......." B'LAAN CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS AND WEALTH"......

.... B'laan Customs, Traditions and Wealth ....

      The customs and traditions of  the B'laan, while dynamic over time, appear to be very homogeneous throughout the highland region.  Among the B'laan, differences in  culture traditions become evident when highland groups are compared with  those of lowland regions.  In the contemporary context a vibrant and largely cohesive culture type, based on well establish historic traditions, can be said to exist throughout the B'laan highland region.

  *NECKLACES- (Kamagi)....Often finely 
manufactured from gold and containing a
number of precious ornaments, is indicative
of a man's  wealth and status with in
B'laan society.  The greater the number of finery
  crafted necklace (kamagi) that a man is
able to possess, the greater his wealth, status 
and position within B'laan society.

B'LAAN CLOTHE-(Saol)...Embroidered blouse
and knee length pants referred to as albang ansif
or salawal ansif, are traditional items of B'laan 
material culture worn by B'laan on special 
occations.  The B'laan blouses, which usually 
contain intricate patterns sewn, with brightly 
colored thread into the back, front and arms
of the garment, it also contains small bells,
coins , pearl, shell ring, or pieces of metal as
part of  their exterior designs.  For special
occasions and, such as wedding and celebrations.
Men also wear matching short or knee length
pant, embroidered trousers, referred  to as salwal
ansif.  The embroidered blouse and embroidered
shorts are still occasionally made.


 



*GONGS- (Falnimak)....Brass Gongs, which  are commonly referred to as Falnimak, in the B'laan language, are primarily used to accompany a dance (maral) during the marriage ceremony.  The brass Gongs (Falnimak) serve as musical instruments as a means of sounding out the community to gather for meeting or a warning signed for entruders.  It is the music of the Gongs sound out the rhythms of ancient, relationship between the earth and the B'laan people.  A guide to the Philippine cultural heritage.   Gongs, however, are not only an important source of music at B'laan wedding and other ceremonies, but also an instrument by which a man's wealth  and status with B'laan society are treasured.  The more Gongs that a man is able to obtain, the greater the man's wealth and status within  B'laan society.  Three larger Gongs, can be used to pay  the bride price or dowry (sunggod) to the family of potential future wife.

*BETEL NUT BOXES- (Bo-os)....Highly decorative boxes some are not decorative, containing the necessary substances used in Betel nut chewing, can still be found among the highland B'laan.  Small Betel nut boxes are used to accommodate the four ingredients of Betel chew, areca nut(bunga), fresh pepper leaves, lime powder (apug), and damp tobacco leaves.  These boxes, called Bo-os among the B'laan, are skilfully manufactured by various indigenous groups throughout the region.  Each
compartment contains a different substances used in  the chewing of betel nut, lime (apog) 
which is often wrapped in a leaf is blended with
a charcoal mix to produce a chewing compound.


GUF-KAFOL...Small round brass box.....
      It is made of two small round brass boxes to 
accommodate some ingredients for apog or lime powder
and damp tobacco leaves found among highland B'laan.








GUMDIK NAMA...Made of brass ware used by B'laan
in grinding betel nuts, apog, and damp tobacco
during chewing.
 




*LONG KNIFE-(Fa-is)....A Long Knife (Fa-is) is a traditional B'laan knife carried by a Fulong  (Datu).  Females and non-Fulongs are usually prohibited by B'laan custom  and tradition from carrying and or using a long knife(Fa-is).  The Fa-is is a long knife with a wooden or metal sheath.  It blade is doubled.  The handle is sometimes made of fine-grained wood or often of horn or ivory decorated with metal etchings or wood carving shell inlay.  It can be described as possessing a brass handle with numerous small brass rings on the butt.  A red and black striped scarf has been wrapped around the upper section of the sheath.







*ANIMALS...The ownership of animals, such as pigs, 
chicken and carabao, are often indicative 
of a person's wealth and status within 
B'laan society.  Only a wealthy man 
would have the  necessary resources to purchase,
own and support a few carabao.  One carabao
can be used to fulfill the  obligations of
dowry(songgod) and can be exchanged for a wi

*B'LAAN LAND...The concept of a community (banwu) includes people, land, river and creeks, hunting grounds and other geographical and human features.  The interrelationship of these features is the essence of ancestral domain.  Ownership is not a term adequately describes B'laan associations with land.  The community (banwu) used in its mist common form refers to the parcel of land with which a family group is associated.  
      The practice of inheritance among the B'laan displays many similarities to western notions of the concept.  When the elders die, the immediate living relative automatically assume custodial resp[responsibilities.  If it was necessary to partition anything, it was done among family members. Any member of the extended family is entitled to cultivate open space within the family claim.  T he elements of custodianship is a key concept of B'laan tradition among highland B'laan.
     What they cultivate is theirs.  But they can abandon this to move to other sites.  Still they continue to own it.  They can come back to it later.  They can also dispose of it to another, could be to a B'laan or to a Visayan, provided proper permission is obtained.  But such disposition is only for use it must be returned after use.  How the B'laan generally acquire jurisdiction over or secure entry land and territory.  For example;  One way is by marriage.  When a man married a girl from another locality, it is part of a B'laan custom for the husband to move residence to the place of the girl.  Another way  of acquiring jurisdiction or securing entry into land is by the payment of debts.  A third way of acquiring jurisdiction or securing entry into land is through kasfal or kasbaya, the customary exchange of goods that accompanies the settlement of conflict, the customary exchange of goods that accompanies the settlement of conflict and other social transaction.  A  fourth way of acquiring jurisdiction or securing entry into land by clearing potion of an unoccupied territory.  A fifth way of acquiring jurisdiction or securing entry into land is through inheritance, which is an accepted custom among the B'laan.

     B'laan heritage and culture, including the traditional affiliation B'laan have with the land
traditionally occupied by the Ancestral Domain Claim.  The B'laan aspire to be recognized as the traditional generations of continues occupying of land.  Preservation of  B'laan culture and heritage for future generations can only occurs of the B'laan Ancestral Domain is recognized and supported..

 

BRASS WARE JAR..... Use by B'laan in spitting.....










 *GOLD TEETH.. One manner in which to display wealth is to have one's teeth overlaid, encrusted or repaired with gold.  Other indigenous groups, are well known for their manufacture of golden teeth.  The highland B'laan are beginning to emulate this style....