The Hegelong Story

I was riding a motorcycle with a local guide in Lake Sebu in search of a boat lute that’s played by the #Tboli.

Merriam-Webster: A lute is a stringed instrument having a large pear-shaped body, a vaulted back, a fretted fingerboard, and a head with tuning pegs which is often angled backward from the neck

Instruments that are called #BoatLutes have nothing to do with boats but are reffered as such because of their slender overall shape that looks like a boat.

Finally, after asking from house to house we found a maker who has an unfinished #Hegelong, the boat lute I was looking for with him. He told us that he will bring it to where I am staying the following morning.

Hegelong is a boat lute with two strings from the neck to the end. The strings are connected to tuning pegs located just above the neck and beeswax is used to attach the wooden frets.

Look and see what Jesse Elnathan is holding in this photo.

Finally, when words fail us, we can always send a message across through music. May we find the time to connect this quarantine to as many people as we can remember and maybe share a song or two to them.

#MgaKwentongPamana #NCCA #NHM #VictoryAndHumanity #500Years #Ph500 #NationalHeritageMonth

The T’boli Bangle Story

People often wear something that they like. And one of these are jewelries that are worn because they are beautiful and a way to express themselves.

These may indicate wealth, status in the society, rank, affiliation and identity attached to unique pieces of jewelry that they were known to wear.

I saw how these lovely bangles worn by my sister, Mara Guba, were intricately made by hand by the T’Boli brass makers in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Since each bangle is made by hand, they are unique with its simplicity featuring small, intricate markings.

#MgaKwentongPamana #NHM #NCCA #VictoryAndHumanity #500Years #PH500 #NationalHeritageMonth

The Bag From Basey Story

A long time ago when there were no electrical machines yet, Filipinos make their own clothes through weaving. They would plant abaca or pineapple, extract the fibers and dry them.

Then dream of the patterns before they start weaving it to wear as their second skin. Each step went through the process, each fiber important, each pattern well-thought of and that is why it was very precious.

They would also create other things like bags and baskets using different indigenous materials they can find in their town.

I observed this kind of weaving in the town of Basey, where the women in Saob Cave because of the shade and the coolness it offers which is comfortable for the weavers. The cool temperature keeps the reed grass, locally known as #tikog from breaking.

Here is a #Banago bag. If you remember the Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda, it’s local name, the sale of these bags helped in supporting local communities affected by that typhoon.

#MgaKwentongPamana #NHM #NCCA #HumanityAndVictory #500Years #Ph500 #NationalHeritageMonth

The Ambaling Ausalin Story

Timo Guba with Ambaling Ausalin’s bag

Manlilikha ng Bayan #AmbalangAusalin is highly respected for her matchless skill and knowledge of the entire weaving process and cultural significance of each creation she makes. She can bring forth all designs and actualize all textile categories typical to the #Yakan of Lamitan, Basilan.

She executed the suwah bekkat (cross-stitch-like embellishment) and suwah pendan (embroidery-like embellishment) techniques in this bag that Timo Guba is carrying.

I did not expect to see creation of our Manlilikha ng Bayan when I visited Likha-an Lundayan ng Tradisyonal na Sining at Kultura in Intramuros. I was so surprised so I bought this. I am so glad to have this Philippine treasure.

As envisioned under Republic Act 7355, #ManlilikhaNgBayan shall mean a citizen engaged in any traditional art uniquely Filipino whose distinctive skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence and have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present generation in his/her community with the same degree of technical and artistic competence.

#MgaKwentongPamana #NationalHeritageMonth #NHM #NCCA #VictoryAndHumanity #500Years #Ph500

The Batirol Story

Mama holding a batirol

Today we are celebrating Mother’s Day and one thing that I believed they do have is a magic wand. They can almost do and produce anything you could ever imagine or dream of.

Here is my Mama using her #MagicWand a.k.a. the Batirol, when she prepares #sikwate for us. The word originally comes from the Spanish root word #Batir meaning to beat and #Batidor is the whisk and here in Cebu we call it Batirol, a wooden whisk used to create froth in chocolate.

A shout out to all Mothers in the world. We love you. And just like our mothers let’s keep on whisking love at this trying time.

#MgaKwentongPamana #NationalHeritageMonth #NHM #NCCA #VictoryAndHumanity #500Years #PH500

The T’nalak Story

Dreams inspire us. Dreams push us.

But for the T’ boli tribe in Mindanao, dreams let them create the T’nalak weave. They sleep, they dream and the following day they could create a patter of a weave out of thay thus they are called dreamweavers.

T’nalak is made of abaca fiber, which come from leaves of a species of banana plant native to the Philippines. They are dyed with natural plant dyes and are handwoven.

I have witnessed the process and all the passion, patience and detail that comes with it.

I have always wantes to talk and get to know #LangDulay, one of our #ManlilikhaNgBayan, but sad to say I didn’t make it. She died in 2015 and I was only able to go in 2019. But I am very grateful for her for safeguarding this tradition and leaving it to the next generation.

I love this coin purse that I got from there because I can always bring a part of our #CulturalHeritage wherever I go.

#MgaKwentongPamana #NationalHeritageMonth #NHM #NCCA #VictoryAndHumanity #500Years #Ph500

The Bakunawa Story

Yesterday, 7th of May 2020, we had the Full Moon of May which is known as Flower Moon to signify the flowers that bloom during this month. And as I was looking at it, I remember the eclipse of the moon and the story or legend that we have about it. Here goes…

Did you know that a long time ago we have 7 moons? In this legend, we will know why we only have one now. And we will also get to know how a tribe guarded it against the hungry monster called Bakunawa.

In the ancient Banwa, the night was as bright as day time for they were blessed with 7 moons. And because they were so used to it they didn’t notice that little by little the other moons were missing.

Until one day, the mischievous boy named Bulan witnessed the Bakunawa eating the moon. He shouted and run to Banwa to warn his village but they did not believed him because he used to joke about the Bakunawa.

In the end, he was able to convince their Datu (ruler) that he was telling the truth and shared his experience and how he found the weakness of the Bakunawa which is to make noise.

So, to save their last moon, the village gathered together and prepared for the coming of the Bakunawa, they made a loud noise and it spit out the moon and lost its wings.

And that was the legend of the moon when we are experiencing eclipse, the Bakunawa swallowed the moon and spit it out after because of the noise that we make, thus, we have our moon back again.

But my question is why does the Bakunawa wanted to eat the moons? You can comment here or watch https://youtu.be/xfd4Mk3eMBs

#MgaKwentongPamana #NHM #NCCA #VictoryAndHumanity #1YearTo500Years #Ph500 #ICH #NationalHeritageMonth

The Pottery Story

Our ancestors’ collection of kitchenware like kitchen stove, cooking pots, pans, plates and bowls are made out of clay creativity or pottery.

Years and years ago, Ruson (Luzon) Jars were known all over Asia for their beauty and quality and have reached Japan as they use it for tea ceremony.

We also have burial jars like the Manunggul Jar, a late Neolithic secondary burial jar with a design that could tell us a lot of our ancestors’ way of life. You may read my story of Manunggul Jar here https://www.facebook.com/404209119689027/posts/744253182351284/?substory_index=0

Here is a photo of the pottery that I bought in Sagada Pottery Center since I can’t bring the one that I created yet.

#MgaKwentongPamana #NHM2020 #NCCA #VictoryAndHumanity #1Yearto500Years #Ph500 #TangibleMovableHeritage #NationalHeritageMonth

The Kantarines Fabric Story

They say that, Kantarines got its name from the tradition of weavers singing as they make the fabric! Definitely a textile made with so mucn joy! It can be seen by its colorful patterns.

Here is a friendship bond that my nephew Rhylle had made when they went to Anthill for a lesson of friendship and Filipino culture. Anthill is one of the social and cultural enterprises that we have in the country that’s in the forefront of preserving and promoting our weaves, the culture of weaving and the bearer of the tradition. They are operating and living their slogan,

Anthill is one of the social and cultural enterprises that we have in the country that’s in the forefront of preserving and promoting our weaves, the culture of weaving and the bearer of the tradition. They are operating and living their slogan,

Wear your pride. Wear with pride.

#MgaKwentongPamana #NCCA #NHM #VictoryAndHumanity #Ph500 #1YearTo500Years #NationalHeritageMonth

The Igorot Headdress Story

This Igorot headdress was given as a pasalubong by my friend, Kuya Binsoy Jomoc when he went to #Baguio.

I was not able to use this one outside yet, but sometimes I would wear it at home. And because I am doing #MgaKwentongPamana I can finally feature it worn by Jesse.

What I remember reading was that in ancient Visayas, men wore a head covering made of abaca which was called #pudong. And a special red pudong could only be worn by a warrior who had killed an enemy in the battle.

Would you happen to know more about the head covering of the #Igorot?

#NHM #NCCA #VictoryAndHumanity #Ph500 #500Years #NationalHeritageMonth