Sarangani Province Indigenous Peoples groups: Blaan, Tboli, Tagakaolo, Manobo and Obo.
Blaan
Photo by Yadu Karu during the Mabal Blaan:Weaving the Threads of Heritage exhibit.
Click photo for details.
“Blaan is a coined word "bla" and "an".
Bla means counterpart or pair and suffix an expresses ownership or possession.
When joined together, Blaan, means our counterpart tribe, the To Bali
("To" is people and "Bali" is on the other side). The “To
Bali” are known today as Tboli. According to the Blaan Elders, historically,
Blaan lived closely with Tboli people.” Joven Ryan Malida, Executive Director
for Project EcaPSid for Blaan di Mtutung
Blaans are further classified based on the territories they dwell/occupy. There are Blaans that lives in the plains (Blaan Datal), those that live in the interior part of the mountains (Blaan Lagad), those that preferred to stay near the ocean (Blaan Mahin) and those that live in communities with large coconut plantation (Blaan Lam Alfo).
In Sarangani Province, the Blaans are the dominant Indigenous Peoples groups living in the only landlocked Municipality of Malungon and the coastal towns of Alabel, Malapatan, Glan as well as some parts of Maasim.
Blaans are further classified based on the territories they dwell/occupy. There are Blaans that lives in the plains (Blaan Datal), those that live in the interior part of the mountains (Blaan Lagad), those that preferred to stay near the ocean (Blaan Mahin) and those that live in communities with large coconut plantation (Blaan Lam Alfo).
In Sarangani Province, the Blaans are the dominant Indigenous Peoples groups living in the only landlocked Municipality of Malungon and the coastal towns of Alabel, Malapatan, Glan as well as some parts of Maasim.
“Among the many tribes in the Philippines, the Blaans in
Sarangani and South Cotabato are the most distinct in Region XII as they
significantly played major historical roles in the evolution of several towns
and barangays within the locality that have been named with Blaan origin.”
Click HERE for more details on this Department of Education Region 12
documentation
There are also younger generation Blaans (tubad Blaan) that are into bi-racial marriages living in the Philippines, Blaans living in other countries as immigrants, Blaans that are considered as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and Blaan missionaries living in other countries whom we call as Blaan International (Blaan di Mawag Banwe).
Tboli
|
“The traditional Tboli homeland was marked by the Calaun
(Kalaong) river. This ancestral homeland extended east from the Celebes coast to include the hinterlands of
lakes Sebu, Lahit and Seloton as well as the coastal areas of the modern
municipalities of Maitum, Kiamba, and Maasim. In the floodplains of
Allah Valley, Tbolis live side by side another indigenous peoples group, the
Blaans. Up until the present times, the Tboli has distinguished themselves in
two indigenous crafts, weaving and metal working. Their craftsmanship is
decidedly more advanced than in other indigenous groups.” – Heidi K. Gloria,
Sarangani Peoples and Culture
|
Tboli child from Falel, Kiamba. Photo by Marlon Martinez
|
Ikat Weaving among the Blaan and Tboli
Blaan Tabih weaver Lilia Tasib of Lamlifew, Datal Tampal, Malungon. Photo by Cocoy Sexcion.
“The following conventions were shared by the Tboli with the
Blaan and Bagobo: 1) the boxing-in of zoomorphic and anthropomorphic form
within lonzenge-shapes of spaces; 2) the use of bisecting bands of ikat
separately dyed red or maroon; and 3) the sewing together of separate panels to
form an essentially trilateral composition, where the center was always a broad
ikat-figured field.” Marian Pastor Roces, Sinaunang HABI
Tagakaulo
Tagakaolo in Brgy. Panamin, Malungon. Photo by Toto Terando.
“The Tagakaolo is also known as Saka, Kagan (Kalagan,
Calaganes, Calagars) or Laoc (Cole, 1913). The name Tagakaolo signifies “those
who dwell at the head of the river”. The cultural practices of the Tagakaolo
are said to be identical with those of the Kulaman Manobo and the Bagobo of
Davao.” Heidi K. Gloria, Sarangani Peoples and Culture
In Sarangani Province, Tagakaolos are predominantly concentrated in some Barangays of the Municipality of Malungon.
In Sarangani Province, Tagakaolos are predominantly concentrated in some Barangays of the Municipality of Malungon.
Sarangani Manobo and Obo IP groups photos and documentation on their costumes will be posted once data is available.
