The Living Treasure: Lang Dulay

Our group was privileged to meet in person Lang Dulay, a National Living Treasure Awardee and a Tinalak Master Weaver.   She is now 98 years old.  Upon arriving at the center, I got thrilled to see a number of looms laid full with T'nalak.

LANG DULAY wearing a T'boli dress and ME

Our group posing inside the Manlilikha ng Bayan Center of Sitio Tukolefa, Lamdalag, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.  The center is dedicated to the preservation and flowering of the ancient art of T'boli textile weaving.   
(Picture: Me, Tita Lina, Deenia, Marilee, Tessie and  Dolly)

Lang Dulay knows a hundred designs, including the bulinglangit (clouds), the bankiring (hair bangs), and the kabingi (butterfly), each one special for the storied it tells.  Her T'nalak designs were inspired by patterns from her dreams.

Using red and black dyes, she spins her stories with grace. Her textiles reflect the wisdom and the visions of her people.  The process also includes talking to spirits before they could even get the fibers from the abaca tree. 

 Lang Dulay even at 98 years old willingly made a demo on how to weave T'nalak.  

An original t'nalak design from Lang Dulay would cost a  a thousand pesos per meter.

The t'nalak being sold here is a lot pricey compared with those being sold from other lakeside souvenir shops. But if you really want the real-deal, Lang Dulay's creation is worth the price.

An 8 meter per roll of t'nalak is intricately handwoven for four months. This is me trying how to weave.

She was only 12 when she first learn how to weave. Through the years, she has dreamed that, someday she could pass on her talent and skills to young in her community.

Upon learning that she was being considered to be one of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees, tears of joy fell from her eyes.