Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

1. Philippine Culture,
Tourism & Geography
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
By: Prof. Mary Kristine Laurilla, MBA

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Identify the location of
the provinces where
tourist attractions are
located on the
Philippine map.
• Identify the major
gateways or entry points
into different
provinces.
• Understand the political
structures, cultural,
historical, religious,

3. Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM)
The Autonomous
Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM)
is located in
western part of
Mindanao. It was
created on
August 1, 1989
to include the
provinces of
Maguindanao,
Lanao del Sur,
Sulu and Tawi-

4. History Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM)
• 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
colonization of the area and the
conversion of the native

5. History Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM)
• At the time when most of the
Philippines was under Spanish
rule, these sultanates
maintained their independence
and regularly 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
suzerainty, but these areas
remained loosely controlled by
the Spanish as their

6. Maguindanao - Buluan

7. Maguindanao Facts
• Maguindanao, also spelled
Magindanao or Magindanaw,
also called Maguindanaon,
ethnolinguistic group
living primarily in south-
central Mindanao, the
largest island in the
southern Philippines.
• The region of Maguindanao
became home to most of the
country's Muslim or Moro
populations, composed of
many ethnic groups such as
the Maranao and the

8. Maguindanao Tourist Attractions

9. Masjid Dimaukom (Pink Mosque)
The Masjid Dimaukom or
Pink Mosque is a
mosque in Datu Saudi
Ampatuan, Maguindanao,
the Philippines. The
mosque's construction
was financed by Datu
Saudi Ampatuan Mayor,
Samsodin Dimaukon. The
land where the mosque
was built was a
property of the
mayor's family. The
mosque was painted

10. Tamontaka Church - Cotabato City
The Church of the
Immaculate
Concepcion of
Tamontaka, also
known as the
Tamontaka Church
is a Roman
Catholic church
in Cotabato City,
Philippines.

11. Blue Lagoon Datu Odin Sinsuat
The town of Datu Odin
Sinsuat (DOS) in the
Province of
Maguindanao has its
own version of deep
and enchanting blue
pool, the Blue Lagoon
in Brgy. Margues.
Located just few
steps from the
national highway, the
Blue Lagoon has
become a popular

12. Lanao del Sur - Marawi

13. Lanao del Sur Facts
• Lanao is the home of Maranao
sultanate modernly known as
the four princilpalities or
Pat a Pagampong sa Ranao
namely Masiu, Unayan, Balo-I
and Bayabao. The Sultanate
governs independently yet it
is still identified with the
national community.
• Lanao's rich and fertile
soil provides fruitful
harvest for their
agricultural industry. Rice
is their main crop followed

14. Lanao del Sur Tourist Spots

15. Mount Ragang
Mount Ragang, also
known as Mount
Piapayungan, is one of
the least explored
Lanao Del Sur tourist
spots. Despite massive
logging in the 1990s,
much of the forested
slopes remain in
pristine conditions.
These hide vast
biological treasures,
from eagles to the

16. Lake Lanao
Covering more than
130 square miles,
Lake Lanao is the
largest freshwater
lake in Mindanao
and the second
biggest in the
entire
Philippines.
Because of its
sheer size, many
would think of it
as more of an

17. Mount Baya
Mount Baya is a
dormant volcano
situated between
Lake Lanao and Lake
Dapao. Forests
cover its slopes
and these are home
to endangered
wildlife species.
Trekking to the
mountain will give
you a glimpse of

18. Sulu - Jolo

19. Sulu Facts
Jolo town, on the northwestern
coast, is a port of entry and
capital of the province of Sulu.
A focal point of a lively trade
with Zamboanga City, Manila,
Singapore, and the island of
Borneo, it has a pier that can
accommodate interisland vessels,
oceangoing freighters, and naval
craft.
Tausug, also spelled Tau Sug or

20. Sulu Tourist Attractions

21. Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park
Tubbataha Reef is one of
the best diving sites in
the world due to its vast
and pristine underwater
ecosystem and thriving
marine life. It is the
first Philippine tourist
spot inscribed in the
UNESCO World Heritage
List in 1993.
Colorful coral reefs here
teem with iconic species
such as barracudas,
rainbow runners, tuna,

22. Bangas Island
Bangas Island
boasts of
crystalline white
sands and crystal-
clear waters calmly
splashing on the
shoreline. It is
one of the top Sulu
tourist spots and
could easily rival
other popular
beaches in the
Philippines.

23. Sulu Provincial Capitol
Just like in other
Muslim provinces,
the Sulu Provincial
Capitol showcases
an Islamic-Inspired
architecture. It
could easily
capture the eyes of
visitors and
passersby.
One of the noted
attractions here is
stunning glasswork

24. Tawi-Tawi - Bongao

25. Tawi Tawi Facts
• Tawi-Tawi is famous or
known for beautiful
islands and Abu Sayyaf
headquarters.
• Tawi-Tawi is considered
the largest seaweed
producing province in
the Philippines with
roughly 80 percent of
Tawi-Tawians earning a
living from seaweed
farming. Seaweed is
sold to extract its

26. Tawi Tawi Tourist Attractions

27. Sibutu Natural Wildlife Sanctuary
The Sibutu Natural
Wildlife Sanctuary is
one of the most
popular tourist
destinations in Tawi-
Tawi. It is located in
the Southeastern part
of the province and
covers an area of
around 1,500 hectares.
The sanctuary is home
to a wide variety of
flora and fauna,
including several
endangered species.
Some of the popular

28. Panampangan Island
Discover the
white-sand beach
island in Tawi-
Tawi’s Sapa-Sapa
municipality,
which is known
for its crescent
form. Panampangan
Island is well
recognized by
beachgoers who
enjoy island-
hopping and

29. Sheik Karim Al Makhdum Mosque
The Sheik Karim Al
Makhdum Mosque is the
oldest mosque in the
Philippines, located on
Simunul Island. It was
erected in 1380 and
named for its builder,
Sheik Makdum Karim, an
Arab missionary who
first introduced Islam
in the country.
The mosque has been
restored several times,
most recently in 2007,
but four of the
original wooden pillars
remain. It is now a
National Cultural

30. ARMM Famous Festival

31. Kalilang Sa Ranao
The famous
festival in
ARMM that
highlights the
Quran reading
contest,
presentation of
colorful muslim
songs and
dances

32. Lami-Lamihan Festival
The famous
festival in ARMM
that is
celebrated
during the feast
of St. Peter
which
highlighted by
the
participation of
the Yakans

33. Fiesta Santa Isabel
The famous
festival in ARMM
that is
celebrated in
honor of its
Patroness Saint
Elizabeth of
Portugal, where
the focal point
of the fiesta
celebrations
around the Sta.
Isabel Cathedral

34. Kariyala
The famous
festival in
ARMM that
means
merrymaking
and
thanksgiving

35. Eid al-Adha
The famous
festival in
ARMM that
signifies
the
progressive
realization
and Islam
revolution
of Islamic
principles
and
teachings

37. REFERENCES
Department of Tourism. (2018). Tourism Guidebook and
Manual.
Retrieved from
http://www.tourism.gov.ph/Guidebook_Manual/TourismGuideboo
k.pdf
So, P. L. (2018). Philippine Tourist Destinations. Manila,
Philippines: Accumicro I.T. Solutions.
Domingo, B. B. (2017). Philippine Tourism. Foreign Service
Institute.
Libosada, C. M. (2017). Domestic Tourism. Pasig City,