FU YABING MASALON DULO

“Mother to the Blaan”

 BIOGRAPHY
Fu Yabing Masalon Dulo is a Filipino textile master weaver and dyer, credited with
preserving the B’laan traditional mabal tabih art of ikat weaving dyeing. She was hailed
as a Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan awardee in 2016.

Fu Yabing Msalon Dulo was born on August 8, 1914 in Brgy. Landan Polomolok, South
Cotabato, Philippines. Her Father’s name is Kalay Masalon and her Mother’s name is
Klenen Caturan Masalon. They are 5 siblings (3 boys and 2 girls) in the family namely
(according to age): Yabing Masalon, Teko Masalon, Cansing Masalon, Guriay Masalon,
Kusing Masalon. The 3 brothers were deceased and only Yabing and her younger sister
Guriay Masalon Julie that are still alive. Yabing was married to Tabas Dulo (deceased)
and they have four children (3 male and 1 female) named respectively as Jona Masalon
Dulo, Lamena Masalon Dulo, Emelio Masalon Dulo, and Martin Masalon Dulo. Fu is the
Blaan term for grand mother whether by blood line or a respect for addressing the
elderly. Thus, she is known also as Fu Yabing. She was considered before as one of
the National Living Treasure. However, she died in her sleep on January 26, 2021 at the
age of 106.

Fu Yabing Masalon Dulo is a healer, medium, and matriarch. She is a master weaver
and dyer of abaca, her mastery is Ikat. She practiced complex method of weaving that
combines three (3) important aspects. First, encyclopedic or vast knowledge of the
forest and it’s products. Second, Precise skill that turns those products into woven
textile. Lastly, a memory committed to the myths, motifs, and symbols of her people.

Fu Yabing Masalon Dulo is a kind and tender person. She wants all her children to get
along. She is a passionate artist who incorporates her culture with the woven textiles
that she created.
 FU YABING MASALON DULO: A
HERO

Fu Yabing Masalon Dulo feels the happiest when she is weaving because she weaves
from the heart.
Fu Yabing started to weave at age 14 and was learning from her mother. Her mother
used to tell her that she must design “fangalaw” to understand all designs. She doesn’t
have her own design. The designs that Fu Yabing was making were passed down from
her grandmother, to her mother, and lastly to Fu Yabing, herself. She meticulously
records every step her mother takes when working on the abaca, and she faithfully
adheres to the forms and designs so that her work resembles her mother's in every
way. She does the Mabal Tabih when her family members are away attending to the
farm and other family business concerns since she dislikes being interrupted when
working. At the age of 14, she developed her Mabal Tabih skills, and she has continued
to follow in her mother Klenen's excellent weaving footsteps ever since. She still carries
her first Tabih (Gnandong design), which was completed when she was just 14 years
old, with great affection. Until she was married and had children with the man, she
continued to pursue her interest in Mabal Tabih.
Despite the big influence of the catholic when she was younger, Fu Yabing as an
animist together with her husband, while some of her friends converted. The abiding
connection to the ways of ancient Blaan that makes for the totality of Fu Yabing’s
personhood, made her stay. She is a weaver but can also be considered as a biologist
for she has a vast knowledge of the forest, it’s fruits and herbs. Fu Yabing is also a
medium to spirits. Her weaving process is guided by rituals. She leads a group of young
weavers into the river to seek and ask blessing and guidance of the spirits.
Fu Yabing is an epitome of inspiration and a true artist in their community. She helped
many people. Like in the town Lambipo, Malandag, she was the first teacher. She
taught in Malungon, Purok 4, Amguo and many more places. She likes and prefers to
teach in her own community so that she can pass her own traditional weaving skills and
knowledge to her grandchildren and other relatives. Women in their community go to
her house to learn weaving.
Fu Yabing clings to only one vocation in her old age when she was still alive. It is to
teach and to pass the ancient world of her Blaan forefathers to the younger generation.
Her students will continue her work so that they can be recognized as a true Blaan. Fu
Yabing wants her people to help her because when she was younger, no one would
help her and their works were only traded to themselves and are not sold.
Through her artistry, the Blaan textile weaving was recognized to the whole country and
was appreciated the way it deserves to be. The crafts that were created by her and her
people were sold and given importance. She endure struggles so that she can preserve
their own method of weaving as well as their culture and community. In her old age, her
poor eyesight did not hinder her perseverance to continue weaving and create good,
traditional, and meaningful materials.
Fu Yabing Masalon Dulo is a hero because she is an embodiment of her clan. She
made a way for their artistry and culture to be recognized. She is not just an artist. She
is a mother, teacher, medium, and a repository of knowledge.