangna (wedding ceremony). During the ancient time, Lima Ka Mamagenesupa was used also during rituals. Kutyapi (Kudyapi in some version), palendag, suling, kubing were among the musical instruments during the ancient time in the Iranun civilization. Generally, all the person who reach the maturity stage of human development knew to use and play these instruments. Sagayan was a stage play which usually performed by young man describing the skill and bravery of the Iranun warriors. The sagayan was usually performed during rituals. Sagayan was usually performed by two young men. Minors can do it. In some Iranun wedding fiest/ceremony, sagayan was being performed in the kakuyog sa damak (damak is a cooked sweet foods deliver to the house of the bride from groom house) and in the procession ( kuyog) of the groom. It was usually put ahead of the parade. Sagayan during wedding ceremony is accompanied by an unta (it is look like a camel played and manipulated by a youngman to move). Kulintang (Lima A Mamagenesupa) was being play as a music of the procession. Sinulog was a kulintang tune usually used as a music in the procession.

Wedding Fiesta/Ceremony

During the ancient Iranun, wedding fiest/ceremony was a long process. Parental system was the usual practice. Iranun usually practice maharlika system. The man who was belonged to the ruling family of the village marries the daughter of the ruling family of other village (Prince is for Princess Principle).

Iranun wedding process undergoes four stages. These stages were: panunuriman (observation), pangingidong (Whispering) from the kakamaman side (groom side), sarangguni (actual negotiation of the two parties facilitiated by other group, usually the Council of Elders of the bride family), and gurangna (wedding ceremony). In some cases, sarangguni and gurangna were fused into one. It depends on the negotiation.

During the ancient Iranun, dowry (sunggodan/btang/btad sa adat) was term of material not money, for example: land/lot, bulawan (gold), and other valuable materials (animals). In some cases uripin (slaves were accepted as dowry or even the entire sovereign of the groom father served as dowry in case of a single child). After signing of contract between the two parties, the groom was granted to court and talked/'invite the bride to ocassion with one chaperon. The groom was granted to sleep in the house of the bride. Wedding ceremony among maharlika (ruling family) was full of decors (pandara). There were activity (siapa sa manggis, kulintang contest, and other wedding activities were observed) to give honor and respect to the royal wedding.

The common class (kadakelan) used only sambulayang with no flag and pamanay. The uripin has no wedding ceremony. The ruling family used the complete set of pandara (pasandalan, sambulayang with flag at the top of the pole, ubor-ubor, and pamanay). Usually bright colors were used (red,green and yellow). Among the ancient Iranun red means bravery, green means sovereign, and yellow means ruling family. These colors were only used and attributed to the ruling family.

References:

WikiAnswers

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Nov 24, '08 11:51 AM/ Category: Other

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