Final 2

T’nalak Fabric: Product of the Dream Weavers
T’nalak is the famous hemp fabric uniquely crafted and weaved by the selected women
of T’boli tribes. Most of its designs were originated from a dream, a gift by the spirit of hemp
which is believed to be their ancestors and the women were identified as the ‘dream weavers’.
T’nalak a deep brown abaca-based clothtile-dyed with indricate designs, and is produced
by T’boli women in Mindanao, and one of the best known cultural products of the Philippines. It
is usually woven in tones of red, brown, and black – natural vegetable dyes produced by T’boli
weavers themselves, each unique end product recquires months of work and knowledge of a
range of skills learned from young age by the women of the tribe. It is a labour intensive process
where abaca fiber is stripped from the abaca tree; cleaned, dried, and separated into strands
carefully selected hand tied and rolled into balls.
According to their tradition it has been passed down through generations and come the
best weaves in dreams brought by their ancestors. T’boli people are believed that one should

not step over a weaving process and cut the cloth, doing so may risk to illness or death, unless
done according to traditions.
Rounding out, these cultural politics are rich tradition of dancing, singing and instrumental
playing. All covers the richness of South Cotabato.
T’nalak Festival 2017
As Koronadal City celebrates its 51 st anniversary, the T’nalak Festival – an annual
commemoration of the foundation anniversary of the city is held, showing the dynamic South
Cotabato province. One of the emerging tourist destination in the Philippines. It is celebrated
every second week of July in Koronadal City, the capital of South Cotabato.
This year 2017, T’nalak festival is scheduled on July 12-18, 2017 and is featuring the rich
talents, skills, art, and tradition of Koronadalenos freshly picked from Koronadal City. Where
beauty of tradition and culture meets at its finest represented as the product of the South
Cotabato people – the T’nalak cloth, showing great histories of the city and unfolds the journey
of the ‘Dream Weavers’; the streetdancing showing how graceful and festive people are, in
Koronadal City; the float parade, where magnificent floats from different departments where
displayed in the streets elegantly; the building of bahay-kubo, which encourages and promotes
every municipalities to proudly introduce their products.
After some peek to Koronadal’s bounty, one of the highlight of the T’nalak festival is its
people. Every celebration of the fiesta, Mutya ng South Cotabato is held to uphold the hidden
beauty and wittiness the Koronadalenos are knowned for that exceeds by women of South
Cotabato. All of these showcased talents are then supported by the governing Mayor, whom is
currently Mayor Daisy Avance Fuentes.
But the festival would not be successful without the engagement and presence of the
public, especially people in South Cotabato. It had always been successful because after the
fest, every tourist and local people heading back their homes, return with a smile and a story to
tell.
A Walk to T’nalak Festival 2017
Are you in search of adventure and fun? Or you just want to relax and discover something
unusual? On the 51 st Foundation Anniversarry of South Cotabato featuring the grand and
festive T’nalak Festival 2017, we give you the best of the best from the South. A lot of excitement
will fill the streets as the festival will span starting from July 12-18, that’s a whole firing festival
for a week.
If you’re kinda sporty person, fun run and sport games like table tennis, chess, and many
more events awaits you. If you like something rough, a two-daw motorcross of bikes would suit
you, but if you seek for relaxation and at the same time fun, float parades, streetdancing,
cheerdance competition and Mutya ng South Cotabato 2017 will be an awesome track for you.
And also, for those who are game for foodtrips with family and friends, you’re visit would’nt be in
vain for the alunan avenue street will be yours alongside with food stalls, bands to entertain you,
and ‘bahay-kubo’ featuring products of different municipalities.

The main plan is to satisfy you - the visitors and the locals. And with the prepared different
events of the current mayor of the city, Hon. Mayor Daisy Avance Fuentes, let’s enjoy the festival
and create our own stories to tel. I’ved been there, now it’s your turn