TRADITONAL CLOTHES

OF MINDANAO
Attire, textile, and tapestries
MINDANAO, referred to as “The Land of Promise”, is the second largest and southern
most island in the Philippine archipelago.

Mindanao also has the largest concentration of ethnolinguistic groups and culturally-
diverse island. These groups are mostly Muslims from the Badjao, Iranun, Jama
Mapun, Kalagan, Kalibugan (Subanen who where converted to Islam.) Manobo ,
Maguindanao, Sama Bangingi, Sama Pangutaran, Samal, Sangil, Tausug, and Yakan
groups.

Other groups are the Lumads, or those who have maintained their Indigenous beliefs
and traditions instead of converting to Islam or Christianity. Some Lumads groups in
Mindanao are the Bagobos and T’bolis.

Before Islam came to the Philippines, early Filipinos worshipped nature and believed
that plants and Inanimate objects are home to ancestral spirits. They also believed
that natural phenomena are caused by Gods. This Indigenous belief system is called
animism. The conversion of the natives and the arrival of Muslims traders and
merchants resulted in new forms of artistic expression. This fusion of beliefs created
a unique blend of spiritually and creativity.
Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts – Are important means of expression which communicate
views, ideas and feelings through the use of skills and imagination.

• B’LAAN • BAGOBO

• T’BOLI • MARANAO
 BILAAN
• B’laan are known for embroidery, brass ornaments ad beadwork that are
integrated in their traditional clothing.
B’laan wear clothes woven from abaca embellished with embroidery, buttons, and
beads. Women wears heavy brass belts with numerous tiny bells that hang around
their waistline. These produce pleasing chiming sounds when they move. B’laans,
like the Bagobos and the T’boli’s, weave highly-polished abaca textile using the Ikat
process.
Ikat is a process of dyeing the fabric where the yarns are tightly wrapped with
strings and dyed before weaving.

Textile usually contain three colors-shades of black or brown, red or ochre (dark
shade of orange). And ecru (the color of the undyed abaca).

B’laans put high value on their textiles.

They also cut mother-of-pearl into small shapers that look like sequins called Takmun
to form geometric patterns.
YAKANS
YAKAN – Basilan is the home to Yakans. They aare popular for their skills in weaving.
They weave very intricate design in their textiles, which they use for their clothes and
other accessories.
Yakan hand-doomed fabrics are known for their use of bold colors and geometric
patterns. Traditional Yakan art of weaving originated from their hometown Lamitan in
the island of Basilan.
Yakan fabrics are traditionally used as garments.

SEPUTANGAN – Is a square cloth used by the Yakan women as a head cover or as

belt. Badjulapi is a fight blouse with long sleeves.

- it is ornamated with gold, silver or bronze buttons.

Sawal is the traditional tight-fitting trousers made of Yakan fabric characterized by

it’s vertical stripes.

Pinalantupan, a type of skirt, is layered over the trousers.

MARANAO
MARANAO means “People of the Lake”, referring to people who occupy the lands
surrounding Lake Lanao. They are famous for their artworks, intricate weaving, wood
carving, metal craft, and their epics.

The Maranaos are known for their malong. The malong is a traditional Filipino tube
skirt that is made of hand-woven or machine-made multicolored cotton cloth,
bearing a variety of geometric or floral designs. It can be use in many ways. Women
wear it as a skirt, a dress, a blouse or a gown. Depending on how it is folded, it can
also be used as a hammock, a basket, a sleeping bag, a bathrobe, or a baby carriage.

Malong is an import part of Maranao life. A newborn is wrapped in it and, as he or

she grows, it becomes a part of his or her daily life as clothing and as material for
everyday use. When a person dies, he or she is once again wrapped in a malong.

Even in areas where people wear cotemporary clothing during the day, the malong
is commonly used as sleepwear.

Kapa Malong or Sambisa Malong is their traditional dance.

T’BOLI

The T’Boli, who live in and around lake Sebu, South Cotabato, are famous for their
complicated bead work, wonderful woven fabrics, and beautiful brass ornaments.
Similar to the Bagobos, they regard the t’nalak as sacred.

Traditional wedding rituals involves the exchange of this textile. During births, it is
used as a cover.

Men are not allowed to touch the materials used in the weaving process. Weaver is
forbidden to mate with her husband during the time that the cloth is being woven.

They believe that if they break these rules, the fiber will snap and the design will be
ruined.
BAGOBO
The Bagobo’s are a group of people that live in Davao. According to anthropologist,
the name of this ethnologistic group comes from the words “bago” (new) and “obo”
(growth). This is because they are belived to have come from the mixture of the
native population with the Hindu migrants that entered Mindanao during the Sri
Vinjayan and Majapahit empires.
Men wear t’nalak shorts, an undershirt, and a t’nalak coat.
Bagani (hero/warrior) wear blooded-red clothes and a headkerchief called
tangkulu. These articles of clothing represent their courage.

Women wear wrap-around t’nalak skirts and blouses. Their blouses are adorned
with floral patterns, checkers, or palsley prints. It has short bell sleeves and the
waist area that falls right above the abdomen.
The more elaborate blouses are made from t’nalak.

They also wear rows of bells around their waists and ankles that produce tinkling
sounds when they walk.