Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and Pilandok crosses a river

1. Introduction
ARMM: Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
THE BEAUTY OF ARMM
Malamawi Island, Basilan

2. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is one of the regions of
the Philippines. The region was first created on August 1, 1989 through Republic
Act No. 6734 otherwise known as the Organic Act. ARMM was established pursuant
to a constitutional mandate to provide for an autonomous area in Muslim Mindanao.
It was officially inaugurated on November 6, 1990 in Cotabato City.
It is the region, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines that is
composed of five predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan (except Isabela
City), Lanaodel Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. It is the only region
that has its own government. The regional capital is at Cotabato City, although this
city is outside of its jurisdiction.
The ARMM previously included the province of ShariffKabunsuan until 16 July
2008, when ShariffKabunsuan ceased to exist as a province after the Supreme
Court of the Philippines declared the "Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act 201", which
created it, unconstitutional in Sema vs. Comelec.
On 7 October 2012, President Benigno Aquino III said that the government
aimed to have peace in the autonomous region and that it will become known as
"Bangsamoro".
ARMM is divided into two geographical areas – the Mindanao mainland and
the Sulu Archipelago. Situated in the Mindanao mainland are the provinces of
Lanaodel Sur, Maguindanao and ShariffKabunsuan, while Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-
Tawi are located within the Sulu Archipelago.
The region has been the traditional homeland of Muslim Filipinos since the
15th century, even before the arrival of the Spaniards who colonize most of the
Philippines. At the time when most of the Philippines were under Spanish rule, the
region maintained its independence and resist Spanish invasion in the territory.
Because of this, the region has been a separate territory which enabled it to
develop its own culture and identity.

3. ARMM is headed by a Regional Governor who acts as the chief executive of
the regional government. He has control of all regional executive commissions,
agencies, boards, bureaus and offices. He is assisted by a cabinet not exceeding 10
members. The Regional Governor and Vice-Governor are elected directly like
regular local executives and they have a fixed term of three years but can be
extended by an act of Congress. Republic Act No. 9054 provides that ARMM “shall
remain an integral and inseparable part of the national territory of the Republic.”
The region is one of the impoverish areas in the Philippines. It has the lowest
per capita gross regional domestic product among the Philippines’ 17 regions. Four
provinces of ARMM were among the 10 poorest provinces in the Philippines, with
Maguindanao as the second poorest or the second with the highest incidence of
poverty among the Philippines’ provinces. Despite its “autonomous” nature,
approximately 98% of ARMM’s operating revenue is from the National Government
of the Philippines. The per capita spending on vital services of the region, such as
education and infrastructure, are among the lowest in the Philippines.
Geography
The ARMM spans two geographical areas: Lanaodel Sur and Maguindanao
(except Cotabato City) in south western Mindanao, and the island provinces of
Basilan (except Isabela City), Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the Sulu Archipelago. The
region covers a total of 12,288 km².
History
For the most part of Philippines' history, the region and most of Mindanao
have been a separate territory, which enabled it to develop its own culture and
identity. The region has been the traditional homeland of Muslim Filipinos since the
15th century, even before the arrival of the Spanish who began to colonize most of
the Philippines in 1565. Muslim missionaries arrived in Tawi-Tawi in 1380 and
started the conversion of the native population to Islam. In 1457, the Sultanate of
Sulu was founded, and not long after that the sultanates of Maguindanao and
Buayan were also established. At the time when most of the Philippines was under
Spanish rule, these sultanates maintained their independence and regularly

4. challenged Spanish domination of the Philippines by conducting raids on Spanish
coastal towns in the north and repulsing repeated Spanish incursions in their
territory. It was not until the last quarter of the 19th century that the Sultanate of
Sulu formally recognized Spanish sovereignty, but these areas remained loosely
controlled by the Spanish as their sovereignty was limited to military stations and
garrisons and pockets of civilian settlements in Zamboanga and Cotabato, until they
had to abandon the region as a consequence of their defeat in the Spanish-
American War.
In 1942, during the early stages of Pacific War of the Second World War,
troops of the Japanese Imperial Forces invaded and overran Mindanao. Three years
later, in 1945, combined United States and Philippine Commonwealth Army troops
liberated Mindanao, and with the help of local guerrilla units ultimately defeated the
Japanese forces occupying the region.
Bangsamoro, officially known as the Autonomous Government of
Bangsamoro, is a proposed autonomous political entity within the Philippines. The
proposal is part of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, a
preliminary peace agreement signed between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and
the government.
The new entity (Bangsamoro) is intended to supersede the Autonomous
Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), described by President Benigno Aquino III as a
"failed experiment". This new political entity seeks to bring closure to the 15-year
peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro people in the
Mindanao.
On October 15, 2012, the historic preliminary agreement was signed by
Government's chief negotiator MarvicLeonen, MILF Peace Panel Chair
MohagherIqbal, and Malaysian facilitator TengkuDato’ AbGhafarTengku Mohamed
along with President Aquino, Prime Minister NajibRazak of Malaysia, Chairman Al
Haj MuradEbrahim of the MILF, and Secretary-General Ekmeleddinİhsanoğlu of the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation at the Malacañang Palace in Manila.

5. This document outlines general agreements on major issues, including the
extent of power, revenues and territory granted for the new Muslim autonomous
region.
The Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro was signed at Malacañang in
March 27, 2014 as witnessed by leaders and members of MILF and the Philippine
government, as well as by Malaysian Prime Minister NajibRazak, whose country
served as the third-party negotiator in the peace talks.
Economy
The region is one of the most impoverished areas in the Philippines. It has a
per capita gross regional domestic product of only PhP3,433 in 2005, 75.8 percent
lower than the national average of PhP14,186. It is the lowest among the
Philippines' 17 regions; the second lowest region has a per capita income almost
double the ARMM's. ARMM has a population of 4.1 million based on the 2007
census. It is the country's poorest region, where average annual income was just
89,000 pesos ($ 2,025) in 2006, less than 1/3 of Manila level.
Poverty incidence in the region is a high 45.4 percent in 2003, almost twice
the national average of 24.4 percent. Significant progress has been made in
reducing poverty in the region, which was reduced by 10.5 percent from the 2000
figure, only the Caraga region has a higher poverty incidence in 2003. Lanaodel Sur
reduced its povery incidence by as much as 26.9 percent, placing itself as the 12th
most successful province in poverty reduction. Tawi-Tawi and Sulu have reduced
their figures by 18 and 17.6 percent, respectively. In 2000, all the four provinces of
the ARMM were among the 10 poorest in the Philippines. By 2003, Lanaodel Sur,
Sulu and Tawi-Tawi were out of the bottom 10, leaving only Maguindanao, which
remains to be the second poorest or the second with the highest incidence of
poverty among the Philippines' provinces.

6. Despite the autonomy, ARMM receives approximately 98% of its operating
revenue from the National Government of the Philippines, and has yet to create
significant, viable sources of additional revenue. Perhaps for this reason, the per
capita spending on such vital services as education and infrastructure are among
the lowest in the Philippines, and the five provinces of the ARMM continue to be
ranked consistently on the lower rungs of economic development within the
country. The per student expenditure on education, for example, is less than $100,
with the result that students within ARMM schools generally score poorly, in
comparison with other provinces, on standardized achievement tests administered
throughout the country.
ARMM is one of the country's top producers of fish and marine resources,
particularly seaweed, which is used in some toothpastes, cosmetics and paints. It
has large mineral deposits, including copper and gold.
Cultural heritage
The native Maguindanaon and other native Muslim/non-Muslim groups have
a culture that revolves around Kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, found
among both Muslim and non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines.

7. A. Title: Pilandok Crosses a River
B. Author: Anonymous
C. Summary: Pilandok wanted to cross a wide and deep river but he could not do it
because there were so many crocodiles in it. So he thought of an idea. He used the
datu’s name by saying to the crocodiles that the datu wanted to count them so he
could feed them. And the crocodiles believed on it. He asked the crocodiles to align
themselves without knowing that it was just a trap so he could go to the other side
of the river. He jumped from the crocodile’s back then what he had planned
happened. As he reached the other side he told to the crocodiles that it was not
true then ran home as fast as he could.
D. Characters:
1. Protagonist: Pilandok – a man who wanted to cross a wide and a deep river
2. Antagonist: Crocodiles – the reason why Pilandok could not cross the river
3. Supplementary Dramatist: Datu – Pilandok used him in order to
manipulate the crocodiles
E. Setting: In a wide and deep river
F. Plot
1. Introduction: One day Pilandok wanted to cross a wide and deep river.
However, there was no banca available. He wanted to swim to the other side
but he was afraid of the crocodiles.
2. Rising Action: For a while, Pilandok did not know what to do. So he sat
down near the bank of the river then he started to think and an idea struck
him. He shouted to the crocodiles that the Datu wished to find out how many
crocodiles were there in the river in order to feed them all.

8. 3. Climax: When the crocodiles heard this, they got out of their hiding places.
Pilandok asked them to form several lines extending from where he stood to
the other bank of the river. Then when the crocodiles had aligned
themselves, Pilandok started counting them. As he counted he jumped from
crocodile’s back to the other.
4. Falling Action: Then as soon as he had reached the other side of the river,
he jumped out.
5. Denouement: He said that the Datu did not want to do anything with them.
And he ran home as fast as he could.
G. Conflict: Man vs. Circumstances
H. Point of View: Third Person Point of View
I. Theme: Slyness, Gullibility and Intelligence
J. Moral/Lesson: It is our knowledge that saves us during difficult times.

9. A. Title: How the Angels Built Lake Lanao (Maranaw Legend)
B. Introduction of the author: Zaide was born on May 25, 1907 and he died
1986. He was a Filipino historian and author. He was a multi-awarded author, he
wrote 67 books and 500 articles on history. He was the first Asian to win the United
Nations Study award in 1957.
C. Summary: Long time ago there was a place called Mantapoli and its population
was numerous. Because of its rapidly increasing in power and population, too, the
equilibrium between Sebangan (East) and Sedpan (West) was broken.
This problem soon to come to the attention of Archangel Diabarail. He
went to the heaven and told to Allah about it. Sohara, the voice of Allah told that
Diabarail will go to the Seven-Regions-Beneath-the-Earth and the Seven-Regions-in-
the-Sky to summoned the angels and when Allah made the barahana (solar
eclipse), they will remove Mantapoli and transfer it to the center of the earth. The
veryspot vacated by the sultanate of Mantapoli became a huge basin of deep, blue
water-the present Lanao Lake.
When Diabarail saw the rising tides, he immediately returned to heaven to
report to Allah. He told that the rising water from the basin can cause the people
drowned. Allah commands to Diabarail to summon the Four Winds of the
World:Angin-Taupan, Angin-Besar, Angin-Darat, and Angin-Sarsar, and blew the
overflowing water and makes an outlet. Diabarail obey that command. After three
trials, they successfully make an outlet that they called now as Agus River.
D. Characters:
1. Protagonist: Archangel Diabarail – Gabriel to the Christians, an angel
Allah – Lord of Muslims
Sohara – Vice of Allah
2. Supplementary Dramatists: Angels from the Seven-Regions-Beneath-the-
Earth and the Seven-Regions-in-the-Sky; Angin-Taupan, Angin-Besar, Angin-
Darat, and Angin-Sarsar (Four Winds of the World)

10. E. Setting: Long time ago in Lanao.
F. Plot:
1. Introduction:
Long ago there was no lake in Lanao. On the place where it is now
situated, there flourished a mighty sultanate called Mantapoli. During the
reign of Sultan AbdaraRadawi, the greater grandfather of RadiaIndarapatra
(mythological hero of the Lanao Muslims), this realm expanded by military
conquests and by dynastic marriages so that in time its fame spread far and
wide.
2. Rising action:
The population of Mantapoli was numerous and fast increasing. At
that time the world was divided into two regions: Sebangan (East)
and Sedpan (West). The mighty sultanate of Mantapoli belonged to
Sebangan. Because this sultanate rapidly increased in power and population
as well, the equilibrium between Sebangan and Sedpan was broken.
This dis-equilibrium soon came to the attention of Archangel Diabarail
(Gabriel to the Christians). Like a flash of sunlight, Diabarail flew to the
Eighth heaven and talked Allah.
Upon receiving the mandate of Allah, Archangel Diabarail, traveling
faster than lightning, rallied the millions of angels from the Seven-Regions-
Beneath-the-Earth and the Seven-Regions-in-the-Sky. With this formidable
army, he presented himself to Allah.
3. Climax:
Diabarail, leading his army of angels, flew to the east. In the twinkle
of an eye, the sun vanished and a terrible darkness as black as the blackest
velvet shrouded the universe. The angels sped faster than arrows. They

11. swooped on Mantapoli, lifting it with great care and carried it (including its
people, houses, crops and animals) through the air as if it were a carpet.
They brought it down at the center of the earth, in accordance with the
command of Allah. The very spot vacated by the sultanate of Mantapoli
became a huge basin of deep, blue water-the present Lanao Lake.
4. Falling action:
The waters coming from the deep bowels of the earth rose higher and
higher. Archangel Diabarail, seeing the rising tides immediately returned to
the Eighth Heaven and reported to Allah.
In response, the Sohara said, "You are right, Diabarail. Go out, then,
and summon the Four Winds of the World: AnginTaupan, AnginBesar,
AnginDarat, and AnginSarsar. Tell them to blow and make an outlet for the
overflowing waters."
Obeying the Master's command, the faithful messenger summoned the
Four Winds. "By the Will of Allah," he told them, "blow your best, and
makesan outlet for the rising waters of the new lake."
The four winds of the world blew, and turbulence swept the whole
eastern half of the earth. The surging waters rolled swiftly towards the
shores of Tilok Bay to the southeastern direction. But the towering ranges
impeded their onrush. The Four Winds blew, hurling the waves against the
rocky slopes but in vain; no outlet could be cut through the mountain barrier.
Changing direction, this time eastward, the Four Winds blew harder
driving the raging waters towards the shores of Sugud Bay (situated east of
Dansalan, now Marawi City). Once again, the attempt to create an outlet
failed because the bay was too far from the sea.
For the third time, the Four Winds changed direction and blew their
hardest. The waves, plunging with ferocity, rolled towards Marawi. Day and

12. night, the Winds blew as the waters lashed against the shoreline of Marawi.
This time the attempt succeeded. An outlet now called Agus River was
made, and through the outlet, that water of Lake Lanao poured out to the
sea, thereby saving Sebangan from a deluge.
5. Denouement:
It came to past that there was a high cliff at the outlet, and over the
cliff the waters cascaded in majestic volume. Thus, arose the beautiful falls
which, aeons later, was named Maria Cristina, after a famous queen of Spain.
G. Conflict: Man Vs Man
Man Vs Circumstances
H. Point of view: Third Person
I. Theme: Its theme is creation. It tells a myth of how a place is formed.
J. Moral/Lesson: Be responsible enough on the things or works you should do.
Think of others not only yourself.