Sunday, August 31, 2008 A T'boli long house in Davao
AS VARIOUS lumad tribes from different parts of Mindanao gathered and enjoined the people of Davao in the joyous Kadayawan festival, the T'bolis back in barangay Klubi in Lake Sebu also had a reason to celebrate -- the opening of their long house weaving center.
Named "Klubi Gono Ketencon" or Klubi House of Knowledge, the two-storey bamboo-made long house in their barangay serves as the weaving center and learning center in one. It was built for them by the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Incorporated (Tadeco).
The first floor is where T'boli weavers can gather to weave the famous tinalak cloth together while the second will house the youngsters on their learning activities.
Speaking in behalf of his fellow T'bolis, barangay Klubi council member Eging F. Yungal expressed his great dismay on Lake Sebu having received no recognition as the origin of tinalak and tinalak weaving every Tinalak Festival.
"Gigamit nila ang Tinalak Festival nga dili Lake Sebu ang gidala (They used the Tinalak Festival without recognizing Lake Sebu)," Yungal said.
For this, Yungal together with Manuel M. Reblando of the Klubi Foundation, Incorporated (KFI) thanked Tadeco for establishing this joint project with Alternative Learning System (ALS).
Russell U. Barrizo, Senior Manager for Tadeco Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC), was also was happy that Tadeco is now a part of T'bolis' life.
"Gusto namo mapadayon unsa inyong ginabuhat diri ug i-promote ang inyong produkto aron mapadayon pud ang inyong kultura (We want you to continue what you are doing and promote your product so to continue, as well, your culture)," Barrizo said.
"Nagapasalamat mi sa Tadeco kay kung dili tungod sa ila pagbulig, wala kani sang project, wala sang kwaan sang materials o pagbakal sang materials (We thank Tadeco because if not for their help, this project would not have existed, there would be no source to buy materials)," Maria Elena Marcelo said.
Aside from that, Tadeco is also remembered by the T'bolis about the medical mission that they conducted September last year, at the same time reminded to consider conducting another medical mission this year.
Likewise, Tadeco Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC), in coordination with KFI, works through the constraints in the market and industry of tinalak cloth.
Both are aiming for one goal -- to keep the long-lived tradition among T'bolis of weaving this native cloth, which is famous inside and outside the Philippines.
As of now, plans are also being worked out with regard to building more long houses that will also serve as weaving centers for other T'bolis. In this case, Kadayawan will linger beyond August festivities.
With these efforts at hand, the move to preserve the traditional tinalak weaving by the T'bolis in Lake Sebu casts a bright future.
