T'nalak
T’nalak is a venerated hand-woven cloth that originated from the T'boli communities in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. It notably has a distinguishable tri-colour scheme: white is for the pattern, red is for relief elements and, black or deep brown is used for the background. These patterns and designs pay homage to traditional T'boli folklore and stories.
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The fibers used in t'nalak weaving are gathered from the abaca tree. Upon harvesting the abaca fiber, it undergoes a tie-dye process known as kedungon. In this process of t'nalak weaving, the T'bolis believe that they are guided by a spiritual guardian named Fu Dalu.
Upon its completion, the t’nalak is then used in festival celebrations or rituals, where it serves as an offering to the spirits. Since the T'boli people still employ the barter system in their communities up to this date, they also use the cloth as a trading piece in exchange for food and supplies. Additionally, its commercialization saw many communities sell the cloth to gain financial wealth.
The Exhausting Process of T'nalak Weaving
Weaving t'nalak is a tiresome process. First off, weavers have to strip the stem of the abaca plant to obtain the fibers. This will be followed by drying the threads and tying each strand manually. As for the most intricate part of the weaving process, weavers have to arrange the strands on the “bed-tying” frame made of bamboo, where strands of the abaca fibers should be tied to create a pattern for the design.
It is a painstaking experience to weave a t'nalak as one individual roll requires it to be strategically set on a backstrap loom, in which the weaver sets a large band against their back to weave. In addition to this backbreaking experience, there are particular times of the day when weavers prefer to work on their designs. It is during the cool evenings or early mornings when the weavers work on their designs because abaca fibers get brittle under the heat of the afternoon sun. Particularly for T'boli women, t'nalak weaving is not the only task that causes tensions to their backs as women in the T'boli community also tend to their farms for additional source of subsistence.
