Philippine E-Journals

Ba’i a labi: Noblesse Oblige of Female Royal Title Holders in Meranao Society

Labi Hadji Sarip Riwarung

 

Abstract:

The Meranao Muslims in the Southern Philippines have preserved their customs and traditions despite modernization, one of which is the socio-political system called the Sultanate or the Datuship system. The said system is very strong in a way that it is still existing and respected by the people up to the present. This socio-political structure of the Meranao is not only for the Meranao men but also for the Meranao women. An example is the gerar (traditional socio-political title) Ba’i a labi, the feminine equivalent of the Sultan or Datu. There are also varied social titles and statuses such as: Ba’e a Cabugatan, Potre Maamor, Ba’i a Romapunut, Ba’i a Dimasangkai, Ba’i a labi a Dimasangkai, Ba’i a pithi-ilan, Ba’i a Labi a Maamor, Sulutan a Ba’i, and other social titles which the Meranao women can claim, provided that they are the legal descendants of the original holder of the gerar. This paper describes the Meranao social title called Ba’i a labi, the feminine equivalent of the Sultan. It will also include the term of succession or the selection process, investiture preparation, and confirmation. The different duties and responsibilities of a Bai-a-labi will be enumerated. The qualities of an ideal Bai’ a labi as described in the Darangen epic will also be discussed.