T'nalak: Fabric of bravery and love

Sun.Star: Koronadal, South Cotabato -- As most artists believe, people usually find identity in the clothes they wear. Amusingly, many people wear designer clothes and accessories as a fashion statement, not even caring to know where it came from or how it came into being. Ukay-ukay may ring a bell, but, that would be another story. Take the case of that fabric distinct with ethnic patterns that has reached even the international fashion landscape, but only a few would know its name and how it was woven from abaca fibers to produce a cloth fit for a royalty. Many celebrities are seen donning it either as a vest or just an accent in clothing or bag, implying that the one wearing it has gone to far Mindanao. But, where in Mindanao? Would they know the fabric is called T'nalak and that it was woven from abaca fibers? T'nalak, a unique yet colorful way of weaving the abaca cloth by the T'boli tribal communities in South Cotabato, has gone beyond mere cloth weaving or art itself. Residents of this resource-rich province have taken pride of the t'nalak as being reflective of South Cotabato's varying regional and ethnic cultures, belief, dialects and art woven together to form a wonderful tapestry. Nimfa Estabillo, South Cotabato information chief, said it is with such appreciation that residents of the province go out of their way each year to celebrate a weeklong T'nalak Festival in observance of the founding anniversary of South Cotabato. South Cotabato turns 41 on July 18 with festivities going on since a week ago. The T'nalak Festival, now on its 8th year, started in 1998 when then President Ramos declared abaca weaver Bey Lang Dulay, a T'boli native from Lake Sebu, as a "Living Treasure on T'nalak Weaving." Hand-made, a t'nalak cloth takes months to accomplish. Colorful geometric patterns are typical in T'nalak designs. South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance Fuentes explained how the t'nalak cloth best typifies the people of South Cotabato, saying that the strong white abaca fibers could represent the people's honest intentions. The t'nalak's rich black and deep reddish-brown strands are dyed with herbs extracts of permanent colors -- red for bravery, commitment and love. The black strands represent the struggles and hard beaten-era of pioneers which developed among them a strong character and perseverance. Like the people of South Cotabato, the t'nalak was subjected to heat and beating process to achieve flexibility and better quality cloth, Estabillo said. Next time you wear the t'nalak, don it with pride. With t'nalak, it is not only clothes you are wearing, Fuentes quipped. - Sun.Star