In May 2017, Marawi City in the southern Philippines was destroyed during a months-long battle between government troops and ISIS-linked militants. The war not only ruined the city but also hurt the reputation and identity of the Meranaws, the area's native people. However, despite this, two important parts of Meranaw culture—the Sarimanok, a legendary bird in Meranaw mythology, and the well-known Singkil dance—remain popular among non-Meranaw artists, designers, and other creative workers. This paper looks at why the Sarimanok continues to attract so much attention from creatives. By studying posts on social media, the paper argues that the Sarimanok has become a symbol of local pop culture because it is seen as elegant, royal, and mysterious. Philippine popular culture has changed over time: it was first heavily influenced by America, then later adapted American products into local versions, and eventually moved toward creating original Filipino works. The Sarimanok became popular during this shift because its design is clearly Southeast Asian, coming from the Malay ukkil tradition. This style is very different from the Western and Spanish influences that usually dominate Philippine art. Because of this, the Sarimanok offered Filipino artists a fresh and different source of inspiration.

Authors:
Nor-Anisha Schaharazhed Guro, Mindanao State University, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Nor-anisha Schaharazhed C. Guro is an employee at Mindanao State University – Main Campus. A culture and arts enthusiast, she also enjoys dabbling in research in the fields of media, communication, and digital society.

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