Every December 19, the BARMM Government commemorates the arrival of Shariff Kabunsuan in Mindanao through a grand parade, Guinakit fluvial parade, a colorful procession of boats on rivers, agri-trade exhibitions, and cultural and sports activities.
If you have ever wondered why the Moros hold him in such high regard, here’s why.
Who Was Shariff Kabunsuan
Sharif Mohammed Kabungsuwan, generally known as Sharif Kabungsuan or Kabunsuan, was the first man to institutionalize Islam in Magindanao.
There were two Muslim men who arrived in Mindanao before him: Sharif Awliya. So there were already Muslims in Mindanao before he came.
However, it was only through Sharif Kabunsuan that Islam was established in Mindanao and hence reformed the whole government system into sultanate.
Kabungsuwan is a Malay word that means “the youngest”. It’s because Sharif Kabungsuwan was the youngest of the three children of the Sultan of Johor, now part of Malaysia.
His father was an Arab whose roots traced back to the Prophet Muhammad, and his mother was a royal princess in Malaysia.
According to Tarsila, a storm had dispersed many people from Johor and they found themselves in different ports.
Later, with a few seafarers, Sharif Kabunsuan arrived at the mouth of the Pulangi River now known as the Rio Grande de Mindanao in what is today Barangay Kalanganan II.
When he arrived, people already lived there. These people felt threatened.
They fought. Sharif Kabunsuan won. And the locals retreated up the river.
The people of Maguindanao, under the leadership of the Timway or local Chieftain Tabunaway and his brother Mamalu, came next.
But they didn’t fight him.
Instead, they welcomed him and invited him to Magindanao, now spelled Maguindanao.
Tabunaway accepted the message of Islam and performed a circumcision ceremony in Katuri or Katuli. The word itself means circumcision.
His brother, however, Mamalu retained their old pagan belief, similar to the Teduray tribe today, and fled to the mountains.
The two brothers promised each other that, despite their different beliefs, they’d still help each other when one of them needed it.
Sharif Kabunsuan continued to spread the message of Islam and people continued to embrace it as their new identity.
To the point where even datus and local chieftains submitted to him.
Later, he advanced to the valley of Bwayan and along the coast to Malabang.
He had several wives including Putri or Princess Tunina, a daughter of Tabunaway, and the Iranun princess Angintabo.
Until trade connections expanded with the Sulu and Malay regions such as present-day Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.
When he reformed the government of Maguindanao into a Sultanate, he also became the first Sultan.
In Muslim countries, A sultan refers to a sovereign ruler, equivalent to the secular king.
However, he retained the title Shariff, which is a noble title for the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
