SULTAN of Masiu Monadato Mangadang was installed March 28 as the Sultan Paramount of MINSUPALA after a consensus which brought together 15 other sultans of Lanao.
Also crowned were Sulutan sa Bacolod Amanah Batogaranao, Sulutan sa Domalundong ko Butig Sacarain Guro, Sulutan sa Butig Monabantog Kiram, Sulutan sa Bansayan Saad Amate, Datu a Cabugatan sa Masiu Mohaimin Minirigue, Sulutan sa Pagayawan Sailany Benito, Sulutan sa Maribo Anwar Sapiin, Sultan sa Rogan Bangcola Adtha, Sulutan sa Baloi Yamani Usman, Sulutan sa Bayang Maclis Balt, Sulutan sa Minitupad Alawi Galo, Sulutan sa Taporog Bangsaan Unte, Sulutan sa Borocot Sidic Matanog, Sulutan sa Ramain Hamza Magumpara and Sulutan sa Ditsaan Taher Pundaodaya.
The activity was held at Cheradel Suites, Iligan City and was graced by Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Undersecretary Mark Crisoteo Gimenez and Marawi City Vice Mayor Majul Gandamra.
Gandamra – who opened the program – congratulated the 16 sultans and encouraged them to support local agriculture and to lure the youth away from radicalism.
After careful deliberations, the 16 sultans were decided because they are direct descendants of the royal houses of Lanao.
The sultanate doesn’t have political power anymore in today’s era tracing to the American colonization of the country but it has since been tapped by the government to act as the Lanao advisory council.
Its purpose is mainly to foster peace, security and development and provide a direct link between the royal sultanates and the national government, advising the President of the Philippines on issues and problems in the two provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, facilitating the settlement of rido and assisting in the implementation of government programs.
In his acceptance speech, Mangadang rallied the people of Lanao to “manifest to regain the glory of unity and camaraderie our forefathers exhibited. We pledge to uphold peace and stability within our respective jurisdictions, support national and regional initiatives that benefit our people, serve as bridge builders between the government and Bangsamoro communities and preserve and promote our rich cultural heritage while embracing positive change.”
“It is my dream to see again a Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan rallying one goal, one mission – the upliftment of the Bangsamoro. Let us make a difference, inshaAllah!,” he said.
Along this line, the sultanate presented to Gimenez their manifesto of support to President Marcos and his administration in supporting development in the area.
“We commend the administration of President Marcos for its commitment to strengthen peace and order in Mindanao, promote inclusive governance respect for cultural diversity, support BARMM in its pursuit of genuine autonomy and sustainable development, advance programs that uptlift marginalized communities and preserve the dignity of indigenous and traditional institutions,” they stated.
The sultanate was tapped as members of the Lanao advisory council through an executive order signed by then President Gloria Arroyo in 2007.
