BLOW PIPE.......ASFUT IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

BLOW PIPE OR ASFUT.....A weapon consisting the object inside the pipe known as blow pipe and using the force created by ones breath to give the object strength. It's force power is limited by the users respiratory muscles....Many of Highland B'laans used this weapon by blowing for hunting. Blow pipe is a tube through which dry seeds can be shot by blowing, c

onsisting of a long hollow bamboo with ethnic designs used to hold and conduct objects. Primarily to hunt small animals such as bird, and other wild life. The blow pipe is a property of individual B'laan men are also used by children for bird hunting........

SPEARS.......S-DAK IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

SPEARS OR S-DAK, a weapon consisting of a long wooden shaft with sharply pointed end of metal attached that may be thrown or held the hand to a wild animals. SPEARS OR S-DAK are often carried by Bong Fulong or Datu in order to mark their status and importance with in B'laan society. The spears is made of wood with long shaft with sharp metal pointed in tip. The spears which are approximately 190 cm. long consist of a black steel shaft. Fine bronze thread, which is made by stretching the headed metal, is often found tight around section along the base and neck of the spears. The base of the average is approximately 10 cm. long, while head of the spears is usually 30 c

m. long. The spears head, which is commonly made of polished steel, often contains of an ethnic designs...

MORTAR OR LUSONG..........SONG IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

MORTAR OR SONG is a big wooden mortar for pounding rice used by B'laans during harvesting and preparation for cooking...Rice is so important meals of B'laan people in the community.....TO START WITH......They put bundles of the dried rice stalks in mortar or song and begins the preparation process. The big wooden mortar or song was filled with rice and they begin pounding the rice, alternating hits and continuing on for about 15 to 20 minutes. So slowly that they could see the grains of rice beginning to depart from their husks. The rice then placed in the sifter or taaf or flat basket and sift to get rid of the loose husks. The rice that they pounded, many of the grains were broken from pounding process. After an hour of preparation the rice was ready to be cooked in pot over a wood burning fire. The meals of B'laan people were simple yet deicious. I truly appreciate B'laan people and I'm amazed of the quality of their rice......

RICE SIFTER OR NIGO ..........TAAF IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

RICE SIFTER OR TAAF is made of split thin bamboo and nito, made by B'laan women to sift rice, separating the husks, and small pieces that has been remove from the sifter. The B'laans of Pula Bato, are using sifter for rice to get rid of the loose husks from mortar or lusong for the preparation for the cooking. Today many of the indigenous culture continue to apply the sustainable practices and principles that they have observed for thousands of years........PHOTOS POSTED ARE MY COLLECTIONS.....

SWIDDEN OR KAINGIN........ALNIGO IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

Some contemporary B'laans of Pula Bato, Tampakan, South, Cotabato, believe that the practice of kaingin or alnigo started in the past. At that time, the men cut the trees and shrubs and after allowing them to dry, burn them. They make the hole for the preparation of planting corn or rice seeds, which the B'laan women drop seeds at the hole. Rice and corn is the first crop planted in the cycle, followed by camote or kasila, or other root crops. They could afford to leave or abandon one place after harvest and allow natural vegetation to regrow. They rely on their idea that kaingin or swidden, provides for a fertilized form, as the ashes of burnt plant leaves serve as nutrition for the soil. Aside from clearing the land, the B'laan man seldom concern themselves with work in the field but leave the cultivation of corn or agol, sweet potatoes or kasila, or other root crops and the like to the B'laan women. Most of the time, the women prepares their meals, care of the children, weaving, and decorations of clothing, when they are not engaged in the cultivation of the fields or in search of forest products.

TREE........KAYA IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

TREE OR KAYA is a woody plant, typically having a stem or trunk growing and bearing lateral branches at some distance from the ground. TREE OR KAYA is considered to be sacred among Highland B'laan of Pula Bato, Tampakan, South, Cotabato. Among Highland B'laan, it is believed that the spirit or guardian spirits inhabit these trees. It becomes absolutely necessary to cut down a sacred tree, a prayer or admasel may be used to satisfy the guardian spirit of the tree. The person who is about to cut down the sacred tree addresses the guardian spirit by saying, "PLEASE, I AM GOING TO CUT THIS TREE OR KAYA DOWN. WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAVE THIS TREE AND LIVE IN ANOTHER BAD TREE?" It is hoped that upon hearing the prayer, the guardian spirit will vacate the sacred tree without seeking revenge on the tree cutter. As an offering to the guardian spirit of the tree, some coins or beads from heir born necklace or kamagi are placed at the base of the tree. After hearing the prayer and receiving offerings, the guardian spirit is likely to vacate the sacred tree. It is believed that some sacred tree are always left unoccupied, so that the guardian spirit can transfer between trees if the tree is destroyed or chopped down by the B'laan cutter. ' '

CREEK......SBENG IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

CREEK IS SMALLER THAN A RIVER....The creek or sbeng of Fulo Bato or red stone, acquired its name because of B'laan woman La Sagum allegedly washed her Langanay fulo or red skirt at the crossing or at the junction of Pula Bato. AT the same time, she also washed her garment made of white abaca cloth. The result was that, the water or eel at Pula Bato side creek, turned red, leaving the reddish color in the stones. The stones at the Altayan creek side became white. Since then, no fish or fnait, a local fish variety, or any other fish or uton swim into Pula Bato creek. Frog or fak however, are quite productive in this area.