B'LAAN HAT.......SA FING ULO IN 'LAAN LANGUAGE

B'laan, an indigenous group that is concentrated in Pula Bato, Tampakan. Men and women B'laans worns hat made of soft bamboo and decorated with nito vine with pointed tips. It is useful and necessary to covering for the head to protect themselves from heat that protects the face from exposure to the sun or on bad weather. They worn hat every time they work for long hours in the fields. Without knowing it, I

have collected some hats and hang in the wall in our house. Every time I'm in trip to the B'laan community, I'm looking for hat and some accessories for my collections, and it attracts interest on me, It made me smile while trying wearing hat on my head. It has a unique qualities are rarely admired. This hat is very important to the Philippine way of life and for environment. I collect B'laan hat for practical used primarily as protection from the sun and rain. I highly value the creation and design and weaving process. I admire the indigenous designs by using bamboo strips with nito vine..........PHOTOS POSTED ARE MY COLLECTIONS.........

B'LAAN HOUSE......GUMNO IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

HIGHLAND B'LAAN HOUSES were stood near to kaingin field, spread widely but insight pf one another. Many of the ancient techniques and methods associated with house construction are still evident in the contemporary period. The man is the house builder, assisted by other men, who repays with similar services. Generally, men collect building materials from the forest when necessary and are responsible for constructing and maintaining structures. However, found out that the B'laan woman are also involved in housing building. Traditionally, Highland B'laans, their best time to built a house is during full moon. It is

believe that facing the morning sun will bring lack upon the famiy who live permanently as a resident. The tribes believed in spirits borne from nature, and a house cannot be built without performing rituals permission from spirits. B'laan house is built by using materials...wood, bamboo laths, cogon grass and rattan. The posts and beams are made of round timber. The roof, is a permanent feature of the house, is made of dried cogon grass tied on the net work of bamboo laths. Floor are made of bamboo laths while Walls are made of bamboo strips, and floor are made of bamboo laths. Rattan strips, are used to secure building components together. Wide opened windows to provide ventilation made of bamboo laths and door is made of bamboo laths. In the corner of the house, one finds the cooking place. The used of fire wood burning was important part of B'laan life for cooking. The B'laan people rely solely on fire wood as main source of energy for household cooking and important source of cooking fuel in the community. A part of the house was the basket or boon, utensils and with rice supply. On the walls of the house are hung long knife, spears, and weapon. And the other side of the house, was for women hand woven room and used for sleeping.............

B'LAAN WOMEN LONG HAIR......LEBON TAHA WAK IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

B'LAAN WOMEN OF PULA BATO SAYS, HAVING A LONG HAIR MEANS BEAUTIFUL.......Most of them, have never cut their hair ever since they were born. Long hair is a hair style where the hair is allowed to grow to considerable length. Women in culture remained with longer style, which for them, showed freedom, simple, respect, health and sign of Filipina woman.......In the past, Highland B'laan elder women, coconut or alfo was very important fruit for them. While bathing in creek, the elder woman chewed coconut fruit to produced coconut milk and apply in the scalp to the hair, and let the hair set for a few minutes and rinse it off. They are using coconut milk as shampoo to makes the hair relieve and for hair growth and beautiful hair comes from the scalp after all. For them, long hair is something valuable and is something beautiful for many reason in society and as part of their identities among women. They took care of their hair very vigorously, to the point they saw their hair as an ornament to be taking care of, and they had a beaded comb to groomed themselves. To them, long hair is what makes them true women.......New generation,

some children and youth B'laans, influence others of cutting their hair in short. They believe that woman should be able to choose who she is, and wants to be......Some used shampoos to repair damage and hair growth, makes their hair strong, shinny, and all day beautiful long hair. I appreciates B'laan women, they remained beautiful with longer hair style....... PHOTO POSTED ...... MY OIL PAINTING COLLECTIONS...B'LAAN WOMEN.....

FLINT.........BOTOTITIK IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

FLINT OR BOTOTITIK was a very important resources and object of trade among the Highland B'laan. Flint, which was used to produce a spark in the lightning of fire, was a valuable and highly prized substances used by every Highland B'laan family. Flint would be mined from various outcrops and then traded and exchanged for other valued items, such as clothes and etc. Since the introduction of matches in the Highland region, flint has been considerably devalued. The flint is given freely, without any form of compensation or payment, to anyone who might require it. The process of the fire making among the Highland B'laan consisted of striking two pieces of flint together until sparks are produced. Crystals or steel can also be struck against the flint in order to produce sparks. The sparks would be directed into a cotton like fiber, obtained from the center of palm trees. The sparks would then catch the fire in the dry basag or cotton like fiber and produce flames.......

CHEWING.........GIL ALU MAMA IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

Highland B'laan have been chewing for so many years, and popularly important past time of the lives of the B'laan people of Pula Bato, Tampakan, South, Cotabato. The substances used in chewing, the ingredients are, betel nut or bunga, fresh pepper leaves vine or buyo, lime powder or apog and damp tobacco leaves. Chewing of betel nut, lime powder is often wrapped in a fresh pepper leaf and damp tobacco are blended with lime powder mix to produce a chewing compound. When chewing the substances, find the red saliva and blackened teeth resulting from regular use. It is an old tradition, enjoyed by the Highland B'laans of both genders, that provides mild stimulation and sweating of the breath. They believe the chewing of betel, tiredness when they work for long hours can make them feel better. Because of the tobacco like taste good and hot bring effects, that users keep warm and alert so long as they are chewing. Betel nut was the most important social act among the Highland B'laans. Men and women B'laans carried the necessary ingredients with them in little special basket or pouches or in betel nut boxes ready to share these with friends and relatives. Among Highland B'laan tribe, many of whom continue to take part in traditional rituals, and they believe that betel nuts are seen as powerful medicine, and conside

red to be an effective home remedy. Children and youth no longer follow the custom of betel chewing. But some Highland B'laans continued their cultural practice of chewing betel nut for social custom, and cultural rituals....PHOTO POSTED ...MY OIL PAINTING COLLECTION......

B'LAAN BRIDE PRICE OR WEALTH.......SONGGOD IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

BRIDE PRICE, refers to money or goods that are paid by the potential of future groom or groom's family to the potential future bride wife or to the wife's family. Among Highland B'laan, the term songgod is used to refer to bride price or wealth. In B'laan society, the future groom pays the father of his future wife on specified amount.This amount usually consists of two kamagi or four horses, hand woven upper garment and knee length, carabao and brass gongs. The monetary value of one horse in the Highland B'laan region is equivalent between 5,000 or 6,000 pesos. A Fulong exchanged one kamagi for a horse worth 6,000 pesos.The horse is exchange for one brass gong or falimak...........SONGGOD AND LOSS OF LAND.....Highland B'laan claimed that, in times of economic difficulties, they would mortgage or sanla their lands at a low price to Visayans so they would have money for the songgod. Since they could not redeem the mortgage, they would normally lose their lands by default. The selling of land did not happen immediately. At first, they mortgaged their kalyak or material goods, before selling them. When the B'laan dimenised their supply of kalyak, they mortgaged their carabao,and horse. Then when the carabao and horse were gone, they dispensed of their lands, either through sanla or sale. Economic difficulties were the predominant motive for kalyak or material goods and land disposition. Economic difficulties arose, as previously noted, when money was required for the payment of singgod. However, land has been lost through or an account of the payment of songgod in marriage negotiation........DIVORCE can be a voluntary decision on the part of the married couple. In case no songgod is returned, where the wife leaves the husband, she is compelled by costummary law to return the songgod. Where the wife abducted by another man, the man who abducted the woman should repay the soggod to the woman's original husband. If this action is not undertaken, then a dispute or conflict is likely to occur. The consideration of the songgod is fundamental in determining who should get custody of particular children. It is considered a reward of the girls are given to the father, since he receives songgod from the potential groom before the girls marriage. He takes their songgod when it is their turn to get married. This can be a device to discourage the husband from leaving the relationship on the occasion that wife does not want to separate from the husband......SONGGOD ARE......KAMAGI,

HORSE, CARABAO, HAND WOVEN UPPER GARMENT OR KNEE LENGTH PANT, AND BRASS GONGS.....

B'LAAN MARRIAGE.........B'LAAN SAMSUNG

Traditionally B'laan marriage still o

ccur in Highland B'laan, of Pula Bato.......POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGE, where a man is permitted to marry more than one woman, are permitted and are even condoned among the Highland B'laan.....AS A RULE....A young boy does not take a wife of his own choosing. Having decided upon a suitable girl, he informs his parents and relatives he may wish to accompany him when he goes to her home. Upon arrival at the house, the father of the boy expresses his belief that his son wishes to reside there since he now asks the daughter for his wife. In reply he told that the family is poor, having neither gongs, animals, or other things of value. The boy or the suitor at once makes an offering of some of these desired articles, but whatever the gift may be, a returned present equal to half it's value must be made. Both families are well aware of and favorable to the expected wedding sometimes before the visit of the grooms parents. After the exchanging of gifts, food is furnished first to the quests and later to the couple, who in the presence of all the families, feed each other with rice and are hence forth considered as husband and wife..........MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT..........Arrangement between two families, by searching for a marriage partner. The parents of the groom look for a prospective bride. There is no clear age range, sometimes, unborn child female. The transaction becomes automatically nullified if the new born child is a male. Similarly, marriage arrangement upon them being of the approximate sexes. The tanda or signals the start of the giving of the songgod or bride price while the child are still small. The exchange of komot or malong, which as the children have grown, the second stage of the marriage arrangement, which is referred to as alminti or commences. At this point, the amount of the desired songgod would be revealed. The exchange of goods might also begin. The third stage, which is referred to as the mao mulo or the proper marriage, follows the alminti. During this stage, the formal exchange of the songgod commences. Most of the goods and or money desired by the bride's part is completed with by the groom's party. Expensive songgod, such as carabao, horse, and expensive kalyak or materials goods and or money to the groom's family, However, this is usually equal to half the value of the songgod or bride price. When some of the songgod has not been delivered, an agreement would be reached on the specific date when the debt would be settled. The setting of the settlement date is referred to as mikat butang. If the no songgod is received on the given date, another kasfala process begins. The whole process of giving and receiving songgod is called kasfala. When a family cannot afford to deliver the required songgod, the Datu or Bong Fulong's assistance is solicited. Often, the Datu would voluntarily intervene, either by providing the material requirements or by facilitating the bargaining process. However, this intervention is left to the discreation of the Datu....During the marriage ceremony, the bride often a komot or malong and a comb, the groom wraps a tubaw or scarf or otob on the head, hangs a komot on his shouders.......MAFAS .....ONE TYPE OF MARRIAGE.....By embarrasing the woman. The man who embarrassed woman would be brought to the Fulong and pleading guilty. meted with appropriate fine. The fine would become part of the songgod if the embarrassed woman agreed to a marriage. If not, the fine is collected by the aggrieved party. If the embarrassed woman is ready married, a conflict between the desirous man and the woman's husband is likely to result. The payment of the fine to the woman's husband, can prevent a violent confrontation between the two men. In some instances, a challenge is issued by the husband against the offending man is not found is not found by the husband, he may keep the woman as his wife. However, if the man is found, a physical conflict would result. The victor would then be entitled to marry the woman or retain his wife........