DREAM
WEAVER
DREAM
WEAVER
Likhang Lang Dulay
Lang Dulay’s works as a t’nalak weaver is said to to be acknowledged by the GAMABA Awards for its contribution in preserving her tribes identity and history through her weaved t’nalak cloths that are made with very intricate designs or pattern which represents a part of her tribe’s story.
After being recognized Lang Dulay started her workshop known as “Manlilikha ng Bayan Center”, a two story modernized straw house, located at Sitio Tukolefa, Lamdalag, Lake Sebu.
In her workshop a few t'nalak weavers could be found who are also called as dreamweavers because of the belief that their designs are inspired by their dreams.
You can also see some of her works inside the workshop with some of it containing 3 of her famous patterns which are bulinglangit (clouds), bankiring (hair bangs), and kabangi (butterfly).
Bulinglangit (clouds)
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Bankiring (Hair Bangs)
Kabangi (Butterfly)
As Lang Dulay reached around the age of 90’s she stopped weaving and instead focused on creating designs for other dreamweavers in her workshop to weave.
It is believed that the abaca fibers used in making the t’nalak cloth were manually gathered by the t’boli women, specifically the weavers, before being stripped using a metal stripper. Once the abaca has been stripped it is then laid on a bamboo frame tied with straw ropes to create a pattern before boiling it with dye. Once the dyed fibers are dried it is then weaved into what is generally known as t’nalak cloths. Usually a t’nalak cloth would take up to 3-5 months depending on the difficulty of the design with each cloth measuring up to 7 meters. After weaving the cloth it is then polished with seashell before putting it on display to market the t’nalak cloth to the public.
A t’nalak cloth made by a regular dreamweaver is said to rate from 500 pesos to 700 pesos per meter. On the other hand a cloth that is weaved or signed by Lang Dulay herself can be priced from 1,200 pesos and over due to its intricacy of design.
