Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Women turn B'laan village into tourist destination
MALUNGON, Sarangani -- The traditional B'laan "mabal" or loom weaving, almost forgotten and shunned by the new generation, has been assured of making it to the next decades.
Forty-six B'laan women, belonging to the Lamlifew Tribal Women's Association, have completed their additional training on B'laan craftsmanship.
"We must love our own culture, our traditions. We must be proud that we are B'laans, Tagakaulos, or Maguindanaos," Governor Miguel Dominguez told them.
The governor noted that being proud of one's culture has opened doors for the School of Living Tradition (SLT) in Sitio Lamlifew.
The SLT, funded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, trained the ladies of Lamlifew in the art of weaving the "tabih", the traditional B'laan beaded cloth with colorful designs.
They were taught by cultural masters for indigenous knowledge and skills.
At Lamlifew, the women have found a new channel to focus their energy.
"They help their husband in the farm but they do nothing during their spare time before. Now they are making B'laan products and they make money out of it," said Beth Farnazo, manager of Sarangani Indigenous People Development Program (IPDP).
Their association has been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The women were able to earn P56,000 last year selling "tabih," beaded accessories, and other B'laan products.
Lamlifew was once a sleepy village in Barangay Datal Tampal, Malungon. The B'laans were living merely on subsistence farming until the intervention of the Provincial Government.
Helen Lamboso, who chairs the women's association, said that the SLT helped them in preserving their culture and in creating economic opportunities for them.
"We now have something to do in our spare time. We were able to promote our culture through our products and we are earning from it," Lamboso said.
"It has a big impact on us economically. We now have extra income besides from what we earn in farming," she added.
The small B'laan village is one of the destinations of the Sarangani Cultural Tourism Circuit. Lamlifew has been visited by dignitaries and foreign tourists.
"This is great. You can really experience the culture of the B'laans," said Jordi Llorens, a Spanish travel photographer who visited Sarangani last year. He brought souvenirs home to Spain.
The SLT was deliberately placed on a hill set on the bank of a river so that there will be minimal disturbance when the women weave the "Tabih."
"The process is divine for us. We have rituals before we proceed with the weaving," Lamboso said.
The intricate design is reflective of the relationship of the weaver with nature and the spirits.
"They are inspired by the spirits. The designs are expressions of their harmony with nature," Farnazo said.
Prospects of economic development in Lamlifew are bright. Recently, they opened the showroom for their products where tourists can choose what items to buy.
"The place speaks a lot of how beautiful Sarangani is. The warmth of the people, the beautiful landscape and the inspiring culture is undeniable," said Dr. Jose Muñoz, a physician from Chicago who visited the community with his wife, daughter and son-in-law.
"It is simply great. Nothing beats the place," he added after they witnessed several B'laan presentations and feasted on a traditional B'laan lunch.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (July 25, 2006 issue)
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