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

The Yoda Chair Story

May the 4th be with you or “May the Force be with you” , the famous line from the movie Starwars, meaning we wish an individual or group good will.

This year is extra memorable because on May 21, 2020 will be the 40th anniversary when “The Empire Strikes Back” premiered in 1980. We can celebrate it today along with each of our favorite characters.

Remember Yoda and imagine him being a chair. Here in the picture is the Yoda miniature chair out of the imagination and creativity of #KennethCobonpue.

I treasure this because of 2 things. First, this is a proof and a showcase of the creative hands that Filipinos have. We can trace it back to hundreds of years, through the construction of the rice terraces with our ancestors’ hands and the building of our balangays and karakoas that had crossed ocean to the creative way that our pople make our pieces of furniture now.

Second, because the box of this had a message from the designer himself. I am so grateful to him because he has given our artisans a platform to exhibit the gift of their hands by making works of art by the use of materials we can find in our country.

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

The Katmon Story

I studied High School in the town of Catmon and have often wondered how it got its name and we would tell each other, it came from a cat from the moon.

It was when I went to Baler that I finally saw the Katmon tree with it’s flower and fruit.

Dillenia philippinensis, its scientific name is a tree that is endemic to the Philippines. Its fruit is known as elephant apple and has a diameter of around five centimeters. It contains a soft, fleshy, green, and edible pulp with a flavor similar to a sour green apple.

You may look for your wallet right now because its flower is featured on the reverse side of the Philippine twenty-five centavo coin since 2018 as part of the New Generation Currency Coin Series.

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

The Bahay Kubo Story

Ever since I was a kid until today, my mother has always prefer the bahay kubo. At one point we actually had one when we were still building our concrete house now.

I have seen and have been to many bahay kubo all around the Philippines. What’s amazing is that each province have their own unique way of designing and choosing materials in building it.

This is actually our vernacular architecture. Our ancestors built houses with no nails, with materials that are abundant in the place and can even be dismantled so it can be moved to another location with the help of neighbors.

In fact the Bahay Kubo being lifted by the community when a family wanted to transfer to a new location is the picture symbol of Bayanihan.

Bayanihan is a Filipino custom, from the word “bayan” or a nation, town or community. It means, “being in a bayan”. It refers to people coming together and helping one another to achieve a common, greater goal. It promotes a culture of collaboration and empowerment of every individual through teamwork, innovation and action.

Thus, in this time of pandemic we had a new law, The Bayanihan Heal As One Act to beat COVID-19 together.

My nephew, Jesse is holding a souvenir Ifugao House that I bought in Banaue 6 years ago.

How about you, what is your dream house?

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

#NCCA

The Chicken Story

MAY IS NATIONAL HERITAGE MONTH and I am one with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts with the theme #MgaKwentongPamana or Stories of Heritage by sharing some of the stories of our heritage and I will start with chicken.

What is your Chicken Story? What comes to your mind when you hear the word chicken?

Is it your heirloom recipe of Adobo?

Is it the chicken joy from Jollibee?

Is it the chicken that is with San Pedro?

Is it the chicken blood that is marked on your forehead on your birthday?

Is it the old gallinera bench where visitors placed their chicken which are given as a gift to the owner of the house before?

Is it the Misa de Gallo or the Simbang Gabi?

Gallo’s literal meaning in Spanish is rooster. And a rooster is actually a symbol of a new dawn which all of us are hoping for in this time of pandemic.

Whatever your answer is to the questions is actually your Pamana Story of one of our natural cultural heritage.

As for my family, what we won’t forget was Chow-Chow, the pet chick of my sister that she dearly loved but died in her arms and so she buried it on our backyard with an epitaph and flowers. And since we don’t raise chicken now here’s a photo of our wooden chicken with my nephew, Rhylle.

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