1. How did this t'nalak craft relate to the culture of the Lumads in Mindanao? 2. What is the importance of t'nalak in the lives of the Lumads in Mindanao
Answer:T’nalak is a sacred cloth woven by the T'boli people in communities around Lake Sebu, Mindanao island. Traditionally made by women of royal blood, thousands of patterns that reference folklore and stories are known to the T’boli women by memory. Fu Dalu, a spiritual guardian, guides t’nalak weaving, a process that is enriched with taboo and ritual.
T’nalak has a distinctive tri-colour scheme: White for the pattern, red for relief elements and black (or deep brown) for the background. Fibres used in weaving are harvested from the abaca tree and prepared in a process known as kadungon. Two metal blades are used to quickly remove the pulp and reveal the filaments, which are worked by hand into fine threads. During tembong, an artisan will connect individual threads end to end. Temogo, or dyeing, is done in the ikat-style, using beeswax and natural pigments. Fibres are first boiled in a black dye for several weeks. Weaving (mewel) is done on a backstrap loom (legogong) and weaving one piece of cloth can take up to a month of uninterrupted work. The final stage in the process, semaki, involves burnishing the fabric with a cowrie shell that is heated by friction. Nut oil is used to condition the fabric and add sheen.
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Answer:T’nalak is a sacred cloth woven by the T'boli people in communities around Lake Sebu, Mindanao island. Traditionally made by women of royal blood, thousands of patterns that reference folklore and stories are known to the T’boli women by memory. Fu Dalu, a spiritual guardian, guides t’nalak weaving, a process that is enriched with taboo and ritual.
T’nalak has a distinctive tri-colour scheme: White for the pattern, red for relief elements and black (or deep brown) for the background. Fibres used in weaving are harvested from the abaca tree and prepared in a process known as kadungon. Two metal blades are used to quickly remove the pulp and reveal the filaments, which are worked by hand into fine threads. During tembong, an artisan will connect individual threads end to end. Temogo, or dyeing, is done in the ikat-style, using beeswax and natural pigments. Fibres are first boiled in a black dye for several weeks. Weaving (mewel) is done on a backstrap loom (legogong) and weaving one piece of cloth can take up to a month of uninterrupted work. The final stage in the process, semaki, involves burnishing the fabric with a cowrie shell that is heated by friction. Nut oil is used to condition the fabric and add sheen.
Explanation: