Feature : Preserving a lifetime tradition for the future generation

By Alma L. Tingcang

KUMALARANG, Zamboanga del Sur, August 3 (PIA) – “I was 7 years old when I started weaving. My late aunt Putri Gunong Lidang taught me how to weave mats. I was so engrossed with weaving  that as time went on, I was able to produce fine designs,” master teacher Laluwua Dacula narrated.

Train them young

“Gitudloan namo ang mga bata nga maglala aron dili mawala ang among kultura. Kay kita tanan wala man masayod sa atong kinabuhi, ug kung mawala kita, mamatay usab ang atong kultura kung dili kini mapasa sa mga kabataan, (We taught the children how to weave to preserve our culture. Because we do not know when we will die, and when that happens, our culture dies with us if this is not passed on to our children) Dacula said as she continues to finish weaving a mat with very colorful design.

A total of 30 children  from Grade 4 to Grade 6 are being taught how to weave. They regularly attend school and come to weave after classes or during their free time. Dacula said kids are taught simple designs first and are slowly being introduced to the more complex designs, teaching them the intricate process of weaving, blending the colors and making a perfect finish of the mats.

Kumala Cultural Weavers Association

The president of Kumala Cultural Weavers Association (KCWA), Abulcasim Dacula said the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) provided the funding under the School of Living Tradition (SLT). Initially, it started with 20 students. “Actually, 2008 mi nagsugod sa training sa dihang ang cluster head dinhi nga si Mr. Gauden Sireg nagtabang kanamo paghimo ug project proposal.” (We started the training in 2008 when NCCA Northern Mindanao cluster head Gauden Sireg helped us in making the project proposal) It was during the time of NCCA executive director Cecille Guidote Alvarez.

After the training providing the participants with skills to make ordinary mats, municipal secretary Joy Alcaria submitted another proposal for a 72-day training amounting to P205,000.00 to advance their skills in weaving. They began to participate in agro-industrial exhibits, earning recognition for the expert craftsmanship of their products.

”Dako kaayo mi ug pasalamat sa NCCA, sa DA, Department of Trade and Industry ug sa among pinalanggang mayor sa ilang suporta ug paningkamot nga matabangan kami,” Abul said. (We are very grateful to NCCA, DA, DTI and to our beloved mayor for their efforts to help us)

During the 2nd Indigenous Peoples Visual Arts Exhibit on September 20-Oct. 1, 2011 held at the Zamboanga del Sur National High School in Pagadian City, the Kumala Weavers Association won the 1st Prize in the Traditional Category.

In September, 2011, their products were displayed at the Tambayayong Festival in Carson City, California.  

At present, the weavers’ hands are full since NCCA has ordered 20 pcs of mats. They are so grateful because just last Thursday, Abul signed a memorandum of agreement for an additional funding of P930,000 from NCCA for the training of 14 cultural weavers for master creation, where they will learn the more intricate designs and techniques in weaving mats to perfection. To date, they have sold 100 mats bringing in more income for the group.

LGU support

Mayor Allan P. Damas said funding support come from the Department of Agriculture and the NCCA  with the local government unit providing 20% counterpart. “This is actually a project of the women’s group  Kasagaran wala nay mogamit  ug banig karon kay high-tech na. Apan kung maghisgot ug banig, dinhi gyud sa Kumalarang naay daghan with design pa (Nowadays, people do not use mats anymore. But when we talk about mats, we have plenty here in Kumalarang with different colorful designs), the mayor beams with pride.

He said under his administration, only one out of the 18 barangays have not availed of a livelihood program.  “I would say that the  livelihood program here is very impressive and we have achieved its ultimate purpose which is to alleviate poverty,” he shared.

Earning while preserving a culture

Products of the KWCA are of export quality, woven to perfection. It is a labor of love, every straw skillfully intertwined telling of the vast and rich culture of its ancestors. From the time pandan leaves are gathered, dried, dyed and dried again it would take at least two months for the materials to be ready for weaving. A weaver has to painstakingly apply his artistry to present a beautiful mat design.

Improving the designs as well as the workmanship of the mats would surely increase its commercial value affording more income for government coffers.

As suitable mat materials abound in the area, and with substantial support from national government agencies and the LGU, is it not far off that the mat industry in this part of the country may well become a source of considerable revenue for local folks. (ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)