Arts and Crafts of Mindanao - 073727
Arts and Crafts of Mindanao - 073727
Arts and Crafts of Mindanao - 073727
OF MINDANAO
COLOR THE TRIBE
• The B’laan’s clothes are woven from abaca fiber, and embellished with
buttons, beads, embroidery, and brass and copper work. One distinct
item is the heavy brass belt that B’laan women usually wear around
their waistline. These 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.
• The B’laan are also known for their ikat process which is used in
weaving highly-polished abaca textiles. This process is done by
dyeing the fabric where the yarns are tightly wrapped with strings
before weaving.
Bagobos’ Traditional Clothing and its Characteristics
The Bagobos are one of the ethno-linguistic groups in
Mindanao that contributes to the area’s culture and
tradition.
• This group’s name comes from the word “bago” which means “new”.
and “obo”, which means “growth”.
• Bagobos are known for their ceremonial cloth called Inabal. This is a
special textile woven from deep brown abaca fibers.
• 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. Bagobo women also wear rows of bells around their waist
and ankles that produce tinkling sounds every time they move or
walk called Kolungkolung.
T’boli’s Traditional Clothing and its Characteristics
Another popular ethnolinguistic group is the T’boli. They
come from South Cotabato, particularly Lake Sebu.
• T’bolis are famous for their complicated beadwork, wonderful woven
fabrics, and beautiful brass ornaments. T’bolis are also known in
using t’nalak similar to the Bagobos.
• They also find this textile sacred and important. Occasions like
traditional wedding rituals usually involve the exchange of t’nalak
textile.
• T’boli weavers believe that they are visited by their ancestors and
gods in their dreams to teach them weaving designs and patterns.
• 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.
Maranao’s Traditional Clothing and its Characteristics
The Maranao is the the biggest group of Muslims living in
Mindanao. They are dwellers who occupy the lands
surrounding Lake Lanao. They are known to be the “People
of the Lake” because they are the considered as the Lake
Lanao’s guardians.
• The Maranao people are popularly known for their malong. It is a
traditional hand woven tube skirt hat is made using a backstrap
loom. It can also be a machine-made multi-colored cotton cloth.
• The malong measures at least 165x165 cm, and can be used in many
ways. Maranao women usually wear it as a skirt, dress, blouse, or
gown. It may also be used as a hammock, fruit basket, sleeping bag,
bathrobe, baby carriage, or even as a simple market bag, depending
on how a person folds this special fabric. It can also be used as a cowl
or raincoat, sack, and headgear for both men and women.
Yakan’s Traditional Clothing and its Characteristics
The Yakan is an indigenous tribe native to the island of
Basilan.
• Their weaving skills is recognized for their use of remarkable
technicolor geometric patterns. The intricately woven fabrics are used
for clothing and other accessories. They also use distinctive face
decorations to complement their attire in traditional ceremonies.
• Yakan women traditionally made the textiles for their cultural dress
known as the Semmek. They also crafted accessories and interior
decors from abaca, pineapple, and bamboo fibers grown on the
island.
OKIR
• The word okir originated from an old Malayan word
which means carve or “ukit” in Filipino. It is referred
to as okirin Maranao, while it is called okkil in
Maguindanaon.
• The pattern now known as the okir motif has evolved
from the Indian stylized bird and naga themes, and
the Islamic tradition of using flowers, vines and
geometric patterns. Okir design is often carved or
etched on hardwood, brass and silver. It is also used
on decorative wall paintings.
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).
Architecture, Metal Crafts, and
Functional Art Forms
TOROGAN
• Found among the culture-rich groups of
Maranao is the torogan house of their tribe’s
datu and his families.
• These highly ornate houses symbolize prestige,
wealth, and rank. The wooden house is elevated
from the ground which is supported by huge
trunks of trees while the open-wide space of the
inside can accommodate numbers of its
dwellers and guests.
• The beams, doors, and windows are designed
with okir carvings called the panolong which is
the most prominent feature of the torogan. It is
a wing-like ornament on the sides of the
structure with alternating designs of a serpent
(naga) or a growing fern (pako rabong). Its
overall appearance is rectangular with a flat roof
base and triangular roof at the middle top.
Panolong
Badjao Houses