TRADITIONAL ARTS

Saving the T’nalak Craft from Extinction
Bong Sarmiento / MindaNews / 22 May 2003

LAKE SEBU, South Cotabato -- Known worldwide for its vivid colors and native ingenuity, the indigenous craft that put this tribal municipality in the international map continues to flourish to the delight of both local and international lovers of art.

But unknown to many, the tedious process involved and the changing values of a younger generation have almost threatened the ethnic art of T’nalak weaving with extinction.

Thanks, however, to the selfless efforts of a non-government organization and the backing of the local government. The art continues to thrive and attract both foreign and local tourists to this highland town which is also famous for its savory tilapia.

Joining hands together, the local government and the NGO have been able to prevent the eventual vanishing of the world-renowned craft that has its roots in this scenic municipality, home of the best weavers of T’nalak in the country.

Many T'bolis (the T’boli is the predominant tribe among the six ethnic groups in Lake Sebu) interviewed by Mindanews admitted that the indigenous art of T’nalak weaving had almost disappeared. And if not for Helobung Troupe, the NGO that has helped preserve the weaving tradition that has been around for many generations, the art could now be in oblivion.

Rosie Sula, Helobung dissemination officer, told Mindanews that the group has the full backing of Mayor Basilio Salif in ensuring the continued existence of the indigenous craft and the worldwide dissemination of its product.

"This native T’nalak craft has put Lake Sebu town on the international map. Without T’nalak, the world would never have known that our municipality exists," she said.

Salif echoed Sula's pronouncement: "Our town is known in the world, not because of our lakes and falls, but more so because of the T’nalakcloth woven by the natives."

Both of them have acknowledged the significance of T’nalak--or T'boli cloth--a fine and colorful fabric woven from krungon (abaca fiber), to the existence of the municipality.

An endangered art

But with the passing of time, modernization has not spared this scenic municipality. There came a point in the life of Lake Sebu when the art of T’nalak weaving had almost become extinct, said Salif and Sula.

Many of the younger generation opt for urban living, migrating to the lowlands of South Cotabato province, such as to the bustling capital city of Koronadal, to look for what they perceive to be ‘greener pastures’.

The youngsters are lured by the activities and contraptions of the 21st century such as getting a contemporary education and communicating through computers and cellphones (for those who can afford them).

Moreover, some of the youths have started to abhor T’nalak weaving, looking down on it as ‘backward' or 'uncivilized'.

The problem was compounded by parents who, through laziness, had failed to pass the art on to their children. Seeing the dwindling interest of the youth and their parents' failure to teach them the skill, Sula, together with few other T'boli women, established the Helobung Troupe.

Rescuing the art

According to Sula, Helobung Troupe was primarily formed to save the art of T’nalak weaving from dying.

"We can not afford to see this precious art slowly dying. Something had to be done so a few of us grouped ourselves to save our cultural heritage," she said.

The general objective of Helobung, as contained in a four-page document provided to Mindanews, is to assist and help facilitate the transfer of the T’nalak weaving skills from the parents or community experts to the young generation of Lake Sebu.

“T’nalak weaving requires a very tedious process. It takes almost half a year to finish a five-meter long, 24-inch wide cloth," said Sula adding that the technique can only be learned through meticulous and constant practice. This fastidious process has also been blamed by many for the younger generation’s disinterest.

Mayor Salif said there is a great need to restore among the youth the almost forgotten skills of their ancestors. In his desire to inculcate and promote the cultural heritage, he provided the local National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), in which Sula also serves as community affairs officer 1, a space at the municipal hall.

Art for art’s sake

While Sula admitted that the people behind Helobung do not get a single centavo for their efforts, she said this is not a hindrance since they are committed to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of Lake Sebu.

"We don't expect rewards for our efforts in preserving the traditions of the people. Seeing the craft still around and being practiced is a reward in itself," she said. The funding for the group's operation, according to her, came from individual donors.

To reach out even further, Helobung established a program called Helobung Schools for Living Tradition, which promotes, among the young, not only the art of T’nalak weaving, but also traditional dances, songs and customs.

One beneficiary of the Helobung School for Living Tradition program is teenager Divina Man, who learned T’nalak weaving from her mother. Sula is proud of the young girl who was invited by a group from Manila to showcase her talent there in 2000. All of Divina’s expenses to and from Manila were shouldered by the group who invited her.

Divina told Mindanews that her mother had passed on her skills to her.

This after Helobung, according to Sula, had provided the youngster's mother with a free long house where she could weave and teach her children.

The long house is a traditional hut purposely elongated to accommodate T’nalak weaving. Most T’nalak cloth is at least five meters long. The handbags or wallets of the fabric that are on display and for sale in souvenir shops have been cut from the lengthy piece.

Aside from Divina, the people of Lake Sebu have another national jewel in the person of Lang Dulay. Dulay was given the rare Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan award by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The award is given in recognition of a traditional artist's role in preserving and developing indigenous artistic heritage.

Mayor Salif has lauded Helobung Troupe’s role in preserving the cultural heritage of Lake Sebu and urged the group to remain steadfast and continue what it is doing.

Sula’s reply: "You can count on us." In fact, Sula says that the Helobung staff is not resting in its research even if this means going to remote barangays reachable only on foot. This NGO is doing all it can to keep Filipino ethnic culture from vanishing forever. / May 22, 2003

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