Marawi

Marawi, officially the Islamic City of Marawi (Maranao: Bandar a Marawi; Filipino: Lungsod ng Marawi; Jawi (Batang Arab): مدينة مراوى الإسلامية), is a component city and capital of the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 259,993 people. Marawi is located upon the shores of Lake Lanao and it is the most populous LGU in Lanao del Sur.^[1]

Etymology

Dansalan (Marawi's prior name) derived from the Mëranaw word "dansal", which means rendezvous; literally, it also means arrival (in other source, "where the waves come to shore"). Being known as the destination point for arriving boats, the place refers to a port, hence, the "Place of Destination and Purpose."^[1]

As Dansalan

Dansalan began as a port. A sovereign of Marawi before 1639 was "Datu Buadi Sa Kayo" who imposed taxation.^[1]

Cityhood and renaming into Marawi

Dansalan was the last to become a chartered city under the country's Commonwealth era with the approval of Commonwealth Act No. 592 on August 19, 1940. During World War II, the Japanese invaded Dansalan and established a "comfort station" in the city, where local girls, teenagers, and young adults were kidnapped and turned into sex slaves under brutal "comfort women" system, where victims were routinely gang-raped and killed by Japanese soldiers.^[1]

Siege of Marawi

On May 23, 2017, a pro–Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group called the Maute group attacked the city. The Battle of Marawi—also known as the Marawi siege, the Marawi clash, and the Marawi crisis—started on May 23. CNN Philippines reported that the militants had over 500 men.^[1]

Geography

Marawi has a total land area of 8,755 hectares (21,630 acres). It is located on the northernmost shores of Lake Lanao and straddles the area where the Agus River starts. It is bounded to the north by the municipalities of Kapai and Saguiaran; to the south by Lake Lanao; to the east by the municipalities of Bubong and Ditsaan-Ramain; and to the west by the municipalities of Marantao and Saguiaran.^[1]

Topography

Mountains, rolling hills, valleys, and a large placid lake dominate the city's landscape. Angoyao Hills (Barangay Sogod) served as natural viewpoint over the water of the Lake Lanao. Signal Hill (Barangay Matampay), Arumpac Hill (Barangay Saduc), and Mt.^[1]

Barangays

Marawi is politically subdivided into 101 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.^[1]

Climate

Marawi's weather is warm and wet throughout the year. With the elevation along Lake Lanao at around 2,300 feet (700 m), this raised altitude together frequent heavy showers at all seasons, ensures that hot conditions are seldom observed.^[1]

Language

Maranao or Meranaw is widely spoken in Marawi; however, many local inhabitants can also speak Maguindanaon, Iranun, and/or Tagalog.^[1]