On the coronary heart of our go to to the Caraga municipality is the Neighborhood-Based mostly Tourism (CBT) mission by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), in collaboration with the Mandaya Ethnic Group within the uplands ancestral area of Sangab, Caraga, Davao Oriental. Whereas exploring Caraga to showcase its pure wonders and sights, a portion of our group is actively concerned with the Mandayas, implementing a “Advertising Enhancement Program” and offering important “starter-kits” (threads, beads, cotton, and so on.), in addition to gear similar to stitching machines and back-strap weaving looms.
The Mandaya
The Mandaya, one of many 11 ethnic teams in Davao, holds the excellence of being one of many oldest and largest ethnic teams within the nation. Their tradition, extremely wealthy and illustrious, has persevered via generations. The Mandaya neighborhood in Sangab has retained its conservative methods, fostering unity inside their neighborhood.
The time period “Mandaya” was derived from the phrases “man,” which means “from,” and “daya,” which means “upstream” or “uplands.” They’re merely known as folks from the headwaters of Kal’lagan, now referred to as the Caraga River.
Mandaya Artistry
The Mandaya’s distinctive mud-dyed Dagmay textile, together with the intricate beadwork and patterns of their clothes, is really a marvel. TPB can be working intently with the neighborhood to help in advertising and marketing their craft whereas making certain the preservation of the importance and context of their designs via a research targeted on “Cultural Sensitivity and Appropriation.”
The Liwagan
In regards to the intricacies of using Mandaya dagmay textile for garbs or apparel, the Liwagan: Mandaya Academic Heritage and Analysis Heart, housed throughout the Colegio de Caraga constructing, sheds some gentle. Due to Norma Gonos, the Indigenous Folks Affairs Advisor, who helped arrange the analysis middle, there’s now a reputable useful resource for all in regards to the historical past, tradition, and traditions of the Mandayas. Except for books, artifacts, and a weaving demo space, the middle shows the numerous names of ornaments adorning a Mandaya apparel, particularly for ladies.
It was an honor to be warmly welcomed into the Mandaya neighborhood in Caraga, witnessing real smiles and the keenness of their eyes because the workshop in Sangab opened up new potentialities for his or her neighborhood. Could the seeds planted throughout our go to proceed to develop as their neighborhood step by step embraces tourism.
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning journey photographer, author and blogger. His works has discovered print in publications similar to Singapore Airways’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airways’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has additionally lent his experience to varied organizations just like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Basis, Save the Youngsters and World Imaginative and prescient, contributing high quality photos for his or her advertising and marketing supplies.
