A Tboli girl playing a native instrument
The Tboli tribe of Lake Sebu is one of the indigenous people in Southern Mindanao. Known for their excellent skills in weaving and metal works, they are able to produce their one of a kind Tboli cloth, the Tinalak and fine metal works from musical instruments to swords. Most of them also has talents in making wooden collectibles from beads to bracelets and other bling-blings you might think. Indeed, the Tbolis is one culturally rich and talented tribe if not also, one of the most colorful in the country.
A cultural presentation
Knowing this, I know we have to see Tbolis in their fully garbed glory. But it would seem that most Tbolis no longer dress as they used to be, they wear casual clothes now like regular folks and only wear their traditional clothes on special events. Good thing Punta Isla Resort have this cultural presentations where native Tbolis perform their native songs, music and arts. Finally we get to see them in their colorful wears and was able to watch their culturally rich show.
Popular Tboli personality, Lola Mundi Ba-ay
Outside the resort, we also looked for a native Tiboli village where we could find, actual weaving of Tinalak being done. It was a bit tricky looking for one but we indeed found a nice Tboli village and met quite a popular Tboli personality, Lola Mundi Ba-ay. Lola Mundi,, amusingly, seems to be used to projecting at cameras and we found out later she had guested on some TV shows in Manila. She can only speak on her native tongue, but fortunately, her daughter, Milagros was there to help us interpret and give us some information.
Lola Mundi and her weaved Tinalak
Lola Mundi showed us her place where she weaves her Tinalak. A Tinalak cloth is one of the tribes traditional properties usually exchanged during marriages and used as coverings to a newly born. It is made of fine abacca strands and usually takes weeks to months just to finish weaving a whole yard, after which they would dye the cloth with their designs. Lately, this traditional cloth has been used commercially for different purposes. High grade Tinalak are usually sold from 400-800 pesos.
Tboli children
Leaving the village, we also passed by some native houses where kids were curiously peeking by the door. At first they were amusingly shy, hiding in their houses, but soon they have warmed up and started smiling at our cameras.
wow friend ko ur so beautifull in this picture hindi mo akalain na ng jan u pla sa picture!!!!!!love u friend…..
Great article. I’m from South Cotabato…na-homesick tuloy ako!!!!
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Terrific!
kulintang is a native music instrument of the philippines
kulintangexperience.ph/
online kulintang hehe! wak na piano!
I would like to express my gratitude for creating this website and posting about the T’boli Tribe of Southern Cotabato.
It’s a worderful discovery that such a PEACE LOVING, GOOD NATURED TRIBE and they have lived there for centuries or maybe thousands of years. I learn that the original Indigenous Peoples of the PHILIPPINES were SEFL-SUSTAINING LIVING WITH ABUNDANCE IN NATURE LIKE EDEN OR PARADISE. They DRESS COLORFULLY, DANCE GRACEFULLY IN IMMITATION OF THE BIRDS ON THE GROUND. A TREASURE TO BE FOUND.
IT IS SAD THAT COLONIZERS IN THE PAST and the CONTINUING MODERN ADVANCEDMENT OF SO CALLED ECONOMIC PROGRESS COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE IS AN OMINOUS THREAT TO THEIR LAND AND SELF-SUSTAINING NATURAL WAY OF LIFE. WE MUST PRESERVE THIS TRIBE FROM GOING TO EXTINCTION BY THE RAVAGE INFLUENCES OF MODERN CONSUMERISM, POLITICAL CORRUPTION, and INDIFFERENCE TO THEIR WAY OF LIFE, WHICH IS THE ANTIDOTE TO A CANCEROUS AND COLLAPSING WESTERN ECONOMY…
PRESERVE T’BOLI CULTURE, THE PRISTINE LANDS AND FORESTS and LAKE SEBU to IT’S NATURAL STATE.
may the SPIRIT of DWATA PROTECT ALL OF IT.
ang galing ng tribe natin dahil sariling atin to. but the most we can do that is to protect their culture ultil the next civilization because they wanted to make a unique status to developed in our cultural standard to build it better and progressive one in this nation.
tey tilob! I’m so proud of being a T’boli from lamdalag, lake sebe, south Cotabato, galing ng mga katribo ko. ipagpatuloy of preserving our culture and transfer it generation by generation, sayang naman kung mawawala.
hmmm, great to see all of this info regarding my tribe…i’m proud of being t’boli…coz aside from thier colorful & interesting cultures, i should say t’boli people of lake sebu are beutiful….i consider my hometown as a paradise, that’s why i should go home every weekends to unwind & relax…tnx ferdz
anthony
proudly tboli
the tribe of t’boli joins the fast pace of modernity in Mindanao. how are the people in near the site of development affected?
some rumors would say that the tribe might lose its bearing with the place and a new culture of T’boli would take shape. how true is this?
-Is there a conflict between the tribesmen such as the elders of the community and the inculturation or modernity?
-What are the effects of modernity to the people of T’boli?
7 falls the best!
huo maganda ang 7 falls kasama ko si kiko hahahaha
Ang galing.. tboli are amazing…. and I am proud of it…
Talented… wow galing… respect our culture….