Chapter 16 - ARMM - Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao

• The Maguindanao, literally, "people of the flood plains", occupy the basin of the Pulangi River.  The southern fork of the river flows towards Illana Bay.  In the past the Maguindanao settled along the banks and in the valley regions of the river.  Today they are found in several provinces.  In Maguindanao province, which accounts for 76% of the total Maguindanao population, they are settled in Barira, Buldon, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Kabuntalan, Dindig, North Upi, Matanog, Cotabato City, Buluan, Datu Panglas, Pagalungan, Ampatuan, Maganoy, Datu Piang, Talayan, Sultan sa Barongis, General Salipada Pendatun, and South Upi.  In Cotabato province, they are found in Pikit and Kabacan.  In Sultan Kudarat province, they live in Lebak, Palembang, and Kalamansig, all coastal towns.  In 1988 the Maguindanao population numbered approximately 500,000 (Peralta 1988:7).
  
          The Maguindanao language is part of a subgroup of languages called the "Danao languages".  The subgroup includes Maranao, spoken in the Lanao provinces; Ilanun (also Ilanum or Iranun), spoken by a group of sea-based people between Lanao and Maguindanao;  and Maguindanao, mainly spoken in Maguindanao, Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat (McFarland 1983:96).