Ki Bathala Gardens

28/03/2026

Stones

28/03/2026

Like ripples in space time

28/03/2026

22/03/2026

Nature feels like a gentle reset button

22/03/2026

22/03/2026

Amazing Upland Traditional Farming 🌾 Art ✍️🥲

22/03/2026

22/03/2026

If not Bahag, what do the Monuvu actually wear?

Well, if you actually read E. Arsenio Manuel (you know, the source of Bienvenido Lumbera's libretto for Tales from the Manuvu), he took pictures

This is one of them, from his 1975 book 'Tuwaang Attends a Wedding'

At center is one of Manuel's major sources, the celebrated Datu Duyan Suhat. He is flanked by his two wives, Aklin and her sister Udna. The photo was taken in Lumut, in what is today Arakan but what was then Kidapawan, sometime in 1956

Not much has changed in their attire

All three are wearing the Umpak, long sleeved vests that are usually embroidered in plaids and star-like shapes using sequins.

Datu Duyan is wearing a Tongkuu, the headress of tie-dyed cloth adorned with tassels called Pohungpung which serves as regalia for a datu

He is also wearing a Sow-aa, short pants usually knee or slightly above knee length. The picture is unclear but the Sow-aa is traditionally made of Inavoo (cloth usually made of abaca), made in the rare and challenging style called Oruwa Tolliyan (double heddle weave). They are also, as seems to be the case with Datu Duyan's Sow-aa, usually embroidered

The women, on the other hand, wear the Detdet, a skirt traditionally made of Inavoo. Again since the picture is not clear it is not certain if their skirts are made of abaca, as cotton and silk cloth traded from the Moros and the Settlers is also often used. Udna seems to be wearing a Detdet in the pattern called Kinatkat, a stripped pattern common in Inavoo, while Aklin's Detdet looks like they have been tie-dyed (Tutup)

The Monuvu share many clothing traditions with neighbouring cultures, but they have their own presence in the long and vibrant history of Mindanao fashion

No need for bahag and feathers

22/03/2026

This , we're featuring the discovery of a rare 𝙍𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙖 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖 deep within the forests of the Kibongcog Tigwahanon Ancestral Domain in Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines.

This extraordinary discovery reflects the hidden wonders of our forests and the importance of safeguarding them for future generations.

These ecosystems, cared for by Indigenous communities, are also home to the Philippine Eagle, our national bird. Protecting forests means protecting life.

Read the full article here 👉 https://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/post/flower-of-the-mischievous-spirits-giant-rafflesia-discovered-in-philippine-eagle-forests-of-bukid

22/03/2026

Rajah Colambu of Limasawa was described by Antonio Pigafetta as one of the “best-dressed” rulers he encountered. He wore heavy gold chains and garments made of fine silk embroidered with gold thread—showcasing the wealth and craftsmanship of pre-colonial Filipino societies.

This account reveals that early Filipino leaders were far from primitive; they were part of thriving trade networks and had access to luxury goods from across Asia. Gold, in particular, was abundant and widely used, reflecting a sophisticated culture long before colonization.