Dreamweaver, what is the first thing that comes into mind when you hear the word? In the paranormal realm it usually refers to a person who conjures good dreams and helps out every individual against nightmares and other stuffs that scares them during sleep. In the world of softwares and computers, it is a program that helps in building websites, eliminating the hassles of css coding and making website development easy for the programmers.
But have you ever wondered if there really is a dream weaver? Someone who fits the term in its most literal definition, a person who weaves something out from dreams. I bet you, you would have the same reaction as I did when they mentioned that in one of the stops of the annual Socsargen EXperience tour is a meet and greet with one of our nation’s few living treasures and national artists, Lang Dulay. In disbelief and excitement, the only words I was able to utter was; “Shut up!” I know that you know that I have blurted something worse than that – but had to be clean for the benefit of having a more rated GP article.
Lang Dulay or Be’ Lang Dulay as she is fondly called by her tribe is the nation’s living treasure and one of the few living national artists in the country who is still active in making her art as well as passing her legacy by teaching the women of her ethnic group. She started with her artwork at the young age of 12 which she practically experienced each step, each tedious process that is involved with weaving the T’nalak (T’nalak is the fiber strand of the abaca plant). The process starts from stripping the plant of the fibers and then coaxing the fibers into strands that are as fine as hair for the textile and then drying the threads and tying each strand by hand to finally create a “bud” which varies in forms and sizes depending the choice of dye and coloration. In T’boli culture, all women must learn the art of weaving. As they come to age, their mothers and grandmothers are required to teach them how to manipulate a T’nalak into textlies that they can use for clothing or, in the early days, a means of exchange with their basic needs like; horses, rice, food, and other items that are deemed important for their way of life; read: hunting.
Though practiced by all women of her tribe, Lang Dulay’s weaving prowess proved to be different and is set with higher regard because of its spiritual component. It is said that her weaving comes from the mouth of the Gods themselves – according to her, the Gods and Goddesses of her ethnic group would appear to her in dreams and would tell her exactly what to weave. They would show her the designs and would teach her the dying process to achieve the designs. More often than not, these designs have deeper religious and spiritual meanings and are also known to possess supernatural properties and powers.
Fudalu, the spirit of the abaca plant is known to choose whoever is worthy to own the woven masterpieces.
Her wonderful designs vary from flora to fauna with varying meanings each. During the time of our visit, her finished projects were the Serpent Eagle, which was grabbed and bought by a fellow Cebuano and a noted legal personality, Atty. Ethelbert Ouano, and the Bullfrog which was purchased by one of the delegates from manila. Other designs that she has been known to weave in the past were;
bulinglangit (a T’boli term for clouds), the
bankiring (or commonly known as the hair bangs), and the
kabangi (butterfly).
This ability and her story has earned her the name,
dream weaver, a literal terminology that describes her work – being that it comes from her dreams. Her magical and artistic interpretation of what was shown to her by the Gods either by virtue of warning her of incoming calamities and tribe enemies or just merely telling her what is the current trend and designs, is what catapulted her to grab the distinction and being awarded as the National Living Treasure and National Artist by the NCCA. Along with the award in 1998, she was also constructed a small training center by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts – and until now the Manlilikha ng Bayan Center of Sitio Tukolefa, Lamdalag, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato is still the home of the National Living Treasure and National Artist, Lang Dulay and the place where she teaches the young women of her tribe her art and her legacy. Recently, the international brand and esteemed malletier and fashion leader, Louis Vuitton, accepted as an entry to their short film lists the video that is made in her honor. Please see video below. [insert video: <iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/45344682?badge=0" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/45344682">The Dreamweaver</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/uhohjedd">Jedd Rommel</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>] Video credits:
http://www.facebook.com/TheDreamweaverFilm.
Finally, if you want to order an original piece woven by none other than Lang Dulay, you may contact her agent directly. For customized designs, it would take five (5) to six (6) months lead time, but you may ask if there are existing works that are allowed to be sold. The agent in South Cotabato, who was also our host in our visit to Lake Sebu, is
Roy Ungkal you may reach him for orders or inquiry about Lang Dulay at (0906)
693.1745.
This article is brought to you by www.cebupacificair.com. Cebu Pacific flies to General Santos once daily at 11:00 – 12:05 HH and flies back to Cebu on the same frequency at 12:35 – 13:40 HH. From General Santos City, one has to take the bus going to South Cotabato and from the South Cotabato terminal, you either have the option to take the airconditioned V-Hire to Lake Sebu or the usual local transport service, the tricycle. Travel from General Santos to Lake Sebu takes around two (2) hours.
Article by: Norman H. Ymbong | Photos: Michael Sinjin Pineda,
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