S. Cotabato to honor B’laan ‘National Living Treasure’

S. Cotabato to honor B’laan ‘National Living Treasure’ (Photo: George Tapan/Blaan Mabal Tabih in Landan/Facebook)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The provincial government of South Cotabato is set to honor a tribal weaver from Polomolok town who was declared earlier this month by President Rodrigo R. Duterte as a National Living Treasure.

Board member Edgar Sambog, the province’s indigenous people’s mandatory representative, said Thursday the local government will give the highest honor to Bai Yabing Masalon Dulo, who was conferred with the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan Award (GAMABA).

He said the recognition will be given to Bai Yabing during the celebration of the National Arts Month in February.

“Her achievement is a big honor to the tribal communities and entire constituents of South Cotabato,” he said.

Sambog said his office is working on the passage of a resolution that will give special recognition to Bai Yabing, the province’s second GAMABA awardee.

Bai Yabing, who was one of the three weavers honored with the prestigious award, hails from the B’laan tribe.

She was conferred with the award by virtue of Proclamation No. 126 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The award mainly recognized her “commitment and contribution in safeguarding and promoting” the mabal tabih (ikat weaving) tradition.

Republic Act 7355 provided for the recognition of the country’s National Living Treasures or “Manlilikha ng Bayan” who are engaged in a highly technical and artistic level of traditional art.

“At the age of 106, Bai Yabing is still passing on her skills on ikat weaving to her children, grandchildren and students,” Sambog said.

The official said he is set to discuss with South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes the granting of additional incentives for Bai Yabing, who is also considered as a “dreamweaver.”

Such title became popular with the late Be Lang Dulay, a T’boli weaver who was declared a National Living Treasure in 1998 by President Fidel Ramos.

Lang Dulay, who died in April 2015, was known for her contributions in the preservation of the T’boli culture through the tribe’s famed T’nalak fabric.