Lumad Textiles from Abaca
1. t’nalak – T’boli (South Cotabato)
2. mabal tabih – Blaan (South Cotabato)
3. inabal – tagabawa-bagobo (Davao del Sur)
WEAVING FOR CENTURIES. Did you know that people settling near Maguindanao in Mindanao were weaving abaca cloth as early as the 1686 or 17th century? That was 700 years ago!
The Lumad groups, referring to the indigenous, non-Moro, or non-Muslim ethnolinguistic groups of Mindanao, have cultivated abaca (Musa textilis) for their traditional clothing. Others use commercial cotton cloth embellished with embroidery, beads, and shell discs.
CHECK OUT THE INFOGRAPHICS! Aside from the featured here, do you know other lumad textiles made from abaca?
January is celebrated as Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month to promote textile production using natural textile fibers, technologies, and industries in the country. Don’t miss visiting your National Museum of the Philippines in Butuan. It is open from 9 am-4 pm, every Tuesday thru Sunday. See you!