BRASS GONGS....FALIMAK IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

BRASS GONGS which are found in the community of PULA BATO, TAMPAKAN, SOUTH, COTABATO.,as important household element in their life and source of ethnic identities commonly referred to as Falimak in B'laan language, and are used to accompany with a dance during the marriage ceremony. The falimak or large heavy brass gongs which serve as musical instrument or a means of sounding out the community to gather for meeting or warning signal for the person who enters their community without permission despite not being invited and announcing the time of day and important occasions. It is the music of the gongs or falimak sound out the rhythm of ancient, relationship between the earth and B'laan people. A guide to the Philippine cultural heritage. B'laan men and women traditionally playing Falimak for the community, ceremonies or occasions. Falimak weighs depending on the brass used to produce sounds. Gongs or Falimak however, are not only 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 with in B'laan society. Three large gongs can be used to pay the bride price or wealth/dowry or songgod to the family of the future wife..........PHOTOS ARE NATIVE COLLECTIONS OF MY FATHER......