2016, the new beginning

New year has just ended!!! New beginning, fresh starts and promises of brighter future. May this 2016 add a beauty and freshness into our life. Wish my family and friends of joyful, bright, healthy, prosperous and happiest 2016 and I also wish all the negativity and difficulties also end, bring success for beautiful tomorrow. Everything about the future is uncertain, but one thing is for sure that God had already planned all our tomorrows, we just have to trust in Him. No one go back in time to change what happened, so work your present make yourself wonderful. You are supposed to forgive all those who hurt you and open to new relationship with open arms. Let 2016 be our dreams comes true so with a joyful heart, let go of the past and start of new......... I would like to greet, on behalf of the entire B'LAANS. I wish everyone peace, happiness, freedom from sort of danger and preservation of loving kindness toward one another. Hope of a change for better, feeling secure both physically and mentally. I wish you all to become good citizens who will promote the image of your motherland......

PROUD OF B'LAAN PEOPLE

I GREW UP IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TAMPAKAN, SOUTH COTABATO, MINDANAO, AND I HAVE MANY MEMORIES OF THE B'LAAN COMMUNITY. I'VE LEARNED SOME B'LAAN LANGUAGE AS WELL, AND THEIR CULTURE AND TRADITION. SINCE CHILDHOOD, I APPRECIATE B'LAAN PEOPLE OF FULA BATO, BECAUSE I CONSIDERED THEM AS GOOD PEOPLE. I DON'T DISCRIMINATE THEM OF WHO THEY ARE, BECAUSE

THEY ARE ALSO CHILDREN OF GOD, ONLY OF DIFFERENT IN TRIBES. I WAS INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AND TRADITION.............I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS HOW EXCITING IT WAS. WE BEEN THEIR IN THE COMMUNITY WITH MY FRIENDS, ASKING ABOUT THEIR SITUATION. MY B'LAAN FRIEND TOLD US THEY WERE FINE, AS LONG AS THEY HAVE FOOD TO EAT DURING THEIR MEALS. THEY WERE HAPPY TOGETHER WITH THE FAMILY ALTHOUGH THEY LIVE IN A TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE....THEY WANT TO SHARE WHATEVER THEY HAVE AND WE APPRECIATE THEM. WHILE MY B'LAAN FRIEND WAS BUSY TELLING HER STORIES, I'M AMAZED OF B'LAAN WOMAN CARRYING BOON BASKET WITH CHICKEN AT HER BACK, ONE B'LAAN WOMAN CARRYING BOON BASKET FULL OF YOUNG CORN ON HER HEAD AND OTHER WOMAN CARRYING BOON BASKET OF FRUITS IN HER ARMS.....THEY COOKED FOOD TO US INCLUDING CHICKEN TINULA MIXED WITH BANANA UBOD. OUR PLATES USED WAS THE PSEUDO STEM OF A BANANA, AND WE'RE USING HANDS DURING EATING. FOOD WAS DELICIOUS AND WE ENJOYED VERY MUCH WITH THEM. THANKS TO THE B'LAAN PEOPLE FOR BEING NICE TO US.........WE ALSO BROUGHT SOME GIFTS, DISTRIBUTED TO EACH ONE OF THEM AND I FELT THEY WERE ALL HAPPY AND EXCITED. THE GIFTS WE SHARED, MAKES THEM HAPPY AND SMILE. THOSE LITTLE THINGS, FOR THEM IT MATTERS THE MOST. THAT'S WHY I NEVER TIRED OF DOING LITTLE THINGS FOR THEM.........I'M SO LUCKY TO HAVE A B'LAAN FRIENDS LIKE THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE HOSPITABLE AND GENEROUS. WHILE DISTRIBUTING THE GIFTS, SOME B'LAAN MEN AND WOMEN, PERFORMED THE MARAL DANCE, PLAYED IN A VARIETY OF UNIQUE INSTRUMENT LIKE TWO STRING GUITAR ACCOMPANIED BY GONGS AND WITH THEIR TRADITIONAL SONGS, AND WITH BEAUTIFUL HAND WOVEN FABRIC WHICH TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS TO FINISHED AND ACCESSORIES. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO SEE THEM DANCING IN FRONT OF US....................I'M PROUD OF B'LAAN PEOPLE OF FULA BATO, THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO MY HAVING A GREAT INTEREST AND PASSION, MADE ME INSPIRED ON MY PAINTINGS ON CANVASS ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AND TRADITION....I HAVE COLLECTED SOME B'LAAN COSTUMES, BEADED BELT, BEADED COMB, EARRINGS, BEADED BRACELETS, BANGLES AND SOME BRASS MATERIALS.........MY PAINTINGS AND MY WRITINGS ABOUT B'LAANS ARE MY EXPRESSION OF MY DREAMS AND MY IMAGINATIONS.... THANKS TO MY B'LAAN FRIENDS FOR THE TIME, WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION, I COULD NOT CLEARLY RECOGNIZED AND APPRECIATE IT'S IMPORTANCE ABOUT B'LAAN CULTURE AND TRADITION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THEIR CULTURE AND TRADITION MAKES THEM UNIQUE AND DISTINCT. SOME B'LAANS ARE ILLITERATE OF THEIR RIGHTS......WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM AND PROTECT THE RIGHT OF THE B'LAAN PEOPLE.....MY BLOG IS NOT COMPLETE RECORDS OF B'LAAN PEOPLE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT B'LAAN CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.......THANKS FOR READING MY BLOG..........PHOTOS POSTED ARE SOME OF MY OIL PAINTINGS ON CANVAS......THE B'LAAN TRIBE........

GOLD PANNING SORTING OF GOLD

B'LAAN ARE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF FULA BATO, TAMPAKAN. SOUTH COTABATO, MINDANAO.........B'LAAN MAN MANUALLY PROCESSED GOLD IN THE FULA BATO RIVER BY THE USED OF PAN MADE OF HARDWOOD. ONE OF THE SIMPLEST WAY TO EXTRACT GOLD, AND POPULAR TO THE B'LAAN PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES VERY MINIMAL EQUIPMENT TO GET STARTED. AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A PAN, A STREAM OR RIVER AND DETERMINED TO FIND GOLD. THEY PROCESS GOLD WITH MERCURY, A TOXIC METAL, RISKING A HEALTH DAMAGE FROM MERCURY POISONING. ONCE SUITABLE DEPOSIT IS LOCATED, SOME GRAVEL IS SCOOPED INTO PAN WHERE IT IS THEN GENTLY SHAKEN IN THE WATER, THE GOLD SINKS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN, WHILE WASHING AWAY LIGHTER STUFF THAT RISES TO THE TOP. ALL THAT IS LEFT IN THE PAN IS THE HEAVIEST MINERAL INCLUDING GOLD. THIS TYPE OF MANUAL PROCESSING ONLY YIELD ABOUT 30 OR MORE PERCENT OF THE GOLD THAT IS PRESENT IN THE ROCK.....

THE USE OF OLD PANS, IS CENTURIES OLD, BUT STILL COMMON AMONG B'LAAN PEOPLE WITH LITTLE FINANCIAL BACKING. THIS TYPE OF WORK, CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH FOR THE FAMILY INCOME. ITS NOT EASY TO FIND GOLD IN THE RIVER, CONSUMED A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF WORK.....................PHOTOS POSTED ARE MY COLLECTIONS................

THE B'LAAN SONG........DAD B'LAAN FLALUK IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

IN B'LAAN SONG..NIMO GU KRUON...............NUN LINGU GU BILA MAYU GURU...GIT TASU NIMU GUBI MIN AMDU...NIMO GU KRUON LUM ABLI DIDTO...KAL NAW AMGU A FEW LUGU GULA...SIKUF GUREGU BUG AM AGU BANILI...SATU DU NIMO GU KRUON LUM...ABLI DIDU KALNAWAAMGU A FEW............IN TAGALOG SONG..GAGAWIN KO ANG LAHAT..............MAY NA RINIG AKO MULA SA YO, MAHAL KO...AYAW MO RAW SA ISANG KATULAD KO...GAGAWIN KO ANG LAHAT MAG BALIK KA LAMANG...ANONG GINAWA KONG MALI SA YO?...BIGYAN MO PA AKO NG ISANG PAG KAKATAON... GAGAWIN KO ANG LAHAT MAG BALIK KA LAMANG...DITO SA PUSO KO.............IN ENGLISH SONG...I'LL DO EVERYTHING.........I HEARD FROM YOU MY LOVE..YOU DONT WANT SOMEONE LIKE ME..I'LL DO EVERYTHING YOU'LL BE IN MY HEART...WHAT DID I DO WRONG FOR YOU?..GIVE ME ONE MORE TIME..

.I'LL DO EVERYTHING YOU'LL BE MINE IN MY HEART....................SIMPLE SONG BY PAMI MALAYON....FROM FULA BATO, TAMPAKAN, SOUTH COTABATO, MINDANAO...........

B'LAAN LAMP......SA LO E IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

IN THE PAST, HIGHLAND B'LAAN USED KEROSENE LAMP.....CANNED LAMP OR BOTTLED LAMP ARE TRADITIONAL LAMP OF B'LAAN PEOPLE. KEROSENE LAMPS ARE WIDELY USED FOR LIGHTING AND BECOME A POPULAR LIGHTING FUEL AMONG B'LAAN COMMUNITY. MAJORITY OF HIGHLAND B'LAAN ARE USING KEROSENE LAMPS BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY NEED TO PAY MANAGEABLE EXPENSES FOR FUEL. THEY USED ONE OR THREE SMALL KEROSENE LAMPS FROM HOME MADE LAMP, CONSUME ONE LITER OR MORE FOR A WEEK....SUNDAY, WERE MARKET DAY IN THE TOWN, B'LAAN PEOPLE USUALLY GO DOWN TO BUY HOUSEHOLD NEEDS ESPECIALLY KEROSENE, WITHOUT LIGHT, THEIR HOUSE WOULD BE DARK. KEROSENE LAMP IS AN IMPORTANT HOUSEHOLD FUEL AND USEFUL FOR LIGHTING WITHOUT ELECTRICITY IN THE REGION WITHOUT LIGHT................

B'LAAN SPECIAL DRINK.......ABTEL MINOM IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

B'LAAN SPECIAL DRINK IS NATIVE COFFEE................NATIVE COFFEE IS A DARK BROWN POWDER WITH A STRONG FLAVOR AND SMELL MADE BY GRINDING COFFEE BEANS, COOKED IN A BOIL WATER MADE FROM POWDER, WHICH ARE THE SEEDS OF BEAMS, COOKED IN A BOIL WATER MADE FROM POWDER, WHICH ARE THE SEEDS FROM COFFEE PLANT COMMONLY GROWN IN THE MOUNTAIN. ONCE RIPE, COFFEE BEANS ARE PICKED, PROCESS AND DRIED...................IN THE PAST, HIGHLAND B'LAAN TRADITIONALLY SELECTIVELY PICKED BY HAND, INVOLVES THE SELECTION OF ONLY THE COFFEE BEANS AT THE PEAK OF RIPENESS. PICKING OF THE RIPEN COFFEE, PROCESSED BY DRYING UNDER THE SUN, PUT IN A MATS AND TAKES A FEW DAYS OF DRYING.IT IS MIXED BY HANDS THAT COFFEE BEANS WILL DRY PROPERLY.........TRADITIONAL METHODS OF B'LAAN...........AFTER DRYING THE COFFEE BEANS. GRINDING IN A MORTAR FOLLOWED SO THAT THE CHAFF REMOVED FROM THE SEEDS, AND USED SIFTER

IN SEPARATING THE HUSKS OF DRY COFFEE. THEN READY TO ROASTED THE COFFEE BEANS IN A FRYING PAN OR POT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AT LOW HEAT UNTIL BROWN TO DARKER ROAST, BY THE USED OF FIREWOOD...AFTER ROASTING, THIS PREPARED BY GRINDING THE ROASTED COFFEE SEEDS IN A MORTAR TO A FINE POWDER, THEN BOIL THE WATER AND ADD GRIND COFFEE POWDER. BEFORE DRINKING BOILED COFFEE, B'LAAN STRAINED THE BOILED COFFEE POWDER IN A PIECE OF CLOTH REMOVING WHICH ARE NOT MEANT FOR DRINKING SETTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POT. THIS PRODUCE A STRONG BLACK COFFEE, AND MAY SERVED IN A SARTIN CUP SWEETENED WITH SUGAR. COFFEE CONTINUES TO BE IMPORTANT COMMODITY OF B'LAAN PEOPLE, BY GATHERING OF FRIENDS, WITH THEIR RELATIVES, AND MEETINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. B'LAAN PEOPLE OFTEN CONSUMED HOT COFFEE AT THEIR HOME. IT IS OFTEN SERVED IN THE MORNING AND OFTEN SERVED IN HOT COFFEE AND PRESERVED A TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE AND CULTURE.........

B'LAAN SPECIAL FOOD.......ABTEL KNAAN IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

B'LAAN SPECIAL FOOD WAS SARDINES IN TOMATO SAUCE..........................SARDINES ARE A NUTRIENT RICH FISH COMMONLY CONSUMED BY HUMANS, AND ARE COMMONLY SERVED IN CANS. THE CANNED SARDINES ARE POPULAR AND FAVORITE FOOD FOR B'LAAN PEOPLE OF FULA BATO. THEY CONSUME IN VARIOUS FORMS, SOME B'LAAN USEBY ADDING VEGETABLES IN COOKING CANNED SARDINE. USE WITH ODONG OR NOODLES OR THEY JUST EAT DIRECTLY FROM THE CAN. THE B'LAAN PEOPLE CALLED THEM AS SARDINAS.....SARDINES ARE CHEAPER THAN OTHER CAN GOODS....EATING, PREPARING, AND SHARING FOOD HAVE BECOME PART OF THEIR LIFE. THEY ARE HAPPY TOGETHER EATING SARDINE FOR THE MEALS. EATING WITH THEIR HANDS HAS SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE HIGHLAND B'LAANS CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY UTENSILS. EVEN UP TO NOW, B'LAANS USE HANDS IN EATING FOODS. HIGHLAND B'LAAN SELL THEIR CHICKEN FROM THE MOUNTAIN TO BUY SARDINES. THEY LIVE IN THE MOUNTAIN AND THEY SELDOM EAT SARDINES THAN CHICKEN. TO THEM, SARDINES IS ONE OF THE SPECIAL AND FOOD FAVORITES OF B'LAAN IN THE MOUNTAIN.........HIGHLAND B'LAANS FAVORITE SARDINES WAS YOUNG'S TOWN, BECAUSE TO THEM IT'S DELICIOUS THAN ANY OTHER......