The Rich Tapestry of T'nalak Festival
Text and photography by Jojie Alcantara
(Published in Manila Bulletin August 1, 2010)

The T'nalak Festival is a prestigious annual event highlighting the famous t'nalak fabric that symbolizes the culture of South Cotabato. The province is a key player in the merging of South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City (SOCSARGEN), one of the country's fastest growing development clusters. SOCSARGEN serves as a gateway for the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The festival is celebrated on July 13-18 during the foundation anniversary of South Cotabato, with major activities held in Koronadal, the provincial center of administration. Embracing "unity in diversity" with this year's festival theme "One Dynamic People; One Vibrant Spirit", the province is home to beautiful ethnic groups like the Manobos, B'laans, Maguindanaoans and the T'bolis.

The traditional t'nalak cloth is handwoven by the T’bolis in a long, steady process of dyeing, heating, and beating. With designs conceived out of the weavers' dreams, intense and unique striking colors are produced in its material. This symbolic woven dreams is an integral part of the South Cotabato heritage, whose dynamic progress weaves a harmonic yet intricate tapestry of peoples, culture and traditions.

Apart from the innovative agri-trade expos, exciting competitions, sports and parades, the highlight of this festival is the street dancing competition, featuring a dazzling display of colors from performers garbed in traditional costumes.

The provincial government of South Cotabato has launched the “Balik South Cotabato Program,” an effort to unite global South Cotabateños who have “expanded horizons on foreign shores”. In accordance with the tourism philosophy that “the greatest journey is the one that takes you home,” this project aims to unite and reach out to those who live and work abroad by inviting them to visit home during provincial big events like the highly celebrated T'nalak Festival.

For more information on the festival and South Cotabato, visit www.southcotabato.gov.ph.

* * * *