Tubad of Lamlifew

Tubad (new generation) of the Blaan tribe performing traditional Blaan dance during the launching of Gumne Blaan, the Shool of Living Tradition built by the Lamlifew Tribal Women's Association. Photo from Sarangani Information Office taken by Cocoy A. Sexcion.

Gumne Blaan launching

Blaan dance performance of the young kids at Lamlifew, Datal Tampal, Malungon during the launching of the Gumne Blaan (tribal house) used for the School of Living Tradition (SLT). Primary focus of the SLT is to transfer skills by the old folks to the new generation for ansif (cross-stitching), mabal making (different designs of Blaan cloth made of abaca or hemp), traditional necklaces, head dress, takmon (cloth designed with mother of pearl), beaded dress as well as basketry making. Photo from Sarangani Information Office taken by Cocoy A. Sexcion.

Gumne Blaan launching

MALUNGON, Sarangani (June 22, 2007) – Village children give a welcome dance to visitors Friday (June 22) during the launching of the Gumne', a B'laan tribal house built by tribal women in Lamlifew and funded by the provincial government. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said Sarangani pilots the country's School of Living Tradition (SLT) continuing program. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Blaan School of Living Tradition

MALUNGON, SARANGANI PROVINCE (June 20, 2007)- Ms. Helen Lombos, chairperson of the Lamlifew Tribal Women’s Association (LTWA) applies finishing stitch patterns to a traditional B’laan dress in the terrace of a tradional B’laan house. Made of bamboo, wood and indigenous materials from the area, the B’laan traditional house constructed by the LTWA will soon showcase B’laan handicrafts and beadworks. Lamlifew is a tourist destination in Sarangani where one could experience the B’laan culture and witness their everyday life. (PHOTO BY SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)


The association is technically assisted by the Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP) under the Office of the Governor.Tourists visiting Lamlifew Tribal Eco-Village came to have a truly tribal interaction. School of Living Tradition cultural crafts are sold to the tourists. Some guests even requested for specific Blaan clothing like the ansif (cross-stitched dress), takmon (upper garment made of mother of pearl), mabal (woven abaca/hemp fiber) and some beaded dress. They also make traditional beads necklaces, head dress accessories, and basketry.

Visits to the community can be arranged thru the Office of the Governor - IPDP. Contact person is Maribeth Farnazo, Program Manager (+63-83-508-2258).

Blaan traditional house

MALUNGON, SARANGANI PROVINCE (June 20, 2007)- Ms. Helen Lombos, chairperson of the Lamlifew Tribal Women’s Association (LTWA) applies finishing stitch patterns to a traditional B’laan dress while her baby is peacefully asleep in a B’laan hammock in Lamlifew, Malungon. Lombos is sitting on the window cover of a traditional B’laan house. The oversized and protruding window cover, a unique fixture in traditional B’laan houses in Sarangani also serves as a deck for B’laans to do their chores. Made of bamboo, wood and indigenous materials from the area, the B’laan traditional house constructed by the LTWA will soon showcase B’laan handicrafts and beadworks. Lamlifew is a tourist destination in Sarangani where one could experience the B’laan culture and witness their everyday life. (PHOTO BY SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Mat Weaver

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (June 18, 2007) - A "dreamweaver" sorts out her "romblon" used for making "banig" in the showroom of the Mat Dreamweavers in Malapatan Monday. The weavers of Malapatan do not follow any pattern but rather base their design on their dreams. Malapatan is celebrating its 38 th Foundation Anniversary and "Pakaradyan" Festival which started on June 15 and will end on June 21. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Romblon is an endemic plant in Sitio Upper Lasang, Sapu Masla, Malapatan. The management of this important resource is vital to the survival of the mat weaving in the community. Efforts done by the community was to do re-planting of Romblon and managing the harvest of the leaves as raw material for the mat weaving.

Mat Weaving

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (June 18, 2007) – The traditional banig or mat weaving reveals the colors and tradition of the B'laan indigenous people. An organization of B'laan women displays their products at the opening of the town's 38th Foundation Anniversary and 2nd Pakaradyan Festival which ends on June 21. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Shown in the photo above is Rose Balandan, the head of the Mat Weavers Association located at Sitio Upper Lasang, Malapatan. Each mat design is unique. A visit to thier Mat Weaving School of Living tradition site is worth a visit.You can contact the Office of the Governor thru its Indigenous Peoples Development Program for technical assistance.

Malong Weaving

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (June 18, 2007) – Muslim women in Malapatan weave the traditional malong dress as one of the highlights in celebration of the town's 38th Foundation Anniversary and 2nd Pakaradyan Festival which ends on June 21. Pakaradyan is a Maguindanao word for "feast" which may come as a wedding celebration, Tanda (baptismal rites), Salangguni (pamanhikan), Qadtamat (Koran reading), among others. For the non-Maguindanaon, Pakaradyan is equivalent to any Filipino fiesta celebration and banquets. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Photonews from Provincial Information Office, Sarangani

Malong Weaver

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (June 18, 2007) - Sarmia Ameril, 23, of Tuyan, Malapatan weaves a traditional Maguindanaon garment -- the "Malong". Maguindanaons in Malapatan have long produced colorful "Malongs" for their everyday use. One garment takes a day to weave and costs P600 if sold. Malapatan is celebrating its 38 th Foundation Anniversary and "Pakaradyan" Festival which started on June 15 and will end on June 21. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

The municipality of Malapatan is also a home to cebuano migrants and the Blaan tribe. This cultural heritage of Malong weaving is very significant to the Muslim, thus, needs to be preserved by and for the future generations.

Mt. Matutum

Majestic Mt. Matutum (a dormant volcano)

• 7,600 ft. elevetion
• 2,293 m high
• 120 m deep and 320 m wide crater
• Home to the Blaan indigenous peoples group of Southern Mindanao
• View taken at Amgu-o Village, Landan, Polomolok, South Cotabato by Bernard Turner

The joy of an SLT graduate

GLAN, Sarangani (June 8, 2007) - Grascela Lasnan, 14, smiles after receiving her certificate of completion during the graduation ceremony of the School of Living Tradition (SLT) on traditional musical instruments-making and –playing Friday (June 8) at barangay Kapatan. The SLT aims to restore, preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the different ethno-linguistic groups in Sarangani by transferring the indigenous knowledge system from the cultural masters to cultural learners or bearers. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

The graduate shown in her Blaan traditional attire.

SOCSARGEN

Map of South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City (SOCSARGEN). It is siutated South of mainland Mindanao and served as a gateway for the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). With its strategic location, it is easily accessible from neighboring ASEAN countries.

Source: 2006 Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) brochure

School of Living Tradition news from Sarangani

Flute

GLAN, Sarangani (June 8, 2007) - A B'laan student plays her slali (flute) during the graduation ceremony of the School of Living Tradition (SLT) on traditional musical instruments-making and -playing Friday (June 8) at barangay Kapatan. The SLT aims to restore, preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the different ethno-linguistic groups in Sarangani by transferring the indigenous knowledge system from the cultural masters to cultural learners or bearers. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Cocoy A. Sexcion)

The SLT is a component project implemented by the Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP) under the Office of the Governor.

Sarangani pictures

Link for Sarangani photos taken by Cocoy Sexcion.

http://saranganiprovince.multiply.com/photos/album/1

Visit the beauty and bounty of Sarangani Province whenever you are in Mindanao.

Let's talk Tboli

Good Morning - hyu flafus
Good Afternoon - hyu kuloy
Good Evening - hyu kifu
How are you? - kumusta wo'
Where are you from? - no kom gono lemwet?
Where do you live? - no kom gono meno?
Are you married? - won yahen nom?
How many children d you have? - deng helo kom nga?
What kind of work do you do? - bey kom keyo nemo?
I love you - kenodo te nu
Thank you - bong salamat
You are welcome - hyu
Goodbye - lomwet me kom

Atlanta Regional Commission EJ meeting

Arjho's recent volunteer event with the Atlanta Regional Commission Environmental Justice Planning Advisory Group.Click link below:

http://accessphilatlanta.blogspot.com/2007/06/turner-reports-on-atlanta-regional.html