By Carmencita A. Carilla
DAVAO CITY — The last remaining habitable torogan, a traditional Maranao abode for the village royal family, was declared in 1998 as a National Cultural Treasure.
Called the Marantao torogan after its town location in Lanao del Sur province, the structure retains its original all-wood materials but the roof, which used to be made of bamboo and cogon grass, has been replaced with galvanized sheets.
“The NCCA [National Commission on Culture and the Arts]-National Historical Institute is trying to preserve what’s left of the original torogan house but there are security issues in the area,” said Angely Pamila Chy, project coordinator of the Balay-Balay 3D Architecture Puzzles Project.
Ms. Chy’s group aims to preserve and promote the Maranao’s cultural heritage through a torogan three-dimensional puzzle for children.
Davao-based design company Swito Architecture Design Studio (SwitoDesigns), the architecture and design arm of social start-up Switotwins, Inc., is eyeing the commercial production of indigenous non-toxic toys that reflect Mindanao culture, starting with the torogan puzzle.
“We are gauging the (local) market’s interest in these types of toys and are working with artisans now, and [we’re] set to release the toys next year,” Ms. Chy said.
As part of the project, the NCCA-funded “Balay-Balay Ta!” exhibit and workshop series was held in the city last week and is also scheduled in Cagayan de Oro City, Marawi City, and Manila.
The best-known torogan are found in Marawi City as well as in Dayawan, and along Lake Lanao.
Ms. Chy said through the torogan puzzles, they want to showcase the talent of local artisans and introduce toys that are made of organic and non-toxic materials that will allow children to have a better appreciation of Mindanao’s culture.
Among the highlights of the exhibit-workshop are playtime sessions with children who tried putting together the 62-piece puzzle as well as a workshop with Al Nezzar Ali, an okir visual artist and scholar. Okir refers to the geometric designs and folk motifs usually found in the artworks of the Maranaos.
“We are collaborating with local artist Felix Banlota and toy designer Kim Vale, [a fine arts graduate of the Ford Academy of the Arts in Davao City) to reproduce the torogan toys,” said architect Gloryrose C. Dy, co-founder of Switotwins.
Ms. Vale designed the torogan puzzle featured in the exhibit-workshop while the design of the puzzle itself was based on the torogan studies of the late Dr. Abdullah T. Madale, a Maranao scholar, and the architectural undergraduate thesis of Henna S. Dazo.
“The torogan is no ordinary home because it used to be occupied by a datu or sultan and [is] a symbol of high status,” Ms. Dazo said
DISASTER-RESILIENT
Ms. Dy added that the torogan house is also a good example of a disaster-resilient house because it was built to withstand earthquakes and strong winds which oftentimes occur along Lake Lanao.
A torogan is built on top of up to seven large stones that are half buried, making it sturdy against floods.
There are no partitions inside the torogan house except for a small room called lamin with okir carvings, usually reserved for the datu’s daughter.
The sarimanok, a colorful chicken design, is also a common feature at the roof of a torogan.
Ms. Dazo said there is a legend that the strength of the torogan is usually tested by allowing two carabaos to fight inside the house.
Ms. Dy said the torogan puzzle, which is ideal for children between 6 and 12 years old, will help introduce traditional Filipino architecture to children.
“My vision is for every Filipino child to know what a torogan house is considering that what is usually taught in school is the bahay kubo.
With this, Filipino children will have more reasons to be proud of their heritage,” she added.
