Friday, October 19, 2007

Cultural Village Photo 9


Miniature Sarangani Bay photo taken at night inside the Cultural Village for the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Cultural Village Photo 8


Cultural village photo of miniature Sarangani Bay taken at night.

Guests in the Cultural Village

Guests coming in to see the different presentation and exhibit at the Cultural Village in celebration of the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.Shown in the picture is Boe Labi Elsie Perrett, the Supreme Crowned Princess of Sarangani, wearing her traditional Blaan beaded upper cloth.

Young Muslim Dancers


Young Muslim cultural performers during the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Muslim Dance

Young Muslim cultural performers presentation during the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Blaan dance formation 3


Maral, traditional Blaan dance presented during the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Blaan dance for planting 2


Traditional Blaan dance for planting called lamgi which is considered as a sacred ritual for blissful harvest.

Blaan dance for planting

Re-enactment of a Blaan dance for planting season called as lamgi wherein men are digging the holes and women follows to drop the seeds.

Blaan dance formation 2


Traditional Blaan dance formation showcased during the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Blaan dance formation 1


Traditional Blaan dance formation showcased during the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Blaan dance

Young Blaan cultural performers showcasing the traditional Blaan dance called maral during the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Blaan ritual re-enactment


Young Blaan cultural performers during the Cultural Day presentation of the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Tboli cultural performers


Young Tboli cultural artists during the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Muslim Dance Photo 3

Young Muslim performing traditional dance during the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Muslim Dance Photo 2

Young Muslim lady in a traditional dance for the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Muslim Dance Photo 1

Young Muslim lady performing a traditional dance during the Cultural Day presentation for the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Edzel hosting the program

Edzel Pontong, project officer of IPDP, hosted the program for the Cultural Day presentation during the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Maribeth and Edzel

Maribeth Farnazo (Program Manager)and Edzel Pontong (Project Officer) of IPDP facilitated the program for the Cultural Day presentation during the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Edzel Pontong


Edzel Pontong, a Project Officer of the IPDP shown in his traditional Blaan male cloth with other tribal youths.Edzel finihsed his Bachelor of Laws and will become one of the future lawyers for the different tribes in Sarangani Province.

NCIP Chair Serrano


The National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Chairperson, Ms. Jennette Serrano, graced the Cultural Day in celebration ot the 2006 MunaTo Festival.She belongs to the Blaan tribe.

Cultural Day Guests

Leaders from the different indigenous peoples and Muslim groups of Sarangani Province attended during the Cultural Day Presentation in celebration of the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Cultural Day Program

Ms. Maribeth Bantilan Farnazo, IPDP Program Manager gave the opening remarks for the Cultural Day Presentation during the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Tboli tribe Brass making


Another School of Living Tradition (SLT) assisted by the Indigenous Peoples Development Program of Sarangani is the Tboli Brass casting/making largely used for the different accessories like brass belts and necklaces with bells.Tboli women are also shown doing thier craftmanship with basket making.These cultural masters came from the Municipality of Kiamba and they participated for the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Tagakaolo basket making


The Tagakaolo tribe from Malungon showcased their skill and craftmanship in making traditional baskets during the 2006 MunaTo Festival of Sarangani Province.A young Tagaoko child dressed in traditional Tagakaolo outfit is with them.

Casper Lumbos


Baby Casper Lumbos shown in his tiny Blaan traditiona outfit with her Lola Bae Herminia Lacna, one of the cultural masters from the School of Living Tradition in Lamlifew, Datal Tampal, Malungon.

Cross-stitching

Ansif, Blaan cross-stitching process for the beaded Blaan traditional cloth.For the Blaan tribe, this is considered as a past time activity for women who are staying at home and at the same time taking good care of the children like this child inside a hammock.

Mabal weavers


Mabal, a Blaan traditional cloth made from Manila hemp or abaca fiber was showcased by the Lamlifew master weavers for the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Ann Edday

Young Blaan lady, Ann Edday, from Malungon showcased her traditional Blaan outfit during the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Bae Rizza Balandan

A young Blaan woman, Bae Rizza Lantingan Balandan, in Blaan traditional dress.At the background are the mat weavers for Sitio Upper Lasang, Sapu Masla, Malapatan that showcased the art of mat living as a living tradition for the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Entrance to the Cultural Village

Typical representation of the Cultural Village for the different indigenous peoples and the Muslim groups of Sarangani Province for the 2006 MunaTo Festival.This project was spearheaded by the IPDP.

Traditional Upland Rice


Tarp presentation of the traditional upland rice research output of IPDP in partnership with Science Department of Mindanao State University-General Santos City for the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Cultural Village Photo 7


Muslim Kulintang


Another display of the famous Muslim Kulintang, a musical instrument for the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Muslim crafts display


Muslim crafts were displayed along with the famous Kulintang instrument during the 2006 MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.

Indigenous Food Presentation


Some samples of indigenous food presented at the Cultural Village for the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Cultural Village Photo 6


Some more photos shown near the miniature Sarangani Bay for the 2006 MunaTo Festival.

Miniature Sarangani Bay

Miniature Sarangani Bay as part of the artistic presentation for the Cultural Village inside the Provincial Capitol.

Cultural Village Photo 5


Some photos taken in circular pattern with the indigenous materials namely cogon, bamboo, and wood sticks.

Cultural Village Photo 4


Some photos used for the Cultural Village showcase inside the Provincial Capitol of Sarangani Province in celebration of the MunaTo Festival.

Cultural Village Photo 3


Some photos used duirng the Cultural Village showcase for the MunaTo Festival.

Cultural Village Photo 2


A typical indigenous peoples house showcased in the Cultural Village inside the Provincial Capitol last MunaTo Festival.

Cultural Village Photo 1

The Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP) showcased the Sarangani Cultural Village inside the Provincial Capitol in celebration of the MunaTo Festival 2006. Construction of bahay kubo is being shown here.

Friday, October 5, 2007

American women help Blaan women


MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 14, 2007) – B'laan women continue to pursue broader horizons as the Ded Libon Di Lasang Association formally launched their mat weaving center in barangay Upper Lasang Monday.

The association received financial grant from the American Women's Club of the Philippines in recognition of their efforts to preserve their culture through mat weaving.

Some people call them the "dreamweavers." Their designs are colorful and no mat has the same design. Each banig (mat) is inspired by the dreams of the weaver.

According to B'laan culture, the designs reflect the B'laan's relationship with their God - D'wata.

"Dako among pasalamat sa tabang na gihatag kanamo," said Rosalinda Bantilan, chairperson of the association.

Ded Libon Di Lasang, which means group of women in Upper Lasang, has 18 weavers. Two are cultural masters.

"This is not only their livelihood. It also reveals the creativity of the B'laan as evidenced by the intricate designs," said Sarangani provincial administrator Fredo Basino, who was born and raised in the area.

The association purchased 18 eyeglasses, a sewing machine and erected a weaving center from the P140,000 given by the American Women's Group of the Philippines.

"Nalipay kami ug dako sa pag-ila sa among kultura ug ang paghatag ug tabang sa among kababaihan ," said tribal chieftain Basino Bantilan.

Made of romblon, a plant with sturdy leaves, the process of weaving one mat takes a considerable amount of time. The romblon leaves has first to be dried, dyed and then woven.

Rituals according to B'laan culture are done but only the weavers know about them.

"This process is a natural and divine process," noted Basino. He explained that the mat weaving is sacred in the culture of the B'laans.

The mats are sold locally. However, there are orders coming from as far as Manila as aggressive promotion is being done by the provincial government.

"The mats are wonderful. The designs are awesome. You definitely have something here which you cannot find anywhere in the world," said Lauren Patty, a Harvard University medical student who had chosen Sarangani as the area for her rural medicine immersion.

Upper Lasang is part of the tourism culture circuit of Sarangani which also includes the Lamlifew Tribal Community in Malungon. Lamlifew features B'laan loom-weaving, beads, baskets and handicrafts of the Tagakaolos. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RIO)

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Exchange of tokens


ALABEL, Sarangani (February 17, 2007) - U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney receives a B'laan traditional dress as a token from Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez at Isla Parilla resort during her visit Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, where the governor hosted lunch for the Ambassador and her party. Kenny visited the province to formally turn-over a USAID-funded boat landing facility at Purok Juluano in Malapatan, Sarangani. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Tboli woman


KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 15, 2006) - A T'boli woman protects her child in a "witch dance" during the celebration of Timpuyog Festival and 59th foundation anniversary of Municipality of Kiamba on Tuesday. A "witch" was supposed to seize her child. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Tboli women


KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 15, 2007) - T'boli women giggle in a scene from the "monkey dance" during the Timpuyog Festival and 59th foundation anniversary of Municipality of Kiamba on Tuesday. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)