 are famous for their complicated beadwork, wonderful woven fabrics, and beautiful brass

ornaments.
Activity I. Read and Study !! CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTS AND  regard the t’nalak as sacred.
CRAFTS OF MINDANAO ATTIRE, TEXTILES, AND TAPESTRIES  traditional wedding rituals involve the exchange of this textile (t’nalak). During births, it is
1. Bilaan/B’laan
used as a cover.
 is an ethno-linguistic group that live some parts of South Cotabato,
 weavers believed that their gods and ancestors visit them in their dreams to teach them the
North Cotabato, and Davao del Sur.
designs and patterns that they have to weave.
 is a combination of two words, “bila”, which means “house,” and “an”,
 design has its own meaning such as snake, flowers, or people’s names.
which means “people.”
 are known for embroidery, brass decorations and beadwork that are
4. Maranao
integrated in their traditional clothing.
 means “People of the Lake,” referring to people who occupy the
 wear clothes woven from abaca decorated with embroidery, buttons, and beads and also cut
lands surrounding Lake Lanao.
mother-of-pearl into small shapes that look like sequins called takmunto form geometric
 famous for their artworks, complicate weaving, wood carving,
patterns.
metal craft, and their epics.
 women wear heavy brass belts with numerous tiny bells that hang around their waistline.
 are known for their malong. The malong is a traditional Filipino
These produce pleasing chiming sounds when they move.
tube skirt that is made of hand-woven or machine-made multi-
 weave highly-polished abaca textiles using the ikat process.
colored cotton cloth, bearing a variety of geometric or floral designs.
 put high value on their textiles and considered as an important part of the bride’s dowry.

5. Yakan
2. Bagobo
 Basilan is the home to the Yakans.
 are group of people that live in Davao.
 are popular for their skills in weaving.
 the name of this ethno-linguistic group comes from the words “bago” (new)
 weave very complicate designs in their textiles, which they use
and “obo” (growth).
for their clothes and other accessories.
 ceremonial attire of the Bagobos are elaborate.
 Yakan hand-loomed fabrics are known for their use of bold colors
 make these clothes from a special textile woven abaca fibers called t’nalak.
and geometric patterns.
 t’nalak is a woven from deep brown abaca treated in the ikat process to
 traditionalYakan art of weaving originated from Lamitan in the
obtain complicate designs.
island of Basilan.
 Bagani (hero/warrior) wear blood-red clothes and a head kerchief called tangkulu. These
 Yakan fabrics are traditionally used as garments.
articles of clothing represent their courage.
 blouses are adorned with floral patterns, checkered, or paisley prints.
 wear rows of bells around their waist and ankles that produce ringing sounds CRAFTS, ACCESSORIES, AND BODY ORNAMENTS
when they walk.

1. Sarimanok
3. T’boli  is a legendary bird of the Maranao.

1
  comes from the words “sari” meaning cloth or garment and “manok” for chicken.
 has become a significant symbol of Marano art.
 Is said to be a symbol of good fortune.
2. Okir
 refers to traditional and unique carving and important to any design among
the Moro ethno-linguistic communities.
 name comes from an old Malayan word which means carve or “ukit” in
Filipino.
 is referred to as okir in Maranao while okkil in Maguindanao.
 Is a general term for both the scroll and the geometric form.
 the scroll is called okir a datu (gentlemen’s design) as distinguished from
okir a bay (ladies’design), referring to the geometric forms.
 Snake bone belts to guard from pain
 Maniktegiyas – a necklace or bracelet of beads from dried fruit seeds to protect from illness
caused by evil spirits
 Maniksembulan – necklace or bracelets made of a bamboo stems cut into short pieces;
serves as added protection
Functional articles:
 Pegupaan – bamboo container for chewing betel nut
 Lutuan – a small bronze box with engravings carried at the waist
4. T’boli Accessories
 Hilot is a heavy brass belt worn by women during festivals.
 The T’boli nobility wear it with bracelets and anklets, furnished with ball-

3. Face Makeup and Body Ornaments bearings that make a sound as the wearer walks.

 a distinct form of visual arts of the Yakan is the facial make-up applied on  The bells that are hung from the distinctive brass or beaded belts signal

brides and grooms. the approach of a woman.

Wedding attire:  SuwatImimot is a wooden comb with colored glass beads

The bride and groom wear different accessories. worn toward the back of the head.
Male
 Pis – hand-woven head cloth; worn as symbolic protection from spears or knives
 Kandit– 15-m belt or sash made of gilim(red cloth) 5. Brass Making - Kulintang

 Shirts that are believed to be bullet proof with Arabic script designs prepared by imams and  The kulintang is a musical instrument composed of eight different – sized

hadjis brass gongs laid upon a wooden rack.

 It is made of brass with complicate designs and embossed top where it can
Female be hit by a wooden mallets to produce music.
 Short skirt over trousers

Both
 Saruk – hat worn to add elegance

Ornaments:
 Crocodile tooth necklace for fortune ARCHITECTURE

 Triangular amulets with symbols wrapped in black cloth (anting-anting) against bullets 1. Torogan

2
  is the ancestral house of the upper-class Maranao.
 is the dwelling place of the datu along with his wives and children.
2. Panolong
 is a wing-like decoration of a torogan flaring out from the beams.
 this okir carving usually features the naga or serpent, pakorabong or
stylized fern, as well as floral and star-and-bud motifs.
3. Badjao Houses
 the Bajau, also known as Sama-Bajau, are the “Sea Gypsies” or
nomads of the Sulu Sea.
 source of livelihood is fishing and hunting, thus, most of them live in
boat houses or houses on stilts around the Sulu archipelago.
4. The Grand Mosque of Cotabato
 largest mosque in the Philippines, the Sultan Haji HassanalBolkiah
Masjid or also known as the Grand Mosque sitting near the idle
banks of Tamontaka River.
5. Fort Pilar of Zamboanga
 also called Real Fuerza de Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Zaragoza,
 was founded in 1635 and still stands strong until today.
 was built to protect the people from pirates of the Sulu Sea.
6. Monastery of the Transfiguration of Bukidnon
 is located at top of the hill of Malaybalay, Bukidnon,
 a pyramid-like structure designed by the National Artist for
Architecture, Leandro Locsin.
7. Santo Rosario Church of Camiguin
3
 is located at the town of Sagay, Camiguin Island.
 original church was built in1882 using coral stones,
 was retrofitted (make repair) with steel bars using modern building
techniques.
 unique things you can find in the church are the driftwood
chandeliers and altar.
 builders used local materials, particularly woven bamboo skin which
highlights the local traditions of the island.
SCULPTURES
1. Maitum Jar
 is an earthenware (clay) jar for secondary burial from
Sarangani province.
 is not only artistically significant; but also hold key
information of historical and anthropological importance.
2. T’boli Wood Carving and Brass Casting and Pottery
 Wood carvers get their inspiration from the wildlife in their local
area.
 Artisans use the lost-wax casting method to produce more copies of
sculpture with complicate designs such as bells, boxes and figures.
 The mold is made from wax then using this mold, covers it with
clay.
3. Maranao Wood Carving and Metal Casting
  Rarub-A-Klong is a metallic protective armor of Moro, made of brass
plates, carabao horn and interlocking ringlets.
 Kampilan is a single-edged steel sword with a handle made of hand
carved ivory in a form of the head of the naga or serpent, handcrafted
gold, and hanged horse hair at the bottom of the handle.
2. Vinta
 is a sailboat traditionally made by the Badjaos who live in the Sulu
archipelago.
 consists of several colors and geometric shapes, representing the
colorful culture and history of the Muslim people.
 is small and not meant to be used for long ocean travel.
 is used for transportation and livelihood activities such as fishing
and diving for pearls.

 Batige is a large manually carved wooden top inlaid with mother-of-pearl used
by adult males to test their skills and strength. Activity 2: Looking Through…
Directions: The following are the arts and crafts from the specific places of Mindanao. Identify the
characteristics of each picture by choosing your answers from the word pool.

Regarded as sacred Represented the culture of Muslim

Used to travel for trade Used bold colors and geometric patterns
Wing-like ornament of torogan
 Kendi is a heirloom (pamana) teapot or kettle used for hot water, coffee, or
tea.

 Gador is a large intricate tobacco container decorated with white metal PICTURES PLACE OF ORIGIN CHARACTERISTICS
which is an item of interior decoration in proper Maranao households.
Example:
- used for hot
Lanao
water, coffee or
FUNCTIONAL ART tea
1. Balanghay
 also known as balangay or Butuan boat, is a large wooden boat used
for cargo and raiding purposes by the pre-colonial Filipinos to traverse
the seas for trade or migration.
 It serves as evidence that Butuan played a central role in trade.

4
 Butuan Lanao

1. 2.

Basilan

3.

Cotabato

4.

Sulu

5.

Activity III. Drawing Okir Designs

Directions: Below are the two kinds of Maranao Okir designs. In a piece of bond paper, choose one
and draw Okir a Datu or Okir a Bay.

5
 Okir a Datu Okir a Bay

Questions to Answer:

1. Which okir design is easier to draw? Why?

2. How did the activity help you appreciate Maranao art style?
3. What values did you learn from the okir design-making activity?