Pre-colonial traditions
Cultural Director: Ana Maria Cruz Langer
Moderator: Maria Zelda Magistrado Rojas
Sonntag 17:00
Indigenous tribe: Tboli
Attire: Kegal Nesif Tboli (cross-stitched hand embroidered blouse), T’nalak skirt (abaca), Sewat (hair comb), Sabitan (openwork buckle brass belt with hawkbells on chains), Singkil (brass anklets).
Region: South Cotabato, Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Description:
TBOLIS are the indigenous people of Lake Sebu in the highlands of South Cotabato, Mindanao, also called „Dreamweavers“. They weave a traditional cloth called „T’nalak“, made from naturally dyed abaca fibers. They create designs from patterns bestowed on the weaver in her dreams by Fu Dalu, the Tboli spirit goddess of abaca. The Tbolis have a rich mixture of their traditional garments, decorated with beadwork, embroidery, woven patterns, appliqués and adorn themselves with exquisite brass bells, beaded jewelry and accessories.
Tboli Models:
Dhadha Manuel Alcantara and Gabriel Constantino
Indigenous tribe: Maranao
Attire: Malong
Region: Lanao del Sur, Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Description:
MALONG A LANDAP is a unique tubular garment usually worn by Maranao tribe royalties or elite men and women in Lanao del Sur. In the past, only the families of the Datu (king) and Bae (queen) and selected members of society were able to wear them. Each color depicts the person’s position in the society. Yellow is for sultans and a symbol of royalty, violet are for queens and princesses, green for juries and priests, red for warriors, etc.
Traditionally, malongs are woven by women using a backstrap loom. Special materials such as gold threads and silk are for formal wear; whereas cotton with printed patterns are for everyday wear and have many practical uses.
Maranao Models:
Jil Celine Luzarraga and Dustin Arellano
Indigenous tribe: Blaan
Attire: Tabih (abaca) or Gintlo (cotton) skirt and Takmon blouse, Swat san sala (wooden comb), Belt
Region: North Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Description:
BLAANS are the indigenous people living in the areas around Buluan Lake in North Cotabato, in the southern part of South Cotabato and Davao del Sur. The traditional female tube skirt is made from handwoven abaca called „tabih“, but Blaan women also use a handwoven cotton plaid malong called the „gintlo“ as an alternative. The blouse consists of embroidered sequin-like capiz shells called „takmon“ or tiny white beads that adorn the front, back, sleeves and around the neck in several frieze patterns to give a distinct design and color to their clothes. Women adorn themselves with intricately beaded wooden comb, called the „swat san sala“.
(Frieze patterns are a 2-dimensional symmetrical design that repeats itself and looks the same in both directions).
Blaan Model:
Joma Leitenhuber
Indigenous tribe: Bagobo Tagabawa
Attire: Tubular skirt (abaca, wild banana), wide-sleeves blouse with appliqués
Region: Davao, Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Description:
BAGOBOS are one of the largest groups of indigenous peoples of southern Mindanao. Its name was derived from the words „bago“ meaning new and „obo“ meaning growth. They are composed of three sub-groups, namely the Tagabawa, the Clata and the Ubo. They wear colorful costumes and women weave abaca cloths with earthly tones, heavily embroidering it with multicolored beads and stitchwork. The blouse has wide sleeves and appliqués have been used to decorate it. A sash, made up of colorful cotton cloth stitched together in appliqué technique, is worn around the waist to hold the tubular skirt made of abaca (wild banana) fiber. The designs consists of human figures, diamond forms, schematic representation of the crocodile, X’s in symmetrical frieze patterns.
Bagobo Model:
Rhodora Montorio
Indigenous tribe: Tausug
Attire: Batawi (satin blouse), Sawwal (loose trousers), embroidered Sablay (for formal occasions)
Region: Jolo, Sulu Archipelago
Country: Philippines
Description:
TAUSUGS are one of the largest Muslim ethnic groups that live in the Sulu Archipelago, the southwest island of Mindanao and famous for being skilled pearl divers.
The native female attire consists of the „batawi“, a satin blouse decorated with gold or silver buttons on the breast, shoulders and cuffs. It is worn with the „sawwal“, or loose trousers of silk or brocade. A „sablay“ embroidered with intricate patterns is worn by modern Tausugs as an attire to weddings and other formal occasions.
Tausug Model:
Sonia Kison
Curated by Ana Maria Cruz Langer, private collector of contemporary and ethnic Philippine costumes, accessories, musical instruments, books and artworks.
