Unesco proclaims Maranao’s Darangan epic as ‘masterpiece of intangible heritage’

PARIS — The Darangan epic of the Maranaos was proclaimed by the Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a "masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity" in a ceremony held recently at the UNESCO headquarters, according to a telex sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs by the Philippine Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.

This international distinction rewards popular and traditional forms of heritage such as oral expressions, music, rituals, social practices, traditional craftsmanship or knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe.

The epic is the longest recorded oral epic in the Philippines. It consist of many cycles of episodes relating to different heroes, foremost among them Bantugan, whose name means, "one who makes history." Through his heroic tales, the epic proves that early forms of government, culture, art, music, metal work and warrior arts were already in existence before the arrival of colonizers.

According to Ambassador Hector Villarroel, concurrent Philippine Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, the Darangen epic is one of a bumper crop of 43 such masterpieces selected by an international jury headed by Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan.

UNESCO Director-General Kolchiro MATSUURA proclaimed the masterpieces.

The epic now joins the Hudhud Chants of the Ifugao, which was also proclaimed as a masterpiece in the first proclamation in 2001.