Honorary Muslim princess pursues Maranao museum

Vowing to preserve Maranao culture, former Pantao Ragat mayor and Bai a Labi of Timbab, Butig, Lanao del Sur Eleanor Dimaporo-Lantud sees the creation of a local museum as her personal love letter to the Maranao people.

Never straying from her political sensibilities, Dimaporo-Lantud sees the museum project as a way to memorialize their Maranao roots while gradually enticing tourists back to Lanao del Norte after a series of pandemic lockdowns.

"Isa yan sa mga plano ko at unti unti nagko-collect na ako ngayon ng Muslim arts and crafts, para ilagay doon (That has been one of my plans, and I have been collecting Muslim arts and crafts little by little, so these can be housed in that museum)," she said.

This being one of her principal undertakings as the honorary princess, Dimaporo-Lantud reassures the Maranao people that they are working diligently to find the ideal site in Pantao Ragat for the museum, and it's just a matter of time before construction begins.

The historical institution will serve as an enduring emblem that reminds and inspires the Maranao people of their struggle and triumph throughout history until today.

"Gusto ko talagang sa apo ko at sa mga apo ng apo ko na makita nila ang culture natin (I really want my grandchildren and my grandchildren's grandchildren and so on to see what our culture is like)," she said.

The museum is her response to President Bongbong Marcos' current efforts to revive the country's tourism and culture and reopen doors to investors.

Timbab, Butig in Lanao del Sur is one of the 28 sultanates preserving the Maranao royalty that had helped local government units in Mindanao safeguard peace and security.

As royalty runs in their blood, her son, Mohammad Daud Nabil 'Ayran' Dimaporo-Lantud, is the youngest Sultan in Cabasagan, Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte. At the same time, her daughter, Fatimah Janna, is Bai a Labi of Bayabao, Ditsaan
-Ramain, Lanao del Sur.