Arts of Mindanao

• Islamic Arts is characterized by abstraction of actual object or human form.
• Islam - Is one of the oldest established religions in the country, once filipino muslim was once a dominant group in the country, most of the population concentrated in Mindanao region and is primary to what influences their daily lives and that influence transcends also in their arts.
• Mosque - Also called masjids. The common structure of a mosque is composed of minarets, domes, and prayer halls.
• Minarets - Are the tall, slender spires with a hemisphere crown and are generally twice as high as dome.
• Domes - Is a large and usually cover the entire prayer hall. It represents heaven and sky. The prayer hall or musa is a room with big space where muslims gather to pray.
• Kibla/Qibla - The Kibla wall is another main feature of a mosque. It is positioned on the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca which also indicates the direction to face when praying. At the center of the wall is a semi circular niche called mirab.
• Grand Mosque in Cotabato

  
• Pink Mosque in Maguindanao

  
• Golden Mosque in Manila - The Architecture structure and design of mosques in the Philippines is similar to how a mosque typically looks like around the world.

  
• Historical Fort Pillar - also called Real Fuerza de Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Zaragoza was founded in 1635 and still stands strong until today. It was engineered by Fr. Melchor de Vera, a Jesuit priest. It was built to protect the people from pirates of the Sulu Sea.

  
• Monastery Of The Transfiguration Of Bukidnon - The pyramid-like structure was designed by the National Artist for Architecture, Leandro Locsin. It is one of his last designs and considered as one of his best, aside from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Davao International Airport.

  
• Santo Rosario Church of Camiguin - The original church was built in 1882 using coral stones, but the old infrastructures were too weak. It was retrofitted with steel bars using modern building techniques.

  
• Okir or Ukkil - The distinct design that speaks very Filipino inside a mosque is the traditional art called Okir (Maranao) or Ukkil (Tausug). Ukir meaning carved is an art form that uses geometric and curvilinear patterns and stylized representation of folk motifs like flowers and animal forms.
• Two of popular motifs of Okir are the Sarimanok and Naga. The former is a legendary bird of the Maranao people, and the latter is a form of dragon or snake
• Batik is a design technique using wax-resist dyeing on fabric. It orignated from Indonesia but also widely used by our Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao.
• Batik uses geometric and curvilinear pattern that are arranged on abstract manner, perhaps, also addressing the tawhid Islam principle. Human and animals are rare motifs but is usually showcases floral prints.
• Batik fabric is usually converted to malong, the traditional tubular skit that is staple in the attire of many Mindanao indigenous groups.
• The malong can function as a skirt for both man and woman, a turban, a dress a blanket, a sunshade, a bed sheet, a dressing room, a hammok, a prayer mat and other purposes.
• Prayer hall or musa - a room with big space where muslims gather to pray.
• At the center of the Kibla/Qibla wall is a semi circular niche called mirab.