B’LAAN - The Balian or B’laan is a tribal community of Southern Mindanao, the name of this indigenous group comes from the words Bla and An, meaning Opponent People. - They are famous for their rich and colorful cultural heritage, ethnic art, and handcrafts like brass ornaments and traditional beadwork. - Colorful native costumes woven from abaca and decorated with embroidery, buttons, beads, and heavy brass belts with numerous tiny bells are worn by the women of the Balian, making their approach heard, even from a far distance. - The sequin-like capiz shells called takmon are used to give a distinct design and color to their clothes; among the women, the intricately beaded wooden comb, the swat san salah, is a must - It is believed that the designs were imparted to the dreamer through the l’nilong (fairies), who are considered guardians of nature. MALU or D’WATA - The great Creator. - They believe that there is only one supreme being that rules the cosmos and in the existence of a soul. - Bilaan men wear their hair long and have tattoos on their back, chest legs And arms, some of the main characteristics practiced by men and woman of this tribe is the shaving of the eyebrows and the blackening of their tongues and filed incisors. B’LIT BILAAN - Ritual dances. - Musical instruments, like wooden lutes, flutes, and bamboo tubes with strings are used extensively with their rituals and dances. - A courtship dance of imitating the movements of the male and female dance during mating season. B’LAAN IN SOUTHERN COMMUNITY Hand Woven Mat - Floor marks a sacred space. - A story told on a B’laan mat must tell the truth. - These mats are also spread out to mediate conflicts by tribal leaders named Datu or the tribal elders. - To protect their property and secure themselves from intrusions, most marriages are limited to close relatives; cousins are allowed to marry each other within this community. MANDAYA - The Mandaya indigenous group is known for their elaborate and vibrant culture that has been preserved from successive generations and has withstood the colonization that the country surpassed. - The term “Mandaya” comes from the word man, meaning “firs,” and daya, meaning “upstream.” In combination, Mandaya means “the first upstream people” and refers to the indigenous group’s language, traditions, customs, and beliefs. - Culture of dreaming one of the exciting aspects that makes the culture of the Mandaya distinct from other indigenous groups in the country. - The Mandaya are famous for dagmay. - Dagmay is a handwoven textile made from abaca. The abaca is the extracted fiber from banana leaves. - The motifs of traditional Mandaya design include curvilinear, diamond, cross, trellis, and crocodile patterns. T’ BOLI - The T’boli are concentrated in Kiamba, Maitum, and Surallah in South Cotabato. - Their cultural heartland lies in the highland lake complex: Cebu, Selatan, and Lahti Lakes. T’boli, B’laan, and Tiruray belong to a single language group and are distinct from the other languages of Mindanao. References: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaan_people https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/400538960588380539/ https://www.campbernardino.com/blog/warmth-camp-bernardino-de-lavigan-offers http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/ethnic-groups-in-the-philippines/tboli/
