10 Interesting Facts About Mindanao

Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines. It has been associated to conflict, but what we hear and see from the sensationalized media is not always accurate. Most of the people from the North sometimes fear Mindanao. Yes, it may have acts of unkindness, just like the other places in the world, bad things happen everywhere. However, if you truly experience Mindanao, amidst all the pain and hate that our country is experiencing, just look close enough and you’ll see benevolence and camaraderie everywhere! And it is something the people of Mindanao will never be short of. This island from the far south is prosperous with tourist destinations, history, food, culture and interesting facts.  

1. Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte 

A Filipino lawyer and politician who is the 16th and current President of the Philippines. He is the first Mindanaoan to hold the office in Malacanang. At 71 years old, Duterte is the oldest person to assume the Philippine presidency. He may be foul-mouthed, but President Rodrigo Duterte was voted as the most “decisive” government official and the most caring, a survey held by conducted by Publicus Asia, Inc. showed. For me, he is the best President we ever had so far. 

@privateandrew

2. Mount Apo 

Mount Apo is a large solfataric, potentially active stratovolcano in the island of Mindanao with an elevation of 2,954 metres (9,692 ft) above sea level. It is the highest mountain in the Philippine Archipelago and is located between Davao City and Davao del Sur province in Region XI and Cotabato province in Region XII. Mt. Apo is said to be named after a nobleman named Apong, who was killed while mediating the battle between two suitors of his daughter Saribu. Another proposed origin of the name is from the word Apo itself, which in Filipino tongues means “master” or “grandchild”.

@javycang

3. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid 

With gold-plated domes and soaring minarets, The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid, also known as the Grand Mosque of Cotabato, is the largest mosque in the Philippines. The mosque is located in Barangay Kalanganan in Cotabato City, and was funded by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam at a reported cost of US$48 million. The mosque covers 5,000 square meters and sits on a five-hectare land. The minarets soar up to 40 meters and can cater hundreds of people for worship. The mosque is relatively being completed in 2011. It was constructed as part of the Peace Development Project in Mindanao.

@privateandrew

4. Pink Mosque

Mayor Datu Saudi Ampatuan Samsudin Dimaukom initiated the construction of this mosque and it was painted pink to represent peace and love. This mosque is situated at Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao. It’s also a way of showing another side of Maguindanao, the one where peace and love can reign amidst the violence. Who wouldn’t want to stop and take a look at the intriguing structure that is bright pink all throughout?  Yes, the color of this mosque will stop anyone in their tracks. The color itself easily makes the mosque stand out. 

@lakwatsero

5. Pastil 

It is the famous wrap steamed rice in a banana leaf and top with adobo chicken flakes and you’ve got this Maguindanaon dish. This very popular dish will be seen along every corner of the schools, canteens, eskenitas and carenderias. One pastil normally range to P10 - P15 depending on the province you are in. You really need to try it!

@privateandrew

6. Great Sta. Cruz Island 

Pink sand beaches are quite rare and there are only a few of them around the world. This small inhabited island located in the Basilan is just 4 km south of the downtown area of Zamboanga City. The Pink Beach of Great Sta. Cruz Island in Zamboanga has been named by National Geographic as one of the best beaches in the world. On its website, the blush color comes from billions of pieces of crushed red organ-pipe coral, seen in every handful of sand. "Hardly lacking in gorgeous beaches, the Philippines claims a pink-sand variety, too,” it said.  

@janineyap21

7. Rio Grande de Mindanao 

South of the country, in the island of Mindanao is the second largest river system in the Philippines, the Rio Grande de Mindanao, also known as the Mindanao River. It runs the length of approximately 373 kilometers (or 232 miles), serving as an important transportation artery on the island. Mindanao River has its headwaters in the mountains of Impasugong of Bukidnon and its source in the Central Mindanao Highlands. It traverses through Cotabato City, Datu Piang and Midsayap. 

@nanardx

8. Agusan River 

Also in the island of Mindanao is the country’s third longest river, the Agusan River. It rises in the southeast of the island and flows northward for 350 kilometers to enter Bohol Sea’s Butuan Bay. The river passes through a number of communities including Buenavista, Butuan and Cabadbaran, and supports main forest areas in Agusan where a productive forest industry thrives. Vast fields of rice and plantations of coconut, bamboo and various fruits rely on the river as well. 

@jlxpresstravel

9. Dialects 

Tagalog is the national language of the country.  However, Cebuano (often called Bisaya) is the most widely spoken dialect in Mindanao. English and Tagalog are also widely understood and spoken among the people, with English being highly utilized in business and academia. It also has few established large groups of dialects in the Philippines, with two dozen closely related dialects of Mindanao. The dialects are divided into the following subgroups; Danao, Manobo, Subanon and South Mindanao. 

@zambohermosafest

10. Lanao Lake 

Lake Lanao is the second largest lakes in the Philippines with 34,000 hectares and is located in the province of Lanao del Sur. The lake was formed by the tectonic-volcanic damming of a basin between two mountain ranges and the collapse of a large volcano. It is fed by four rivers and has a maximum depth of 112 meters. As per Maranao myth, it is said that a group of angels under the command of Gabriel removed the vast population of Mantapoli to prevent the world from tipping over. The hole that was left was filled with water and threatened to drown the rest of the world. In response, the angels enlisted the help of the Four Winds to gouge out an outlet. The hole became Lake Lanao and the outlet became the Agus river. 

@ctto

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