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Chapter 7 TBOLI

The T'boli tribe lives in the province of South Cotabato in the Philippines. They number between 100,000-227,000 people and derive their livelihood from the three major lakes in their area. The traditional T'boli house is large with a central living area called the "lowo" where most activities take place. It has walls of bamboo, a thatched nipa roof, and bamboo construction throughout. The house features elevated areas for seating, weaving, and sleeping. It has specific terminology for its various parts like the "blaba" weaving area, "tembubong" windows, and "aut" notched bamboo ladder.

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1K views5 pages

Chapter 7 TBOLI

The T'boli tribe lives in the province of South Cotabato in the Philippines. They number between 100,000-227,000 people and derive their livelihood from the three major lakes in their area. The traditional T'boli house is large with a central living area called the "lowo" where most activities take place. It has walls of bamboo, a thatched nipa roof, and bamboo construction throughout. The house features elevated areas for seating, weaving, and sleeping. It has specific terminology for its various parts like the "blaba" weaving area, "tembubong" windows, and "aut" notched bamboo ladder.

Uploaded by

Myke Ang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1.

7 T’BOLI

The People

The T’boli tribe is an old indigenous people found in the province of South

Cotabato, in an area circumscribed by the three towns of Suralla, Polomolok, and

Kiamba. They are also called T'boli, Tiboli, and Tagabili. Located within this triangle

are three major lakes, namely Lake Sebu, the largest and the most culturally

significant; Lake Siluton, the deepest; and Lake Lahit, the smallest. The Tboli derives

most of their livelihood from these three lakes.

Population estimates of the T’boli range from a low of 100,000 to a high of

227,000 (NCCP-PACT 1988). The National Museum census, as of November 1991 in

South Cotabato records 68,282 Tboli. (Velasco 1998)

The T’boli House

The house of the tribal affairs is usually bigger than that of the lower social

class. It has a big “lowo” or central living room where most of the activities are

conducted. At the side is the “blaba” or the weaving area where the woman of the

house weave the tinalak from abaca fibers. The house has a main entrance and six

lowering windows, two on each side. The elevated perimeter serves as the seating

and sleeping area. The center serves as the area to settle arguments, conduct

weddings or baptism.

Walai: Vernacular Houses of Southern Mindanao


Figure 1. Perspective

Figure 2. The Floor plan

Construction Methods

The walls are made of flattened bamboo laid vertically and clipped together by

Walai: Vernacular Houses of Southern Mindanao


bamboo strips. These panels are tied to the bamboo posts. Thatch roof from nipa

covered the structure resting on bamboo rafters. The rafters are tied to bamboo girts.

The aut or ladder is constructed fro notched bamboo pieces. Primary and secondary

bamboo posts carry the house, which rests on stones on bare earth. The flooring is

made from bamboo strips nailed or tied to bamboo floor frames.

Figure 3. The Elevations

Figure 4. Cross Section

Walai: Vernacular Houses of Southern Mindanao


Figure 5. Stair Detail

Figure 6. Post and Rafter Detail

Figure 7. Post and Girt Connection

Walai: Vernacular Houses of Southern Mindanao


Terminology

1. Lowo- body of house. The main hall with flattened bamboo flooring (afus)

where major activities of the house takes place

2. Blaba-raised afus area for weaving, sitting and conversing

3. Tembubong – sections of wall that can be lowered horizontally as a

window opening

4. Desyung-raised “afus”, area of honor under the “klabu”

5. Klabu- Canopy; this is where the family’s wealth are kept.

6. Igam- mats used to entertain important visitors

7. Defel- sleeping area usually separated by sawali wall from the blaba

located at the rear or the sides of the blaba; cubicles are constructed when

there is more than one wife.

8. Bakdol- entrance, traditionally with notched bamboo ladder or “aut”

9. Aut- notched bamboo ladder

10. Laan Gunu – Underside of the house to keep feeds of animals usually

horses. The number of post of the house depends on the number of horses

that the homeowner has. Usually the Datu has many horses. Only well

loved animals can be kept under the house.

11. Kohu- kitchen

Walai: Vernacular Houses of Southern Mindanao

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