Folklore festival delegates visit Lamlifew

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 23, 2015) - International Folklore Festival delegates pose with Bai Herminia Lacna and Fu Yabing as they visit Lamlifew Village Museum at Barangay Datal Tampal on August 18. The folklore festival aims to provide convergence among ethno-linguistic groups in the country. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) 

Tabih weaving in Lamlifew Village Museum

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 18, 2015) - Celebrity Dingdong Dantes, chairman of YesPinoy Foundation, watches Tabih weaving during his visit at Lamlifew Village, the country’s  Blaan school of living tradition and museum at Sitio Lamlifew in Barangay Datal Tampal on August 8. Tabih refers to the traditional handwoven Blaan tubular skirt. Dantes later launched Project 888 at the provincial gymnasium. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Lamlifew Village Museum welcomes guests

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 18, 2015) - Celebrity and YesPinoy Foundation (YPF) chairman Dingdong Dantes takes photos of young villagers of Lamlifew Village Museum in Barangay Datal Tampal as they perform Blaan dance routines on August 8.  Dantes visited Sarangani Province to launch Project 888, a project of YPF that aims to fully fund the education of eight deserving youth scholars. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Dingdong visits Blaan school

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 18, 2015) – Actor Dingdong Dantes, chairman of YesPinoy Foundation, mingles with the youth of Blaan community Lamlifew in Barangay Datal Tampal on August 8. Dantes also enjoyed the cultural presentation and warm welcome of the community during his arrival at Lamlifew village, site of the Blaan school of living tradition and museum. Dantes, a commissioner of the National Youth Commission, heads the YesPinoy Foundation which is a national organization that helps the youth through programs and projects. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

 

Dingdong meets Fuglung cultural master

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 18, 2015) – Actor Dingdong Dantes, chairman of YesPinoy Foundation, beams as he poses with Blaan boat lute (Fuglong) cultural master Bai Hermania Lacna of Lamlifew Village Museum and School of Living Tradition at Sitio Lamlifew in Barangay Datal Tampal on August 8.(Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

SP accredits NGOs

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 23, 2014) – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) headed by Vice Gov. Jinkee Pacquiao unanimously approves the renewal of accreditation of Lamlifew Tribal Women’s Association and Plan International Inc. on its regular session Tuesday, October 21. The two non-government organizations (NGOs) are major partners of the provincial government. The Lamlifew Tribal Women’s Association preserves the Blaan indigenous fabric called “Tabih” that was recently displayed at SM Mall of Gensan. The Plan International, on the other hand, has a thrust of building a society that truly cares for and protects the Sarangani children. (Jerald S. Rubio/VICE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

Blaan weavers to co-star in Munato Festival Yesterland theme park

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 17, 2014) – This four-day “Mabal Blaan: Weaving the Threads of Heritage" exhibit at SM Mall ended Thursday, October 16, but will be on display again during the Munato Festival on November 27-29 at the Yesterland theme park of the Capitol grounds. The Blaan indigenous fabric called “Tabih” is from Lamlifew Village Museum based in Barangay Datal Tampal, Malungon, Sarangani. This heritage material has only two living keepers of the tradition, Fu Yabing Dulo and Fu Gusiye Buan. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) 

Important note: The Tabih shown above is a modern/contemporary design.

Gov. Solon supports Blaan cultural masters

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 17, 2014) – Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon joins Blaan cultural masters from the Lamlifew Village Museum based in Barangay Datal Tampal, Malungon during the opening of a four-day “Mabal Blaan: Weaving the Threads of Heritage" exhibit at SM Mall on October 13 where the Blaan indigenous fabric called “Tabih” are showcased until October 16. They are organized as Lamlifew Tribal Women’s Association manifesting the role of Blaan women in upholding the identity of the tribe thru crafts. Sarangani Province thru its Sulong Tribu program with the support of the Department of Tourism Region XII aspires that the province will be named as Tabih Capital in Southern Mindanao. The activity is a support to the celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples’ Month this October. (Kim Windell Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)

Mabal Blaan: Weaving the Threads of Heritage

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 17, 2014) – Emi Englis, Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon and Leonardo "Bing" Cariño pose during the opening of a four-day “Mabal Blaan: Weaving the Threads of Heritage" exhibit at SM Mall on October 13 where the Blaan indigenous fabric called “Tabih” from Lamlifew Village Museum based in Barangay Datal Tampal, Malungon are showcased until October 16. Bing Cariño as team leader and Englis with Arjho Cariño-Turner, Helen Lumbos and Toto Tirando served as curators of this heritage material with the only two living keepers of the tradition, Fu Yabing Dulo and Fu Gusiye Buan. Sarangani Province thru its Sulong Tribu program with the support of the Department of Tourism Region XII aspires that the province will be named as Tabih Capital in Southern Mindanao. (Kim Windell Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)

Blaan master weavers present work at SM City

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 14, 2014) - Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon pays attention to Blaan master weavers Yabing Caturan Masalon Dulo, 94, and Gusiye Buan, 84, from Lamlifew Village in Barangay Datal Tampal, Malungon, Sarangani during the opening of exhibit of "Mabal Blaan:Weaving the Threads of Heritage" at SM City starting Monday, October 13. The Department of Tourism Region 12 supported the Lamlifew Village Museum under the Sulong Tribu component of Sulong Sarangani program. The exhibit runs until October 16. (Jake T. Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Officials open "Mabal Blaan: Weaving the Threads of Heritage" exhibit

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 14, 2014) - Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (extreme left) leads the ribbon cutting ceremony to open the exhibit "Mabal Blaan;Weaving the Threads of Heritage" and showcasing the Lamlifew Village Museum Monday, October 13, at SM City Events Center. The governor is assisted by her wife Michelle Solon (2nd from left), chair of the Regional Tourism Council. Also in photo are Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao (2nd from right), City Councilor Shandee Llido (extreme right), Dir. Yahya Senti (3rd from left) of the Department of Labor and Employment Region 12 and Dir. Arturo Valero (3rd from right) of the National Economic and Development Authority Region 12. (Jake T. Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Blaan artist plays at School of Living Tradition

MALUNGON, Sarangani (September 18, 2014) – A woman in Lamlifew Village Museum and School of Living Tradition at Barangay Datal Tampal plays an indigenous musical instrument during the visit of travel photographer George Tapan with the Sulong Tribu on September 14. The world-renowned Filipino travel photographer Tapan visited Malungon town to document the indigenous culture and textiles. Tapan had visited the IP village in 2005. (Kim Windell V. Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)

Travel fotog tours Lamlifew with Sulong Tribu

MALUNGON, Sarangani (September 18, 2014) — The world-famous and award-winning Filipino travel photographer George Tapan visits Malungon on September 14 with the Sulong Tribu to document the indigenous culture and textiles of the Blaan in Lamlifew Village Museum and School of Living Tradition at Barangay Datal Tampal. Tapan had visited the IP village in 2005. Earlier, he conducted a photography workshop entitled “Secrets of the Master II” in General Santos City as part of the Tuna Festival where photographers over the country attended the workshop and joined the actual capturing of city’s events for his mentoring session. (Kim Windell V. Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)

BioChar introduced in Bantay Kalikasan-Green Initiative sites

MAITUM, Sarangani (September 9, 2014) – Engr. Antonio Co (left) of Bantay Kalikasan-Green Initiative of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation (ALKFI) demonstrates how to prepare a home-made biomass gasifier that brings a less expensive and pro-environment energy alternative on September 5 at the water tubing site in Barangay New La Union with participants from New La Union White Water Tubing Adventure and Farmer’s Association and personnel from Maitum tourism and agriculture offices. The Green Initiative (G.I.) thru the Sulong Tribu component and the tourism program of Sulong Sarangani introduced BioChar (biological charcoal) Training as G.I. had initially identified the water tubing resort in New La Union and the IP village museum and School of Living Tradition in Lamlifew, Barangay Datal Tampal, Malungon as part of their community-based eco-tourism and livelihood project in Sarangani Province. (Kim Windell V. Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR'S OFFICE)

Bantay Kalikasan-Green Initiative project in Maitum

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 22, 2014) - Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon, Maitum Mayor Pepito Catimbang, Alabel Mayor Corazon Grafilo, Kiamba Mayor Raul Martinez, Glan Mayor Victor James Yap Sr., and Malapatan Mayor Alfonso Singcoy pose with the personnel of Bantay Kalikasan-Green Initiative project of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation at Barangay New La Union Tuesday, August 19, after their meeting for the Sarangani League of Mayors. The Green Initiative has scheduled to visit community-based eco-tourism sites in Sarangani, especially in the indigenous people (IP) communities; hence they are assisted by the Sulong Tribu pillar of the Sulong Sarangani convergence program. The foundation, which is led by Gina Lopez, had identified, among others, the water tubing resort in New La Union, Maitum and the IP village museum and school of living tradition in Lamlifew, Barangay Datal Tampal, Malungon as part of their community-based eco-tourism and livelihood project. (Kim Windell V. Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR'S OFFICE)

Sarangani’s Blaan School of Living Traditions recognized by NCCA

By APRIL JANE C. UGSAD

ALABEL, Sarangani (June 6, 2014) — The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has recognized the School of Living Traditions (SLT) in Lamlifew, Malungon as one of the most successful SLTs in the Philippines through its cultural master and SLT coordinator, Helen Lumbos.

The award to Lumbos was given during the 2^nd SLT Summit held in Zamboanga City recently.

The summit gave credit to all cultural masters and implementers of SLTs and how they responded to slowly fading culture of IP communities.

“We highlighted the provincial government’s effort in protecting the cultural heritage of the Indigenous People (IP) through special programs, tourism development, and cultural development initiatives,” said Celito Terando, project manager under Sulong Tribu of the provincial government.

Also, the Lamlifew community took effort in gaining economic significance to sustain themselves by showcasing their food, dance performances, and craft produced though weaving which is an alternative source of their income.

Terando said that Lamlifew, beyond NCCA’s assistance, has become a cultural enterprise and then eventually became a cultural tourism site through the provincial government’s effort, in partnership with some private organizations.

Lamlifew community is a recipient of the ABS-CBN Foundation for cultural tourism and is now part of the Department of Education’s curriculum under the IP education program.

“We would like to thank Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon for the strong support to make this recognition to the province possible,” Terando said as he made the announcement in the Capitol.

Sarangani became a model for NCCA on how the province pushed to include the SLT in schools. The participants who attended the 2nd SLT Summit wanted to adopt the strategies and best practices applied by Sarangani to preserve its cultural heritage. (April Jane C. Ugsad/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)

Village Museum in Sarangani target of Green Initiative

MALUNGON, Sarangani (January 6, 2014) – Gina Lopez, managing director of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc., Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, Brgy. Captain Ephraim Englis of Datal Tampal, and Mayor Reynaldo Constantino listen to a Blaan woman who shares her insights on how to preserve Lamlifew village museum. Lopez and her group visited Lamlifew Sunday, January 5, being one of the focus areas of the Green Initiative of Bantay Kalikasan. (Aiza Cruz/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Sarangani LGUs partner with ABS-CBN Bantay Kalikasan’s Green Initiative

By CHARITO S. ANSAGAY

MAITUM, Sarangani (January 7, 2014) – “The way for the country to go is through taking care of our environment and its natural resources,” said Regina Paz Lopez, managing director of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. (ALKFI) during her visit in Sarangani on January 4-5.

Lopez, who is an active advocate of preserving the environment,visited Sarangani after a series of strategic planning workshops on tourism organized by the province.

Lopez handles the Green Initiative of Bantay Kalikasan, which is a joint program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation and ABS-CBN Foundation. Its main objective is to protect
Philippine biodiversity and help uplift the lives of the people.

Recently, Green Initiative has listed Sarangani to be among the focus areas in the country. Sarangani, according to National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), is still in the list of the poorest
provinces during the first quarter of 2012, despite its gift of nature.

Two sites were considered in the province - the village museum in Lamlifew, Datal Tampal in Malungon and river tubing adventure in New La Union in Maitum town.

The Bantay Kalikasan team, accompanied by the officials and tourism officers led by Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon conducted assessments after each tour. Recommendations and suggestions from the community, LGU and Green Initiative came up during the dialogue. These are useful tools to develop the sites and services further.

“This partnership will mostly benefit the people in the communities. We take care of our resources and use it appropriately. This project is not just all about promotions and marketing our place and invite more tourists, but for our people to have sustainable sources of income,” Governor Solon said.

A memorandum of understanding is underway.  The government and ALKFI shall work hand in hand in poverty alleviation by developing eco-tourism sites and livelihood projects that will benefit underprivileged communities.  The province shall mainly develop tourism areas; ALKFI shall facilitate and fund the media exposure and advertising.

Villagers and officials in the barangays and municipalities vowed to support the project and showed enthusiasm in the program.  It was initially agreed that the project will be launched formally in March. (Charito S. Ansagay/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)