Travel Guide Marawi

As the small churches of Iligan fade into the distance, the mosques of Marawi, capital of the province of Lanao del Sur and Muslim capital of the Philippines, come into view. With a population of around 210,000, Marawi lies between the mountains on the shores of Lake Lanao. This volcanic lake is the highest in the Philippines at over 700 metres above sea level, and the second largest in the country at 340 km².A stroll through Marawi reveals a completely different face of the Philippines, the land of the Maranaos - the name given to the inhabitants - who were the last to be converted to Islam, but who are very devoted to it today. It is said that St. Francis Xavier, who tried to convert these people to Christianity, lost a shoe in Lake Lanao and, according to legend, it was only when it was found that the Maranaos became Christians. They are the archipelago's third-largest Muslim community. Their houses are decorated with the legendary Sarimanok, a magical bird. It looks a bit like a rooster and is the symbol of the Maranao people. It is a symbol of good fortune; the women walk the streets dressed in colorful malongs that they tie around their waists, while the men wear the keffiyeh, the typical Muslim headgear that indicates they have made their pilgrimage to Mecca.