Marilyn Dulay: Keeping the Torch of the T'boli Weaving Heritage Alive
by Martha Rodriguez
When I visited the National Living Treasure Awardee, Lang Dulay, the great T’boli dreamweaver in Lake Sebu back in 2012, I do remember meeting one of her nieces, Marilyn Dulay. She helped me communicate with Lang Dulay and those were the first and last moments I had the greatest joy and privilege of being with one of our VESTI heroes.
Then came the global and national state of health emergency in 2020. Everything was suddenly thrusted into uncertainty. My team and I at VESTI were really concerned about the people who we work with especially of the indigenous tribes that we collaborate with in our products. In an unassuming afternoon, serendipitously, I saw Marilyn’s posts about her T’nalak fabrics. Distinctly beautiful and proud, I had to reach out to her to ask how she’s handling the pandemic and at the same time order fabrics to be created for our next collection.
Marilyn started weaving when she was 15 years old. She was being taught by her grandmother Lang Dulay and for more than 26 years, she continues to weave T’nalak fabrics honoring her. Her favourite pattern is the Gemewet or courtship design. She said it was her grandmother who taught her how to weave and to continue loving their tradition.
"Ang pinaka mahalagang alala kay Lang Dulay ay nang dahil na kilala ang tribu namin at ang lugar ng South Cotabato bilang "the land of the dreamweavers."
Her drive to continue the legacy of her tribe and family astounds us at VESTI especially seeing her passing on their traditions to the kids and adolescents of their village. The very same tradition of handweaving that helps keep them afloat during this pandemic.
“bilang isang manghahabi, hangad at pangarap ko na ipagpapatuloy ko ang napagsimulan ni lola. Sa sarili ko at sa buong mundo. At dahil ito ang pinagkukunan namin ng pang araw araw na pangangailangan lalo na ngayon na may pandemya.”
It is always heartwarming for us whenever we reach out and stay connected with our dearest weavers. To be able to continue meeting passionate individuals that we join hands with through shared appreciation on culture, tradition, and heritage. In that afternoon conversation with Marilyn, at the height of the pandemic, it reminded me of why we are keen on pushing and keep developing VESTI - for our stories and theirs,
“Ang pinakadakilang kagalakan at pag-asa ko ang pagtulong sa kapwa. At ako’y nagalak sa lahat na sumusuporta at bumili ng aming produkto lalo na ngayong pandemya”
For interests on various products thatMarilyn and her tribe make, you may directly contact her with this link
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