●【T’boli】● -“people from the South”
The T'boli, also known as the Tiboli or Tagabili, are among the indigenous peoples of
SOCCSKSARGEN. the term "T'boli" comes from "Tau-bili"; "tau" meaning "small human creature"
and "bili" meaning "fruit of the wild vine". Others state that Christian settlers called the tribe "taga-bili"
(buyers) in the course of their barter trade. The T'boli speak a Malayo-Polynesian language called Tboli.
In addition to their native language, many of the T'boli also speak Ilongo or Bilaan.
The T'boli and their subsistence activities
The T'boli (pronounce "Tiboli") people live in the southern part
of the province Cotabato, in the environment around lake Sebu,
west of the city General Santos. It is estimated that are between
100000 and 150000 T'boli. In the past the T'boli practiced the
primitive way of agriculture "slash and burn". "Slash and burn"
means that the people will clear a part of the forest by cutting
the big trees and burning the lower and smaller trees and
bushes, after which they use the cleared plots as arable land for
some years without any fertilization. Rice, cassava and yams
were the most important agricultural products. Next to that, the
people went hunting or fishing for additional food.
For years slash and burn is no longer possible. The forests are
gone by intensive economic activities as foresting. At present
The T'boli live in the mountains. Agriculture is the only source
of income. Some foreigners, in cooperation with the aid
organization Cord Aid, succeeded in developing some hectares
of arable land in the last few years. Nevertheless, the T'boli live
in poor circumstances; a struggle for live.
Their way of living: T'boli are farmers who practice the swidden (slash and burn) method of
agriculture. This involves cutting the forest growth, burning the debris, and planting in the
clearing. Rice is their primary crop, though yams and cassava are also grown. Food is also
provided through hunting, gathering forest produce, and fishing. To supplement their incomes,
the T'boli sometimes sell bananas and other forest produce in nearby markets.
Their House: T'boli live in "long-houses" that are built on six-foot stilts. Homes are generally
about 50 feet long and nearly 30 feet wide. They are typically constructed of bamboo, wood, and
palm fronds. The people do not live in towns or villages, but live apart from each other in their
widely separated houses.
Clothing: Distinctive and colorful clothing characterizes
T'bol imen and women and is a major source of ethnic
pride. Nearly all clothing is made of t'nalak, which is a cloth that has a
brown background, lightened by red and beige designs. Women wear
ornamental combs, earrings, bracelets, and rings. The T'boli usually
cover their heads with turbans or large circular hat.
The T'nalak, the T'boli sacred cloth, made from abaca is the best known T'boli craft and is one of
the tribes traditional textile, this cloth is exchanged during marriages and
used as a cover during births. The T'boli women are named dreamweavers,
another legend tells us that the T'nalak weaving was taught by a goddess
named Fu Dalu in a dream and that women learn this ethnic and sacred
ritual, based on tribal designs and cloth patterns through their dreams.
These unique patterns are made with centuries-old practices and passed
down from generation to generation. This typical T'boli textile is history
held in the hands of their makers and the rich cultural heritage can be seen
through their creations, it shows the tribe's collective imagination and
cultural meaning.
Marriages are usually arranged by the families after
lengthy negotiations. Weddings are colorful celebrations
that often require months of preparation. Monogamy (one
husband, one wife) is nearly always practiced. However,
the rich may sometimes have multiple wives as a symbol
of prestige.
Culture
The T'boli culture is
richly connected with and inspired by nature, their dances are
a mimick from the action of animals such as monkeys and
birds. The T'boli have a rich musical culture with a variety of
musical instruments, but the T'boli music and songs are not
meant for entertainment only. The Tribal songs are a living
contact with their ancestors and a source of ancient wisdom.
The T'boli believe that everything has a spirit which must be
respected for good fortune. Bad spirits can cause illness and
misfortune.
The T'boli have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agong, the kulintang, bamboo
zither, flute, the hegalong, a long, slender and spindle-shaped two stringed guitar.- ensembles
composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as drone
without any accompanying melodic instrument.
What are their beliefs?
Unlike most people of the Philippines, the T'boli follow their traditional animistic religion,
believing that aspects of nature have spirits. If the spirits are not appeased, they can cause the
people much harm. Although the T'boli believe in a great pantheon of gods, the two most
important are Kadaw la Sambad and Bulon la Mogow. They supposedly gave birth to the lesser
gods, who either bestow benefits on people or afflict them with bad luck or ailments. The T'boli
place large wooden statues of the gods in their homes and fields. They frequently offer food and
liquor to the gods for appeasement.
Only a few T'boli are Christian or Islamite. More than 95 percent of The T'boli people still has
their animistic religion. They were hardly influenced by the spread of the Islam on the island.
The Spaniards too, didn't succeed to Christianize the T'boli during the Spanish colonial period.
Main reason was that the T'boli withdrew to the hinterlands in the uplands.
The T'boli and members of other indigenous tribes like the Higaunon, still believe in spirits who
live on several places in the natural environment. Christianity, Animist, and Pagan
T’boli Legend:
A T'boli legend tells that the T'boli are descendants of the survivors of a great flood. A man
named Dwata warned the people of an impending great flood. But the tribe refused to listen,
except for two couples, La Bebe and La Lomi, and Tamfeles and La Kagef. Dwata told them to
take shelter in a bamboo so huge they could fit inside and in this way survive the flood. The story
tells that the first couple are the ancestors of the T'boli and other highland ethnic groups The
second couple descended the other Filipino indigenous groups.
GROUP 6
♥ TABOR, EMEE GRACE B. ♥
♥ CALIXTON, REGIE BRILL R. ♥
