Moro princess dolls from Marawi empower women

DAVAO. Arkat Lawanen dolls created by women from Marawi City are not only beautifully made but also uplift the image of Mindanao. (Photo by Gilford A. Doquila)
DAVAO. Arkat Lawanen dolls created by women from Marawi City are not only beautifully made but also uplift the image of Mindanao. (Photo by Gilford A. Doquila)

CUSTOMERS who buy a Moro princess doll not only help shape a Minadanawon image in the doll industry, but also support women from war-ravaged Marawi City.

“Itong mga manikang ito hindi lang ito laruan, ito ang tumulong sa mga kababaehan sa Marawi para makabangon ulit mula sa siege, (These dolls are not just toys, these are the ones which help our women in Marawi to rise again from the siege),” Ashliya Limbona, chairperson of Alliance Development for Women Empowerment, said during the Ambassador Club Davao meeting on Friday, August 10, at Marco Polo, Davao City.

Limbona said a lot of women in Marawi find their refuge in making the dolls. In this way, she added, the Dolls for Peace Project alleviate the pain from the incident.

According to Limbona, some of the women were business owners in Marawi and earned good money until war broke out in the city.

Among the women who made the Arkat Lawanen dolls or the Maranao princess dolls is Sapiyah M. Macalangcom, a 57 year-old Maranao textile business owner. She was a known curtain maker in her hometown.

“Hanggang nangyari yung pagatake sa Marawi, nabagsak rin kami. Yung pwesto namin nawala, yung bahay namin nawala na rin, (When the attack in Marawi happened, we also lost our business and house),” Macalangcom said in an interview.

Macalangcom has been in the textile industry for nine years. But her textile shop started 20 years ago.

“Dun talaga ako umasenso, (That’s where I became successful,)” Macalangcom said.

Macalangcom added how difficult it was surviving in the evacuation center for months, then she decided to relocate and live in a relative’s house in Iligan City.

But for now, Macalangcom sees herself making the Arkat Lawanen dolls for the next years to earn for her family.

According to Limbona, she is very grateful for the support given by the Ambassador Club of Davao through the club’s president, Ambassadress Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde.

Monteverde said the organization is more than willing to assist the livelihood project of the Marawi women.

For now, Limbona and the Maranao women of Arkat Lawanen will continue to strive in finding their niche through crafting dolls Mindawon style.

For women like Sapiyah, maybe in this way through dressing the dolls she can reconstruct her life back from the ashes of the siege.

The Arkat Lawanen dolls are sold for P3,000 each. According to Ambassador Club of Davao president Monteverde, they are looking at presenting two of the dolls to the members of Ambassador Club International to highlight Mindanawon culture and design.

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