ARTS AND

CRAFTS OF
MINDANAO
 BALANGHAY
The Balangay ( formerly synonymous with Butuan Boat)
is a plank boat adjoined by a carved – out edged through
pins and dowels. It was first mentioned in the 16th Century in
the Chronicles of Pigafetta, and is known as the oldest
watercraft found in the Philippines.
The Balanghay was the first wooden watercraft
excavated in Southeast Asia and is evidence of early Filipino
craftsmanship and their seamanship skills during pre- colonial
times.
 VINTA
The Vinta ( locally known as lepa-lepa or sakayan) is
a traditional boat from the Philippine island of Mindanao.
The boats are made by Sama- bajau and Moros living the
Sulu Archipelago, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Southern
Mindanao.It has a sail with assorted vertical colors that
represents the colorful culture and history of the Muslim
community. These boats are used for inter- island
transport of people and goods.
 MALONG
The Malong is a traditional “ tube skirt” made of
handwoven or machine made multicolored cotton
cloth, bearing a variety of geometric or okir designs.
The M, and along is directly skin to sarong worn by
peoples in the other parts of Maritime Southeast Asia
( Malaysia, Brunei, East Timor and Indonesia) , and is
etymological cognate of the Polynesian “ malo” (loin
cloth).
 BRASSWARES
Kulintang, gongs and even the elaborate
designs of a Muslim jar are brasswares
popularly made in Mindanao,
particularly the oldest city in the region,
Cotabato City.
 OKIR
OKIR OR OKKIL IS THE TERM FOR GEOMETRIC AND
FLOWING DESIGNS (OFTEN BASED ON AN
ELABORATE LEAF AND VINE PATTERN ) AND
FOLK MOTIFS THAT CAN BE USUALLY FOUND IN
MARANAO AND MUSLIM-INFLUENCED ARTWORK
,ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES, AND IN
SOME PARTS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA.
 PANOLONG
IS A WING LIKE DESIGN OF A VERNACULAR
HOUSE IN MARANAO CALLED TOROGAN
.THESE ARE ENDS OF THE FLOOR BEAMS
THAT PROJECTS AND SPLAY OUT LIKE
TRIANGULAR BUTTERFLY WINGS ON THE
FAÇADE AND ELEVATIONS
 TOROGAN
THE TOROGAN IS TRADITIONAL RESIDENCE OF THE
REIGNING SULTAN OF THE MARANAW PEOPLE AND HIS
FAMILY. IT IS WHERE THE COMMUNITY TRADITIONALLY
GATHERS FOR WEDDING, THANKSGIVING RITES,
ENTHORNEMENT, AND VIGILS FOR THE DEAD. TOROGAN IS
NO ORDINARY HOME SPECIALLY TO A REGULAR
MARANAW FAMILY BECAUSE IT WAS A SYMBOL OF HIGH
SOCIAL STATUS.
 SARIMANOK
THE SARIMANOK IS LEGENDARY BIRD OF THE
MARANAO PEOPLE WHO ORIGINATE FROM
MINDANAO, A MAJOR ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINES.
IT COMES FROM THE WORDS “SARI” AND “MANOK”.
“SARI “ MEANS CLOTH OR GARMENT, WHICH IS
GENERALLY OF ASSORTED COLORS. MANOK
MEANS “CHICKEN”
 YAKAN’S FABRIC AND FACE MAKE-UP
THE YAKAN ARE AN INDIGENOUS MUSLIM TRIBE NATIVE TO
TROPICAL ISLAND OF BASILAN . LOCATED IN THE SULU
ARCHIPELAGO IN THE MOST SOUTHERN REGION OF THE
PHILIPPINES. YAKAN PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR
REMARKABLE TECHNICOLOR GEOMETRIC WEAVES AND THE
DISTINCTIVE FACE DECORATIONS USED IN THEIR TRADITIONAL
CEREMONIES. THE YAKAN ARE KIND AND LOVING PEOPLE
THAT EMBODY A NON-MATERIALISTIC CULTURE AND LIVE IN
CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITIES.
 YAKAN WEAVING
YAKAN WEAVING USES BRIGHT ,BOLD
AND OFTEN CONTRASTING COLOURS IN
BIG SYMMETRICAL PATTERNS.
INSPIRATION FOR DESIGNS COMES
FROM ISLAND LIVING AND ISLAMIC
SACRED GEOMETRY.
 FACE DECORATION
TANYAK TANYAK IS A FACE PAINTING CUSTOM IS UNIQUE
TO YAKAN TRIBAL CULTURE. WORN ONLY FOR WEDDING
CEREMONIES; CIRCLES, SPOTS AND DIAMOND PATTERNS ARE
PRINTED ON THE SKIN USING BAMBOO IMPLEMENTS AND A
THICK MIXTURE OF WHITE FLOUR AND WATER. THE PATTERNS
ARE SAID TO HAVE NO SYMBOLIC MEANING BUT HAVE BEEN
USED FOR CENTURIES AS A FORM OF COSMETIC DECORATION
LONG BEFORE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS WERE ACCESSIBLE.
 T’NALAK
T’NALAK IS A TRADITIONAL CLOTH FOUND IN
MINDANAO ISLAND MADE BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN
LAKE SEBU, SOUTH COTABATO CALLED T’BOLIS, TBOLI
PEOPLE. THIS TRADITIONAL CLOTH IS HAND-WOVEN
MADE OF ABACA FIBERS WHICH TRADITIONALLY HAS
THREE PRIMARY COLORS,RED,BLACK AND THE
ORIGINAL COLOR OF THE ABACA LEAVES.
T’NALAK
 PANGALAY
PANGALAY (ALSO KNOWN AS DALING-DALING OR
MENGALAI IN SABAH) IS THE TRADITIONAL
“FINGERNAIL” DANCE OF THE TAUSUG PEOPLE OF THE
SULU ARCHIPELAGO AND SABAH. THE DANCE ALSO
MEANS OFFERING FROM ITS SANSKRIT ORINGIN
PANGALAY. MANGALAY WHICH ALSO MEANS DANCE IS
VERY SIMILAR TO CLASSICAL BALINESE AND THAI
DANCES.