T’NALAK: GODDESS OF DREAMS

Deep in the southern part of the Mindanao island of the Philippines lives the
T’boli, among the many other indigenous people residing in the lush
outskirts of this tropical country.

The T’boli is known for donning uniquely colorful clothing, bracelets,

earrings, swords, intricate beadwork, and brass ornaments. But they are
most known for weaving a special kind of textile called T’nalak, made from
manually-loomed abaca strands.

The T’boli people believe that the T’nalak patterns are revealed in the
dreams of its women weavers in their sleep by their goddess, Fu Dalu, the
spirit of the Abaca. These women, dubbed “Dreamweavers”, trust in the
divinity of their visions. They would immediately weave the patterns into
textiles from memory. T’nalak could then be exchanged for goods and used
in rituals or treated as a valued possession.

You have to respect the T’boli’s Dreamweavers for holding onto their
dreams and making them into a reality. When was the last time you
believed so strongly in your dreams that you made them happen?

Sources:
Escalona, K. Why Women of the T'Boli Tribe in the Philippines Are Called
Dream Weavers. Retrieved From:
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/why-women-of-the-tboli-
tribe-in-the-philippines-are-called-dream-weavers/. Accessed 2020