The Torogan is the traditional residence of the reigning Sultan of the Maranaw people and his family. It is where the community traditionally gathers for wedding thanksgiving rites, enthronements and vigils for the dead. For more than two and a half centuries, the Dayawan torogan served as a school for living traditions and an important cultural center for the different peoples in Lanao del Sur, one of the provinces of the Philippines.

The torogan is a masterpiece of Filipino craftsmanship. Carved on the torogan wooden posts is the niyaga, a stylized mythical snake design that can be found in many Muslim artworks. Each design was different, and varied in detail and the degree of complexity. The whole structure was put together without using a single nail. Instead, the wooden beams are skillfully interlocked together and the building has remained standing for almost 265 years. The lumber was hauled to the construction site by carabaos using bamboo sleds over a distance of some twenty kilometers.
Time and the elements have conspired to weaken the structure of this historical edifice. Forty-five years ago, the condition of the torogan has forced the Sultan’s family to take up residence elsewhere. Its roof and floors were crumbling to pieces, though both local and foreign visitors continued to visit the torogan for its intricately carved wooden posts.

In 1995, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines, which develops cultural policy and supports culture and arts activities through technical and financial assistance, gave a grant to the people of Marawi to restore the torogan located in the Sultanate of Dayawan, some four kilometers away from Marawi City. The restoration of the torogan is a major contribution towards the strengthening of the Marawi culture and “serves as the most visible symbol of the dynamism of the Maranao heritage.” Kiram Acampong, a leading Maranaw carver, was tasked with the responsibility of repairing the panolongs or carved extended beams and recreating the lost or destroyed carvings, while Dr. Abdullah Madale of the Mindanao State University coordinated the restoration work

The torogan is a symbol of a time when houses were more than just dwelling places, but a powerful symbol of the community’s identity. The careful carvings on the massive posts represented the artistry of a people with a vigorous culture whose art permeated all aspects of their life. Today, the torogan is flanked by “modern” houses that are built along the tradition of pre-fabricated suburbia. These homes are more compact, more economical, and without the charming carvings that give the torogan its unique individuality and transform it into a work of art.

Photo Credits: FilipinoHeritage.com

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