The Unique Identity

of the South
(Arts and Crafts of
Mindanao)
 ATTIRE, TEXTILES, AND
TAPESTRIES
B’laan’s Traditional Clothing and its characteristics

B’laan in South and North Cotabato

and Davao Del Sur
 A combination of two words “bila”,
which means “house”, and “an”,
which means “people”

B’laan
 Characteristics of B’laan’s

clothes are woven from abaca fiber, and

embellished with buttons, beads, embroidery, and
brass and copper work.
 brass belts have numerous tiny bells that produce
pleasing chiming sounds that signal the arrival of
the women.
The B’laan also use mother-of-pearl that are cut and
shaped into geometric forms to look like sequins
called taknum.
 Ikat process
- dyeing the fabric where the yarns are tightly
wrapped with strings before weaving.
The colors of the textiles are usually in shades of
black or brown, red or ochre (darker shade of orange),
and ecru (the color of the undyed abaca).

mabal
-B’laan’s first known process of abaca weaving
 Tabih
-traditional tubular skirt for B’laan women

Bagobos’ Traditional Clothing and its characteristics

Bagobo
- “bago” which means “new”
- “obo”, which means “growth”.
 Inabal.
-Ceremonial cloth
- Made from abaca fibers
- Ikat process is used
-Bagobo women are the only ones who are only allowed to
weave this fabric
bagani
-hero or warrior
-usually wear blood-red
clothes.
-a head kerchief called
tangkulu
-This style of clothing
represents their courage as
Bagobos.
  Women on the other hand, are covered with
inabal skirts and blouses.
 Their clothes are designed with stripes, plaids,
and other organic motifs such as plants,
stars, lightning and even human figures.
Kolungkolung.
-rows of bells around their waist and ankles that
produce tinkling sounds every time they move or
walk
 ompak'n Bagobo.
-term for garment or clothing

T’boli’s Traditional Clothing and its Characteristics

T’boli.
-come from South Cotabato,
particularly Lake Sebu
textile sacred and important.
 Fu Dalu,
-a spiritual guardian, is said to guide t’nalak
weaving, a process that follows several rituals and
rules.

Lang Dulay
-the famous T’boli dream weaver, was able to receive
the National Living Treasures- Gawad Manlilikha ng
Bayan (GAMABA) Award by the National Commission
for Culture and
the Arts.
GAMABA
-is an award that aims to
give honor and pride to
different traditional artist
who contributed to
preserve the works, skills
and crafts of their group.
  T’bolis also believe that the fiber they weave will
easily break once the weaver fails to follow the
rule of abstinence during the weaving process.

 This rule also strictly prohibits men to touch the

materials used in the weaving process because the
t’nalak weavers are the only ones allowed to
handle the cloth.
Kedungon
-a process in weaving T’nalak
Maranao’s Traditional Clothing and its
Characteristics
Maranao is the the biggest group
of Muslims living in Mindanao.
known to be the “People of the Lake”
because they are the considered as
the Lake Lanao’s guardians.
popularly known for their malong.
It is a traditional hand woven tube
skirt that is made using a
backstrap loom.
 The malong measures at
least 165x165 cm
 Maranao women usually wear
it as a skirt, dress, blouse, or
gown
 used as a hammock, fruit
basket, sleeping bag,
bathrobe, baby carriage, or
even as a simple market bag
 The other types of Malong are the following:

a. Malong a andon- it is considered the most expensive

and rarest or oldest of the three types. Andon refers to
the “patola” motif, or a double ikat woven sari,
usually made from silk.
b. Malong a landap- it is characterized by “langkit”,
or decorative strips of profuse geometric designs,
which are hand sewn on the malong. This type is
considered the most popular.
c. Malong a ampik- it is characterized by a pattern
with geometrical shapes colored with black and
white, and combination of contrasting primary
colors.
Yakan’s Traditional Clothing and its
Characteristics
The Yakan is an indigenous
tribe native to the island of
Basilian.
Yakan women traditionally
made the textiles for their
cultural dress known as the
Semmek
 These fabrics are traditionally used as garments,
which include:

1. Seputangan is a square cloth used by the Yakan

women as a head or as a belt. It is the most decorative
piece of garment because of its with different
designs, but it is the most time- consuming to make.
2. Badjulapi, is a tight blouse with long sleeves
worn by Yakan women, which is ornamented with
gold, silver and bronze buttons.
3. Yakan sawal, is a traditional tight-fitting,
striped trousers made of bamboo fibers with
vertical stripes, zigzag and diamond patterns.
4. Pinalantupan is a type of skirts layered over the
trousers made from a mix of pineapple and bamboo
fibers.
5. Pagal Bato is a bride’s button-up jacket made of
satin or cotton cloth, and sometimes mixed with lurex
threads.
 CRAFTS, ACCESSORIES, AND BODY
ORNAMENTS OF MINDANAO

Crafts denotes a skill

sarimanok is the 1. Textiles include
Maranao’s legendary bird.
embroidery , felt making ,
knitting, lac making, tapestry
and weaving. It is the most
common form of craft among
the different ethnolinguistic
groups in Mindanao.
 sarimanok is the Maranao’s
legendary bird.
“sari”, meaning cloth or
garment
“manok” , the Filipino
term for chicken.
a symbol of good fortune
It is depicted as a fowl with colorful wings and
feathered tail, holding a fish on its beak or talons.
The head is profusely decorated with scroll, leaf and
spiral motifs.
 2. Woodcraft- it is a type of handicraft that uses
wood as a primary material to carve an object such as
a statue or relief, accessory, ornament, masks, and
other craftworks like frames.
Okir
traditional wood carvings of the
Moro communities.
old Malayan word which means
carve or “ukit” in Filipino.
 It is referred to as okir in Maranao, while it is
called okkil in Maguindanaon.
Okir design is often carved or etched on hardwood,
brass and silver.
 It is also used on decorative wall paintings
According to Dr. Nagasura, okir has different symbolic
patterns which are used by Maranao crafts makers.
Some of these patterns are:
1. Matilak (circle),
2. Poyok (bud),
3. Dapal (leaf),
4. Pako (fern or spiral form),
5. Todi (fern leaf with spiral at upper edge,
6. Pako lungat (fern leaf with a cut at one edge).
 3. Metal crafts- these crafts include the process
of making jewelry, ornaments, and accessories
using steel and light metal materials.
Embossing
-in metal artworks is the process of forming a design
that slightly protrudes or bulges around the
surface.
Engraving
- is a technique of making prints and designs
from metal plates by making incisions on the metal
surface with the use of a cutting tool.
Lutuan
-It is a small bronze box with
engraved patterns that is carried
at the waist.
-accompanied by pegupaan
which is bamboo container for
paraphernalia used
in chewing betel nut.
 rocaille
-beads is attached to the handles, which
functions as a shoulder strap.

Beadworks- these craft works include the use of beads

in making accessories and ornaments such as
necklaces, bracelets, earrings and hairclips.
 a. Accessories are supplementary components which
commonly adds features in the traditional outfit of
different ethnolinguistic groups.

Pis (head cloth)

-which represents men’s bravery, and is a symbolic
protection from spears or knives. Wear by Yakan Grooms

Olos
-brides wear a short skirt over trousers
 Saruk
-this traditional attire is worn with a hat

Kandit
-a 15-meter belt or sash made of gilim (red cloth).
tanyak-tanyak, or face painting, during weddings
Another group that has a
fondness for accessories is
the T’boli.
hilot is a heavy brass belt
worn by women during
festivals.

hilot lmimot is a brass belt

with dangling strings of
beads.
 Suwat lmimot
-is a wooden comb with colored
glass beads, that is worn at the
back of the head
l'mimot
-a big necklace that practically
covers the whole neck and chest
area,
blonso or brass
- bracelet worn about 15-20
on each arm,
 Nomong
-an earring made of glass beads and horse hair.

Variations of colors like red, yellow, white, and black

are arranged in different geometrical patterns.
b. Ornaments
-on the other hand, are accessories used to beautify
and to make the appearance of objects and people more
attractive.
 • Crocodile tooth necklace for fortune
• Triangular amulets with symbols wrapped in
black cloth (anting- anting) which is a protection
against bullets
• Snake bone belts to guard from pain
• Maniktegiyas, a beaded necklace or bracelet from
dried fruit seeds that protects the wearer from
illness caused by evil spirits
• Maniksembulan, a necklace or bracelet made of a
short bamboo stems
that serve as added protection
• Kayab, a piece of cloth worn like a turban, which
is a protection from rain.