The Maguindanao are believed to have originated from somewhere in the area between what are now the islands of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. They migrated to the Philippines around the 12th or 13th century, and settled in the Cotabato Basin. The Maguindanao were originally a seafaring people, and their culture is still heavily influenced by the sea.
The Maguindanao established a powerful sultanate in the 16th century, which ruled over much of Mindanao and parts of the Sulu archipelago. The sultanate was finally defeated by the Spanish in the 19th century, and the Maguindanao were forced to retreat to the interior of Mindanao.
Today, the Maguindanao are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Philippines, with a population of over 1.5 million. They are a predominantly Muslim people, and their culture is heavily influenced by Islam.