Lake Sebu - T'bolis. The T'boli, also known as the Tiboli or

Lake Sebu - T'bolis.

 

The T'boli, also known as the Tiboli or Tagabili  are one of the indigenous peoples of Mindanao. Their traditional lands are located in the highlands between and including the municipalities of Surallah, Kiamba and Polomolok, including the municipality of T’Boli. This area also includes the three lakes important to the T'boli: Lake Siluton, Lake Lahit, and Lake Sebu.

Some sources state that the term "T'boli" comes from "Tau-bili"; "tau" meaning "small human creature" and "bili" meaning "fruit of the wild vine". Others state that Christian settlers called the tribe "taga-bili" (buyers) in the course of their barter trade.

Muslim oral accounts, or tarsila, state that the T’boli and other highland groups originally occupied part of the lowlands of Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. However, with the advent of Islam in the 14th century, the T’boli resisted the attempts of the Muslims to convert them and retreated to the safety of the mountains. Subsequently, the Muslim tribes raided the upland tribes and enslaved those they conquered.  As a result, T’boli folk literature often portrayed the Muslims as villains. Muslim resistance to Spanish invaders prevented the Spaniards from penetrating the T’boli lands, so that Spanish influence did not reach the highland tribes. It was only in the American era that Christian elements entered the area. In 1913, the Cotabato Valley was opened up for settlement and members of the Christian ethnic groups arrived. After World War II, in 1948, the Philippine government also opened up the area to settlers, in the hope of alleviating agrarian conflicts in Luzon and the Visayas. These migrations also subsequently introduced commercial ranching, mining, and logging interests in the area. Persons and entities holding land grants and licenses began to encroach on the T’boli ancestral lands. Having no knowledge or access to the instruments of ownership recognized by the government, the T’boli began to be disenfranchised from the lands their ancestors had held since time immemorial.

The T’boli believe in a pantheon of deities, supreme among which are the sun god and the moon goddess, who reside in the seventh heaven. They have seven sons and seven daughters who end up marrying each other and who become the lesser deities. They consider a bird called muhen the god of fate, whose song is believed to cause misfortune. Aside from these deities, the T’boli believe that everything has a spirit which must be appeased for favorable fortune. Busao, or malevolent spirits, can wreak havoc on humans, causing misfortune or illness. Among the many ethnic groups in the Philippines, the Tboli stand out for their marked and characteristics penchant for personal adornment. This is evident in their costumes, body ornaments, hairstyle, and cosmetic practices. According to Tboli belief, the gods created man and woman to look attractive so that they would be drawn to each other and procreate.

 

Source: Wikipedia

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