A Yakan is one of the 13 Moro groups in the Philippines, are originally settling in Basilan until political unrest

got hold of the island and they were forced to move to the mainland of Zamboanga. Traditionally, Yakans wear
colorful hand woven clothes but nowadays, they wear modern clothing and only wear their weaving garbs on
special occasions.
An Elder Yakan
Seeing their weaving never fails to mesmerize. With fibers made from used pinapple plants and abacca as basic
material, and herbal extracts from leaves, tree barks and roots as dyes, Yakans would weave colorful patterns
and intricate designs. Even if there are some similarities on the basic pattern, each one is uniquely made.
bunga-sama Python Pattern
Yakan weaving are inspired by patterns, like the Palipattang inspired by the rainbow and a Bunga-sama inspired
by the skin patterns of a Python. From here they play around with combination of colors.
Palipattang Rainbow Pattern
The Yakans and their weaving is another indigenous local treasure and its great to see them still thriving even at
this time. I have really high regard for their local craft that I bought almost a thousand worth of their products
not only for their quality but also to help them out on their living.
The Tboli people of South Cotabato, Mindanao is one of the most colorful and musical tribes of the
Philippines. Complicated beadwork, woven fabrics, beautiful brass ornaments, and an array of musical
instruments and dances are among the tribes distinctive attributes. Their culture is richly attuned to nature with
songs and dances that mimic from the action of animals such as their monkey dance and woodpecker song.
A Tboli performance group of 10 shared their culture and heritage during the 2013 Day Program. The group is
among the tribes finest performers and led by the famed Mafil Angkoy, master of the hegalong their traditional
2-stringed guitar. Joel M. Ganlal, Ellen C. Gumbing, Kempee D. Dalinog, Milagros M. Samuel, Marina M.
Sudaw, Faning K. Gendaw, Diosa A. Sangid, Thelma B. Inzon, and Maria D. Todi make up the group.
They featured their traditional musical instruments such as the Klintang (eight suspended gongs), Hegalong (2string guitar), Sloli (traditional flute), Kumbing (bamboo jaw harp), and Tenonggong (deerskin drum), as well
as chanting and dream weaving.
The Tnalak is a Tboli sacred cloth made from abaca. It is the best known Tboli craft and is one of the tribes
traditional textiles. The Tboli women who weave them are called dream weavers. Legend has it that the
goddess Fu Dalu taught it to the women through dreams. In fact, the women learn this ethnic and sacred ritual
based on tribal designs and cloth patterns that they experience and see in their dreams. No pattern is the same
and they are made with centuries-old practices passed down from generation to generation.
Tboli items such as native handicrafts, textiles, instruments, brass, and beadwork will be sold at the
Malasimbo Boutique.
The Maranao are famed for their sophisticated weaving and wood and metal craft. Maranao means "People of
the Lake," after their traditional territory in the area surrounding Lake Lanao in the Bukidnon-Lanao Plateau,
which is some 2,200 feet above sea level. They are one of the largest Islamic groups in the Philippines. Core
areas as Marawi City, Lumba-a-bayabao, and Bayang. The Maranao are a splinter group of the Magindanao
who took up Islam; all families trace their religious origin to Sharif Kabunsuan, who introduced the religion in
the area. Communities are clustered around a mosque and a torogan, a royal house belonging to the leading
economic household in the area. The Maranao are widely distributed and play an important role in market trade.
Besides exotic textiles, metalwork, and woodcraft, the torogan building is perhaps the most spectacular example
of Filipino secular architecture. The awang, or dugout boat used in Lake Lanao, is possibly the most unique and
ornate of dugouts. Maranao textiles, which indicate the status of the wearer, are known for their very ornate

designs and colors. The design motifs which form the basis for the okil are highly systematized. NOtable among
them are the sari-manok and naga, abstract animate forms of the cock, and dragon or snake, respectively. They
also utilize a unique tube skirt, the malong.