Lake Sebu: The T’boli tribe
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.
Tags: Lake Sebu, People, South Cotabato, T'boli, Tribes
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Sunday, September 30th, 2007 at 2:22 pm 
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September 30th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Everytime I visit here its like taking a vacation! Great stuff as usual Ferdz.
September 30th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
woooww galing ni lola mundi ah… prang ang hirap pag tiningnan mo kung paano ginagawa ung tinalak…
September 30th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
it’s nice that the resort is somehow helping to preserce the t’boli culture.
September 30th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Glad you showed us some people from the Tboli tribe . I already expected that they wouldn’t wear their traditional clothes anymore. Sayang, those traditional clothes are very beautiful!
September 30th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Great pics. Their gong setup looks like kulintang and/or the Javanese/Indonesian gamelan. Were you able to record any of their music? Would be interesting to hear it.
October 1st, 2007 at 12:23 am
graveh kelan kya ako matututo mag weave. galing ng mga t’boli.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:23 am
The first pic is great - very colorful costumes indeed . The traditional way of weaving with abaca is one thing I would very much like to see
October 1st, 2007 at 6:54 am
galing! interesado din ako sa kultura ng mga t’boli. isang trabahadora ng bro ko t’boli. dapat nga mainterview ko sya kung bakit lumipat sya dito sa maynila.
October 1st, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Thanks so much, Ferdz, for featuring the T’boli people. I had the chance to purchase two blouses last year - one for men, another a woman’s blouse - and they are now framed and hanging in our dining area. Very expensive, I must say, but the quality is fantastic and the details, mind blowing.
I love the tinalak that you featured. If you’ve noticed, they do not weave human figures into their work. Rather, they feature animals, usually lizards.
BTW, I never knew they ever used a kulintangan. Isn’t this a Maranao musical instrument? I also have serious doubts about that brass belt the lady in the 1st photo is wearing. If I am not mistaken, it is a Manobo original, or that of the Talaandigs of Bukidnon where copper and brass are usually employed in making such ornaments and statuettes.
Trivia: The sides of the LRT2 trains feature T’boli designs in purple .
October 1st, 2007 at 2:52 pm
wow, the lake sebu posts are trickling in. nice shots bai! here’s to looking forward to the next trip. 30 more days to go!
October 1st, 2007 at 4:08 pm
yan yung matagal ko na gusto puntahan
October 1st, 2007 at 5:40 pm
sarap siguro maki pamuhay sa kanila..par a madama at matutunan ang kultura..
October 1st, 2007 at 9:27 pm
One thing I have observed is that aside from being colorful, the crafts they make have a certain form of elegance that I imagine them to be globally marketable, so much better than those done by other tribes like Yakan and Badjaos. At least that is my perception.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I’ve read and hear about the T’boli tribe and they fascinate me. I’d love to see them weave Tinalak though. Interesting, diba?
October 2nd, 2007 at 4:37 am
very nice post. i am glad that they are willing to share their culture this way. i bet their weaves are marvelous.
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Thanks for sharing Ferdz! It’s nice to know more about Tboli.
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Wow, I could really appreciate the T’boli’s now after this post Ferdz. The tinalak is beautiful. I can’t believe it’s only P400 - P800. I wish that Lola Mundi would pass on her weaving skills to the next generation.
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:09 pm
i hope these tribe will never disappear, the culture and arts that they have should really be preserved…
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:41 am
Reading this Ferdz made me realized I am a stranger to my own homeland. Seriously…I was so sheltered, I almost never went anywhere. Glad to be reading this blog though…it’s like catching up on what I have missed.
October 6th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I’m from Mindanao but haven’t been there in that part of the island. Those are awesome photos. Would like to visit such place someday…
November 6th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
wow friend ko ur so beautifull in this picture hindi mo akalain na ng jan u pla sa picture!!!!!!love u friend…..
November 19th, 2007 at 9:06 am
Great article. I’m from South Cotabato…na-homesick tuloy ako!!!!
July 16th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
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