Maranaws highlight women's month with Marawi `food show'

LANAO DEL SUR --- Maranaws on Thursday highlighted uniquely their observance of the International Women’s Month with a food bazaar showcasing ethnic cuisines with historic and traditional values.The office of Lanao Del Sur Gov. Soraya Alonto-Adiong and eight local government units in the province are in the forefront of the food bazaar in the provincial capitol in Marawi City, officially launched on Thursday.Salma Jayne Tamano, provincial information officer, said the food bazaar is virtually a showcase of native food recipes that are also identity icons of the Maranaw people, known for their penchant for so spicy foods.Maranaw recipes are being preserved by local folks since the onset of the sultanates in ancient times in what are now Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur provinces.Lanao del Norte is under Administrative Region 10 while Lanao del Sur is a component-province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Our women have been playing a big role in the preservation of these Maranaw recipes for generations, Tamano said.The food bazaar inside the provincial capitol compound was jointly conceptualized by the governor’s office and local executives in Lanao del Sur’s neighboring Saguiaran, Lumbac Unayan, Maguing, Balindong, Buadiposo Buntong, Piagapo, Ditsaan Ramain and Madalum municipalities.A non-government organization, the Almujadillah Development Foundation, Inc., an influential bloc of Muslim women promoting women and children’s rights in Islamic context, also helped put up the food show, which will last until March 31. This is our way of honoring the Maranaw women as we observe the International Women’s Month, Tamano said.Among the many Maranaw recipes featured in the food bazaar are Kuning, or rice cooked in coconut cream with turmeric the pya’run, which is made up of chicken cooked in heavy coconut cream laced with grated coconut and spices and curried fishes from the majestic Lake Lanao in the center of Lanao del Sur province.