Official Lake Sebu Tourism

03/07/2015

"Three scenic lakes, seven waterfalls, highest zipline in the country - these are just some of the attractions of what now is a popular travel destination in southern Philippines. The town is one of the highlights of the 12th Paradise tourism campaign to promote destinations around Region 12 in south central Mindanao."

People and places in Lake Sebu, and getting a glimpse of the beautiful and colorful T'boli arts and culture

29/06/2015

Learn about the five people you'll meet in Lake Sebu.

Lake Sebu, a secluded town in South Cotabato, is called the “Land of the Dreamweavers.” In this quiet place of rolling hills, mountains, numerous lakes and rivers, dreams exist beyond sleep; and its people are the bridge between that world … Read more »

20/06/2015

One of the best times to visit Lake Sebu is in July, when the T’nalak Festival is held. Celebrated in the city of Koronodal, the festival showcases the renowned t’nalak cloth, where people dressed in their respective cultural attires showcase their provincial trademarks through street dance competitions.

It’s one of the most beautiful things to see, especially if you want to see how the T’boli’s celebrate their culture and heritage. Book your ticket now, July is just around the corner!

19/06/2015

Stories are pieces that showcase history and creativity, but at the T’nalak Festival, these stories find new life through reenactments. Enjoy performances by various groups through ADUSAY (Awit, Dula, at Sayaw), consisting of differently-themed performances that portray these tales through songs, dances, and drama interpretation.

We can’t wait to show you how we tell our stories. See you at this year’s upcoming T’nalak Festival!

18/06/2015

You’ve heard of parades, but have you ever seen a Grand Parade? Celebrating the three main groups of South Cotabato, the T’nalak Festival’s Grand Parade showcases a variety of T’nalak designs, dances, and performances by various groups, communities, and even schools, throughout the province. It’s a parade unlike any other you’ve seen before!

Be amazed as you see people from all over South Cotabato and neighboring provinces come together to celebrate at this exhilarating month-long extravaganza.

17/06/2015

From our earlier posts, we talk about how the T’nalak is a finely woven and dyed cloth made by the T’boli tribe. But do you know what conditions help create these wonderful pieces?

Traditionally, the t’nalak is created on a backstrap loom called a legogong that consists of two beams – one attached to the ceiling, while the other is attached to the weaver’s lower back. They are usually woven in a longhouse, a horizontal structure made to accommodate the long length of the cloth.

Do you have any photos of a legogong or a traditional longhouse? We’d love to see some of your photos!

16/06/2015

Weaving is only one part of creating and completing a t’nalak cloth. Temugo, or dyeing, is what the T’boli call the process of submerging the abaca fibers into natural dyes that are taken from trees and plants. It is a tedious process that requires the threads to be boiled for up to 5 days, with fresh grated roots or leaves added to the mixture each day, to help saturate the color.

No wonder it takes up to 3-4 months to completely finish one beautiful roll of t’nalak cloth.

15/06/2015

Want to know how to create colored dyes using parts of trees and plants? We know where you can get them!

Here are some of the materials the T’boli use for sourcing their colors: The roots of a loko plant is used for the color red, k’luga (annatto) for orange, lomus leaves for the color green, bayabas for the color brown, and luyang-dilaw (turmeric) for yellow.

13/06/2015

Cheryl Tiu at last night's Mega Pinoy Pride Ball wearing a T'boli top from Lake Sebu.

12/06/2015

Weaving is only one part of creating and completing a t’nalak cloth. Temugo, or dyeing, is what the T’boli call the process of submerging the abaca fibers into natural dyes that are taken from trees and plants. It is a tedious process that requires the threads to be boiled for up to 5 days, with fresh grated roots or leaves added to the mixture each day, to help saturate the color. No wonder it takes up to 3-4 months to completely finish one beautiful roll of t’nalak cloth.

11/06/2015

It is said that weaving t’nalak requires a clear vision of the design, patience, and purity of the weaver, as she puts her feelings and emotions into creating the cloth. But did you know that aside from the 2-3 months it takes to finish a t’nalak, weavers are required to practice sexual abstinence in order to keep the purity of the cloth. This helps ensure that the cloth is free from impure or negative thoughts, which could affect the output and appear in the t’nalak.

10/06/2015

Did you know that dreamweaving is not a hereditary gift? Though the arts and technique to creating t’nalak is usually passed down from mother to daughter, the skill and secret to dreamweaving is something that must be earned, or bestowed upon by the spirits.