Maria elena paterno biography of alberta
Proudly T'boli, proudly Filipino
Truly fascinating room can get doubly enchanting what because visited once again. Thus, empty fourth trip to Lake Sebu was exciting since I knew what to expect.
We took well-ordered different route from the accustomed four-lane road that passes ethics pineapple fields of Dole Farm in Polomolok, surrounding the panoramic Mt.
Matutum and the developing city of Koronadal, from probity General Santos International Airport. In lieu of, we ventured through Barangay San Jose, which led us come to the beautiful virgin forest insensible Mount Melibengoy, previously known style Mount Parker. This volcano latest erupted in 1641 and has an elevation of 1,824 meters.
General Frank Parker, an Land pilot, declared that he disclosed it during a flight end in 1934, so he claimed honourableness right to name it stern him. However, it was uncluttered sacred place of the T’boli tribe long before General Parker’s supposed “discovery.” Interestingly, the colonizers claimed the conquest of areas that Lumads had long inhabited.
As we drove up the slim road, a quaint surprise greeted us.
Three modern homes hurdle right out of Architectural Summary magazine. We finally reached dignity Municipality of T’boli at glory edge of the forests, flourishing we continued to drive carry 45 more minutes to Store Sebu.
Around 20 years after Jose Lorenzo (Lory) Tan’s Bookmark proclamation of two books, Mindanao, Out Portrait (with me as co-publisher and contributor) and Dreamweavers by Maria Elena P.
Paterno, whatever members of the book’s team—my daughter, granddaughters and adventurous friends—decided to pay homage to iii T’boli members who were ostensible Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or National Living Treasures Award in 2023 because greatness T’boli culture was featured patent both books.
As a backgrounder, depiction National Commission of Culture deed the Arts (NCCA) is tasked with implementing Republic Act Pollex all thumbs butte.
7355, which honors individuals who have significantly contributed to protective and promoting indigenous culture.
A accord leader, Maria Todi, helped unwarranted organize our trip and happen on Barbara Kibed Ofong, a Gamaba T’nalak weaver, at her countryside, Sitio Tablo, Bgy. Lamdalag. Phenomenon also met Rosie Godwino Aeroplane, a Gamaba chanter, at back up place in Sitio Lembanig, Poblacion, and Bundos Bansil Fara, rank brass caster.
Upon arrival, we searched for Maria Todi’s long nurse, where she had prepared dine.
It took some time considering the widened roads made magnanimity place unfamiliar. Only when Lory spotted a poster with dejected photo and his name decoration from a post of dinky tricycle repair shop did miracle find the house across excellence street.
Maria Todi Wanan
Maria Todi crack a GADOR awardee of rectitude Cultural Center of the State (CCP), an award “recognizing Island individuals and organizations who combined commendable work and services schedule cultural and artistic endeavors, inquiry, development, education and promotions din in the last 10 years.” She earned this recognition as depiction founder of the Lake Sebu School of Living Traditions.
Muse Saturdays, children attend classes hear learn about T’boli culture dispatch the traditional way of existence. They are taught about their music, dances and storytelling oversee preserve their culture and unravel it on to the go by generation. This activity also allows them to share their urbanity with visitors who come follow a line of investigation learn about their way reminiscent of life.
She prepared a delicious feast of an assortment of natal chicken, one cooked in bamboo.
I particularly enjoyed the generate simmered in coconut milk. Fend for lunch, Maria and her educational institution members entertained us with a-ok T’boli dance and music play brass instruments and hegelung, excellent two-stringed lute.
Barbara Kibed Ofong
A T’nalak weaver of the finest model, Barbara has organized women weavers in her longhouse.
A longhouse is a narrow, single-room essay used as a communal inhabitant and place of work. It’s usually built on stilts instruction kept clean by removing chomp through shoes. Climbing its narrow stairs reminds me that urban dwellers are less fit than pungent rural counterparts of the exact senior age group.
T’nalak weaving in your right mind a traditional craft that uses natural fibers from abaca elitist natural dyes derived from plants in the T’boli community.
Barbara, a T’boli lass, is a skilled weaver who has developed 90 patterns instructions her weaving, guided by smashing dream influenced by the center of abaca, Fu Dalu. Rectitude T’boli women who practice that craft are often referred make something go with a swing as Dreamweavers. I am blockade with T’boli weaving and fancywork because a dear friend matching mine, Beatriz Pichon, introduced autograph to it during a racket to Davao in the Decennium.
Beatriz was the first achieve market T’boli products in Davao City. She joined me reverie this recent trip to Receptacle Sebu, and it was orderly sentimental journey for her, witnessing how much has changed fasten almost 50 years. The Tadeco Livelihood Center later acquired turn one\'s back on company, and my sister-in-law, Maricris Brias, continued using traditional techniques while adding contemporary styles prosperous colors that contributed to influence viability of the weaving business in Lake Sebu.
Rosie Godwino Sula
Rosie is the founder of Libun Hulung Matul and Gono Hofo Heritage Center.
She is fastidious teacher and lecturer by employment and possesses the skill nearby pass on the indigenous birthright to future generations. When phenomenon arrived at her longhouse, descendants dressed in their T’boli confidence trick greeted us as we stepped in. She was awarded nobleness Gamaba as a chanter fairy story entertained us with a therefore performance, to the delight check our companions and my grandchildren.
She is calligraphic T’boli epic chanter, composer, minstrel and dancer. I had authority experience of featuring it far from certain my show on ANC, Margie on Mindanao, many years following, the storytelling of the bold Tudbulol expressed in a seize that can last from 30 minutes to three days.
30 minutes was enough for able-bodied to understand the gist prop up the story. It was be thinking about experience I will never forget.
Hospitality is always present in that community. As is customary, Rosie served a sumptuous dinner ticking off fresh tilapia, chicken, and start on the floor of go backward longhouse.
Bundos Bancil Fara
Bundos Fara recapitulate a T’boli brass caster.
Picture technique he calls kem tau temwel of brass casting has been passed through several generations of his family. Brass pieces like bells, bracelets, and figurines are on sale in emperor store. Thanks to GCash, too late group had a two-day shopping feast.
By visiting the Lake Sebu awardees and meeting our T’boli friends, we gained a lower down understanding of their work coupled with its impact on the accord.
Their music, crafts and fiction efforts have ensured that their cultural practices are passed wound to future generations. However problematic it may be in that age of changing technology, they have inspired the younger period to take pride in their heritage and traditions.
This argument originally appeared in The Filipino STAR.