THE Bureau of Cultural Heritage of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BCH-ARMM) and the Grupo Kalinangan Inc. (GKI) signed an agreement to provide and share resources for the digitization of the 17th to early 20th century of Maranao Jawi and Kirim manuscripts in Marawi City and Lake Lanao region.

The project aims to digitize manuscripts that contain genealogies, or salsilah, of prominent families; religious books, or kitab, and treatises; as well as epic and short stories that highlight some of the most important records and turning points in the history of the Maranao people.

Marites Maguindra, BCH-ARMM executive director, said the project to save the manuscripts was conceived because of the Marawi siege in 2017 and forms part of the restoration and rehabilitation of the city.

Through the project, Maguindra said the Maranao people will have better awareness and appreciation of the importance of their heritage and will create an environment of learning for the young Maranaos as part of their recovery from their educational displacement due to the siege.

“There is a loss (during the Marawi Siege) that cannot be accounted for, and it is the heirloom of the Maranao families,” Maguindra said.

“We hope that these digitized manuscripts will bring a better understanding for the new generation...na kung ano man ang mga influences na dala ng kasalukuyang panahon ay hindi nila makakalimutan kung ano ang mayroon ang mga sinaunang tao na kanilang pinagmulan,” she added.

Joel Aldor, president of GKI, said the project also aims to make these digitized manuscripts more accessible to researchers, academicians, and scholars who want to further study the life and heritage of the Maranao people.

The BCH-ARMM and GKI inked the Memorandum of Agreement for the project on Saturday, May 26, in Cotabato City.

GKI is a non-profit, non-stock cultural organization based in Manila and established in 2016.

The GKI is composed of cultural heritage professionals and volunteers from diverse backgrounds.

The group seeks to address the gaps and needs for a more efficient and effective cultural heritage management in towns, cities and communities. (SunStar Philippines)