Hibla (2017)

Lake Sebu Indigenous Women Weavers Association Inc.

SPONSOR PRIMER

VISION

The Lasiwwai Learning Institute, Inc. envisions - carrying on the dreams and aspirations of the Indigenous People, dedicated to develop and realize the potentials of every T’boli child through holistic education inculcating cultural integrity, leadership and service for sustainable development.

MISSION

To attain the vision, the Lasiwwai Learning Institute, Inc. is committed to continued updates quality of instruction thru teacher development program, strengthening sectoral linkages, weaving diverse cultureamong students geared towards developing competent, responsible and productive IP individuals.

GOAL

To train up an IP child in a way she/he should go so that when he/she is old, he will not depart from it.

Dream Weavers

The Lake Sebu Indigenous Women Weavers Association Inc. (LASIWWAI) is composed of T’boli women weavers and family members of those weavers. The members aim to improve their lifestyle, making use of education as a catalyst to enrich both youth and old in their indigenous community while maintaining their cultural heritage.

When looking for inspiration for their designs the weavers take inspiration from their dreams, hence the name “ Dream Weavers”, as they consider these dreams as signs from the god of abaca, Fu Dalu.

The women weavers of Lake Sebu do not make us of a definite meaning for their designs. Their designs are said to also identify each clan as each of them have their own design.

Today, the tradition of the t’nalak lives on through the few weavers that strive to safeguard this tradition. While it continues to represent the tribe’s uniqueness and gives a sense of pride to the T’boli, many factors affecting its production could lead to the extinction of a part of their culture.

Making the t’nalak is a skill that young T’boli women learn through their mothers, grandmothers or even sisters. Most of the existing weavers today come from a generation of t’nalak weavers that go back to their great ancestors.

In their early years, the young T’boli women are introduced to the process by first assisting in the initial stages. As they progress, they move on to the dyeing, weaving and tying of the knots.

It can take around one to five years of constant practice for a T’boli woman to fully learn the full production method of the t’nalak.

To assist in the manual stripping of the abaca fibers as well as the burnishing of the fabric, the men of the household take charge of these stages from the husbands down to the sons. The production of the t’nalak requires multiple roles that contribute to its final output.

History

LAKE SEBU INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S WEAVERS

Started in 2001 as an attempt to empower the women within Lake Seu through weaving. Started by Jenita Eko, one of the locals who studied in UP and returned, the organization’s aims were first not agreed upon by the locals. Only when the changes became visible in their community did numbers rise started to create products. LASIWWAI was recorgnized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and in 2015, formed a partnership with Ateneo de Davao Arrupe Office.

Geography

LAKE SEBU, SOUTH COTABATO

Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. Well known within is Lake Sebu, one of the mos protected watersheds of the Philippines. The lake is located in the ancestral domain of the T’boli and Ubo tribes, making it a center of indigenous culture in the Philippines.

Lake Sebu is also

Programs Women Empowerment via T’nalak Social Enterprise

Through the use of T’nalak designs in their weaving, the women weavers provide products for that and market them. The money received from this then aid their local community.

Food security via massive & intensive organic farming

Aside from making use of agriculture for foor, the organization makes use of organic materials from the soils of Lake Sebu to create their intricate designs. This project then causes the weavers to take part in agriculture as well.

Water resource conservation & management

Due to the presence of Lake Sebu as a prominent water resource in the area, LASIWWAI also aids in the conservation and managemnet of the watershed,

Nursery and Kindergarten

Networking - College Scholarship & T’nalak Design Protection thru Geographical Indication

One of the methods LASIWWAI improves the lifestyle of the T’boli people in Lake Sebu is by educating the youth and helping the local school by expanding their learnings.

LASIWWAI has interactions with other organizations and has aided the youth in their community gain scholarships. Along with their connections, the geographical identity of the T’nalak design of the weavers is now protected.

Have any questions in mind?

All counter offers and negotiations are very welcome.

The Lake Sebu Indigenous Women Weavers Association Incorporated (LASIWWAI) Contact us address: Lake Sebu, South Cotabato Province, Philippines email: tboli_tradecrafts@yahoo.com contact number: +63 926 935 9153