Mindanao State University

Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center

MSU Main Campus - Marawi City > Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center

About MCHC

Mandate

The 4th of June gave a different meaning to all of us—the Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center was born (MSU BOR Res. No. 18, S. 2020). This is the day when our center was finally given the name. This all started in our dream to house the ideas, rituals and even memories of the past and present of being Meranaws. This is why the program called Meranaw Then and Now was conceptualized and proposed in September 2017. This project proposal that was approved in the Senate Finance Committee presentation made by the Mindanao State University under the Chairmanship of the former Senator Loren Legarda.

Indeed, the center is a dream come true to all Meranaw champions. We have gone through rough days but because of our insistence to pursue our goals, we have conquered all. As what we believe and stated in our centre’s philosophy, we are “committed to the preservation and strengthening of the shared Meranaw Culture in order to contribute to the total development of Meranaw people and society.”

Hence, the center is envisioned to be the state-of-the art heritage center where research and activities for strengthening and reconstructing Meranaw culture is showcased and embodied.

To us, being Meranaw and by holding on to our values, we can become who we would want to be because we want to know where we came from.

“So kakhakowa mapiya o bangsa na sii kisabap ko panagontaman ko kambageri ko pakaasal o kamemeranawi. Dingka katoon so songwan ka obangka di katawi so phoonan ka.”

Philosophy of the Center

MSU-MCHC is committed to the preservation and strengthening of the shared Meranaw Culture in order to contribute to the total development of Meranaw people and society.

Mission of the Center

MSU-MCHC shall lead in the preservation and strengthening of the Meranaw Culture that can forward:

Peace and development in Lanao and its neighboring communities;
Cultural understanding through research and activities;
Collaboration for the appreciation of the Meranaw Culture, especially its arts, and language.

Vision of the Center

MSU-MCHC is envisioned to be the state-of the-art heritage center where research and activities for strengthening and reconstructing Meranaw culture is showcased and embodied.

Core Values

MOTIVATED (mananagontaman)

COOPERATIVE (makaoogopa)

HOPEFUL (maarapen)

COURAGEOUS(mala i paninindeg)

HISTORY

The Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center in Mindanao State University was created under the Meranaw Then and Now Program which was proposed by Prof. Sorhaila Latip-Yusoph, PhD in 2018 with her team (Dr. Rebekah M. Alawi, Dr. Minang D. Sharief, Dr. Fema Abamo and Dr. Alma E. Berowa). The program was approved by the Philippine Departmentof Budget Management (DBM) as supported by the good Senator Loren Legarda and facilitated by the MSU officials headed by Dr. Habib W. Macaayong, the System President (2016-2022).

MCHC is a place dedicated to preserving the culture and traditions of the Meranaw people. It features a wide range of artifacts, exhibits, and a replica of a traditional Meranaw house that offers a glimpse into their daily life. The center also hosts cultural events and performances, making it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in learning about the rich history and customs of this indigenous group.

Prof. Yusoph, being the lead proponent of the Meranaw Then and Now is the Center’s Founding Director and Research manager of the Center as stipulated in the creation of the center with its BOR Resolution Number 18 Series of 2020 of the Mindanao State University.

HERITAGE

is a version of the past received through objects and display, representations and engagements, spectacular locations and events, memories and commemorations, and the preparation of places for cultural purposes and consumption.

Why Visit Here?

“The Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center at the Mindanao State University is a place that is steeped in history and tradition. This center is dedicated to preserving the unique culture of the Meranaw people, who are an indigenous group that has lived in the Mindanao region for centuries.

Inside the Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center, visitors can see a wide range of artifacts, including traditional clothing, musical instruments, and household items. The center also features exhibits that showcase the rich history and customs of the Meranaw people. One of the highlights of the center is the replica of a traditional Meranaw house, which offers visitors a glimpse into the daily life of this indigenous group. The house is decorated with intricate carvings and colorful textiles, and features a range of household items that were used in daily life.

In addition to its exhibits, the Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center also hosts cultural events and performances. Visitors can watch traditional dance performances and learn about the music and customs of the Meranaw people.

Overall, the Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in learning about the unique culture and traditions of the Meranaw people. It is a place that celebrates the rich history and customs of this indigenous group, and offers visitors a chance to learn about and appreciate their way of life.”

Not only does Mindanao State University provide you the practical skills that is necessary to transition seamlessly into the workforce upon your graduation, but we also make sure that you will have a good sense of social justice so that you make the transition responsibly.

PUBLICATION

FACILITIES

PROGRAMS

MCHC Logo

The MCHC Logo design is inspired by the Panolong so the new generation of Meranaw people will love its beauty as seen on the Torogan. It symbolizes the wealth and importance of the Meranaw culture as it is fashioned in the Meranaw Torogan. It is an architectural translation of a “prow,” meaning the protruding part in the front of a ship. It is designed to make the house appear as a floating boat in the eyes of the viewer.

MCHC Staff

DIRECTOR

PROF. SORHAILA L. LATIP-YUSOPH. PhD

is currently the Mindanao State University- Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center Director, in con current as Director of the OFFICE OF INFORMATION, PRESS AND PUBLICATION , and also the Research Activity Manager and Officer . She is the main proponent and Over-all Program Leader of the “Meranaw then and now: Cultural Heritage Mapping Research and Preservation of the Meranaw Cultural Heritage.” She has been trained by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts on Cultural Heritage Mapping in 2018 and has been a researcher and translator of several books from English to Meranaw concerning Meranaw culture and social development. Recently, she has produced the research-based e-book entitled Gender Snapshot of the Marawi Conflict under OXFAM sa Pilipinas highlighting the plight of the Meranaw IDPs and their plight as an ethnic group and as Muslims in times of war. She has a column in the SunStar Philippines writing about Meranaw lifestyle, culture and social issues under her section on “Meranaw Perspectives.” She has also a community broadcasting program highlighting the lives and culture of the Meranaw people of Lanao and their plight these days as internally displaced individuals. She has also assisted in the translation of books from English to Meranaw since 2011. As the senior faculty member of the Communication and Media Studies Department of MSU, she has used her culture especially her language to be her avenue in expressing her thoughts and voicing out the rights of his people.