LANG DULAY:

Weaving Dreams, Preserving Culture

“Behind these fabrics are patterns that hold a story, thread that speak of dreams”

Step into the world of Lang Sapiaen Dulay, where timeless artistry and cultural heritage prevails. Lang Dulay, the legendary T’nalak weaver, crafts not only mere fabrics but weaves thread that carries stories. Stories that symbolize the essence of their culture and identity.

Artist

Art Gallery

Weaving Process

Enchant yourself with the intricate patterns of each weave and delve into what they whisper to you.

Who is Lang Dulay?

T’nalak Master Weaver & GAMABA Artist

Lang Sapiaen Dulay is a traditional Filipino weaver and a T’boli princess, known as the “T’nalak Master Weaver.” She was from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and was born on August 3, 1928. She started weaving at the age of 12, learning the sacred craft from her mother, Luan Senig. She passed away in 2015 at the age of 86.

She crafted about a hundred designs of patterns, each with different stories. Each of these were based on her dreams, making her the “dreamweaver”.

In 1998, Lang Dulay received the National Living Treasure (Manlilikha ng Bayan) award from the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for her contribution in Philippine culture and art. She was honored for both her commitment to maintaining their culture and identity and her extraordinary skill in weaving T'nalak clothing. Her intricately woven T'nalak textiles serve as a representation of the T'boli people's excellent weaving traditions and their rich heritage.

Embedded in her legacy is Manlilikha ng Bayan Center, the weaving center she established to teach young generations of T’boli weavers. Aside from weaving on her own, she envisioned keeping the T’boli tradition alive and empowering their identity. She believed that maintaining traditional ways of life was essential, even in the face of globalization and modernization.

Weaving Process

Abaca plant stems are stripped to get the fibers and the good and finest fibers are selected.

Selected fibers are connected together and dyed in red, black, and white, which are the colors representing the T’boli tribe. They dye it by boiling the abaca strands with the roots of a loco tree to get a red color, leaves and fruits of a kanalum tree for black.

After cooking for about 1 month, the fibers are then tied by a hand on a bamboo “bed-tying” frame.

The tied fibers are interlaced vertically and horizontally to create the intricate T’nalak cloth.