Weavers' Stories: Lang Kambay Dulay (Mindanao, Philippines)

Summary

Lang Do Lai, an accomplished weaver from Lake Sebu in Mindanao, Philippines, is renowned for her mastery of traditional T'nalak weaving. The process of creating T'nalak cloth involves intricate steps, including selecting abaca fibers, dyeing, and weaving on a loom, taking several months to complete a single panel. Honored with the National Traditional Artist Award in 1998, Lang Do Lai has used her recognition to train new generations of weavers at a center she established. Her work reflects sacred symbols and cultural narratives, and she has also shared her craft internationally, making a profound impact on the weaving community.

Takeaways

• 😀 Lang Duy Lahi is a skilled weaver from Lake Sebu in Mindanao, Philippines, specializing in traditional T'boli Ikat cloth called 'T'nalak'.
• 😀 The process of creating T'nalak involves up to 20 steps, including selecting and stripping fibers from abaca plants by hand, drying them, and forming continuous yarn.
• 😀 T'nalak is woven using the intricate Ikat method, where yarn is tied and dyed before being woven into fabric on a loom.
• 😀 Weaving T'nalak is a meticulous and lengthy process, requiring 4 to 6 months for an experienced weaver to complete one panel of cloth.
• 😀 Lang Duy Lahi was honored with the National Traditional Artist Award in 1998, recognizing her excellence in preserving and advancing the art of weaving.
• 😀 The National Traditional Artist Award is highly prestigious and is given to only a select few artists after a rigorous selection process.
• 😀 Award recipients, like Lang Duy Lahi, receive a lifelong stipend and health benefits from the Philippine government and are expected to train new generations of artists.
• 😀 Lang Duy Lahi used the funds from her award to build a weaving center in Lake Sebu, which opened a year after she received the award.
• 😀 Today, Lang Duy Lahi trains both her family members and younger students in the traditional art of T'nalak weaving, helping preserve the craft.
• 😀 Lang Duy Lahi knows over 100 distinct designs for T'nalak, each representing sacred symbols, courtship themes, and elements of the natural world.
• 😀 Despite not being literate, Lang Duy Lahi found creative ways to sign her work, asking her grandchild to write her name for her.
• 😀 Lang Duy Lahi represented the Philippines at the 32nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. in 1998, which significantly impacted her life and art.

Q & A

What is Lang Du Lai known for?

Lang Du Lai is an accomplished weaver from Lake Sebu, Mindanao, known for her expertise in creating traditional tabbouleh, or ECOT cloth, called tuna lock. She specializes in the intricate weaving process using the ECOT method.

What is the process of creating tuna lock cloth?

Creating tuna lock cloth involves about 20 steps. First, fine varieties of abaca plants are selected, and their fibers are stripped by hand and dried on frames. The yarn is made by knotting individual fibers, and the cloth's patterning is done using the ECOT method on a tying frame. After multiple dye baths, the yarn is woven, and the finished cloth is softened and polished using a shell and tension from a root feed.

How long does it take to finish one panel of tuna lock cloth?

It takes an experienced weaver approximately 4 to 6 months to complete one panel of tuna lock cloth.

What prestigious recognition did Lang Du Lai receive in 1998?

In 1998, Lang Du Lai was honored with the National Traditional Artist Award by the Philippine government, a rare recognition for artists who achieve excellence in traditional art forms.

What are the benefits of receiving the National Traditional Artist Award?

Recipients of the National Traditional Artist Award receive a lifelong stipend and full health coverage from the government. In exchange, they are expected to train new generations of artists in their craft.

What did Lang Du Lai do with the funds from the award?

Lang Du Lai used the funds from the National Traditional Artist Award to build a weaving center in Lake Sebu, which was inaugurated a year after she received the award.

Who does Lang Du Lai train at the weaving center?

Lang Du Lai initially trained family members in the methods of traditional weaving. Over time, the weaving center also attracted younger students who are at the beginning of their artistic education and help with the weaving process, although Lang Du Lai still ties her own patterns.

What is the significance of the designs Lang Du Lai creates in her weaving?

Lang Du Lai knows over 100 named designs, with each design relating to various aspects of Tiboli oral discourse, including sacred symbols, courtship, and the natural world. The designs carry deep cultural and symbolic meanings.

How did Lang Du Lai manage to sign her work despite not knowing how to read or write?

Lang Du Lai, who never learned to read or write, had one of her grandchildren write her name on paper so she could sign her work in a way that represented her identity.

What impact did Lang Du Lai’s participation in the 32nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival have on her?

Lang Du Lai's participation in the 32nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC in 1998 had a significant impact on her life, exposing her work to a broader audience and enriching her cultural experiences.