Butig

Welcome to Butig, a hidden gem in Lanao del Sur, Philippines, where ancient traditions and mystical landscapes come together in a breathtaking Maranao tale. Tucked at the foot of Mount Makaturing, this historic municipality is not just scenic — it’s legendary.

Butig is famously known as the cradle of the Maranao Sultanate, once the seat of the Sultanate of Butig, one of the oldest royal houses in Mindanao. The town proudly showcases torogans (traditional royal houses), with their distinctive panolong carved designs that scream royalty, artistry, and history.

A looming presence and a hiker’s challenge, Mount Makaturing is an active stratovolcano that defines Butig’s dramatic skyline. Its slopes offer breathtaking views and are sacred to locals, making it a spiritual and natural landmark all in one.

Butig thrives in its Maranao cultural pride, expressed through traditional kirim (poetry), colorful okir art, and elegant malong clothing. During local festivals like Kalilang sa Butig, expect dazzling kulintang music, graceful singkil dances, and parades showcasing Maranao nobility and warrior culture.

Feast like a Datu with Maranao culinary staples such as:

• Piaparan manok (chicken in coconut milk and turmeric)
• Rendang (spicy beef stew)
• Dodol (sticky rice delicacy)
• Palapa (a spicy condiment of sakurab and chili)

The local dishes are rich in flavor, spices, and heritage, offering a culinary experience that’s both fiery and comforting.

Maranao music in Butig is deeply ceremonial. The sound of kulintang gongs, agong, and dabakan drums echo in every celebration, retelling the ancient epics of Darangen — a UNESCO-recognized oral tradition. Here, music is storytelling, spiritual offering, and social identity rolled into one.

Though off the mainstream tourist radar, Butig rewards the curious with:

• Torogan sightseeing
• Mountain trekking to hidden waterfalls
• Cultural immersion with locals who preserve oral epics and traditional crafts
• Historical exploration of ancestral houses and battle-scarred stories of bravery

• Cradle of Maranao royalty
• Majestic Torogan architecture
• Home of Mount Makaturing
• Rich Maranao cuisine and spiritual festivals
• Traditional music and the Darangen epic