These ‘Dream Weavers’ remain the vanguard of the T’nalak tradition, and can be found at Lang Dulay Weaving Center in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.
ABACA weaving or T’nalak remains one of the dependable livelihoods of T’boli tribe members of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, which is now being passed to younger generations.
As many of us tend to overlook the country’s rich culture due to the prevalence of digitization, things are different in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, as the T’boli tribe members see to it that their ethos remains relevant and intact.
Known for its colorful dresses (T’nalak), meticulously woven by ‘Dream Weavers’, T’boli are Indigenous People thriving in the mountainous areas of South Cotabato.
These Dream Weavers remain the vanguard of the T’nalak tradition, and can be found at Lang Dulay Weaving Center in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.
Department of Tourism-accredited tour guide Jorie Untang Sabal said the weavers of Lang Dulay Weaving Center meticulously craft abaca-made T’nalak.
The weaver elders of the center are relatives of Lang Dulay, one of the country’s GAMABA (Gawad ng Manlilikha ng Bayan) Awardee.
“These T’nalak are sacred to us. You can wear it, make it as an accent to your Filipiniana but they are not used as bedding because we believe that if you pin down or set foot on our piece of art, you are trampling on our rich cultural heritage,” he said, stating that intricate tribal designs and patterns are believed to be sacred as they were inspired by the dreams of the ancient weavers, which is why they are called Dream Weavers.
Making a T’nalak piece could take several months, four months being the longest.
Asked whether T’boli youths, popularly known as Generation Z, are interested in the tradition, Sabal said yes, as old T’boli tribe members instill that customs and tradition should remain in their hearts and minds, amid the advent of technology.
House of Gongs
Your stay in Lake Sebu will not be complete without visiting the T’boli Museum, now known as the House of Gongs.
The museum, built in 1988, is owned and run by Datu Bao Baay, also a retired chairman of the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples in Barangay Poblacion, Lake Sebu.
The museum has a huge collection of gongs, one of which is as old as the 17th century; Chinese porcelain plates dating 15th century or the Ming Dynasty; musical instruments such as “kulintang”, and swords called “Kris.”
“In the T’boli tribe, if you are a Datu, you have to own properties. Properties do not include land, as they are ancestral land, which means they belong to all. But if you have lots of gongs, you belong to the Royal blood. Each gong would cost you P70,000. As of the moment, I have 80 gongs, which are worth around P7 to P8 million,” Datu Baay said in an interview.
He said the gongs brought him a lot of fortune, which can be acquired if you dream of them, just like the T’nalak of Dream Weavers.
“I dreamt of these gongs, and I located them through my dreams,” he said.
Just as T’boli tour guide Sabal said, they hope that their tribe’s culture and tradition will remain recognized and treasured in the psyche of every Filipino.
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