Neyem Sarangani Adventure – Malapatan’s Weaving Center

As we go south of Sarangani, we visited this small nipa house along the highway where all textiles were made by using this wooden machine and their bare hands and feet. It was really amazing to see these Balungis Women (Balungis is a place in Tuyan, Malapatan) in actual doing this traditional way on making cloth. Nakikita ko lang sila through television documentaries. Malapatan is situated after the town of Alabel, around 45-minute travel from General Santos City.

*Balungis Women doing the Hand Woven Cloth. Snapshots by Ate Leah Valle.
Balungis Women’s Association is a group of women in Balungis, Tuyan, Malapatan where they are active in making and weaving clothes. Karamihan sa gawa nila ay ini-export as far as USA, Japan and Europe. These women are making money though weaving plus they also helping their community to improve its primary necessities. Most of their products are Inaul, Hand Woven Cloth, Malong, Shawl, Leis and other accessories. The good thing about them is they preserved the cultural way on making woven cloth. And this may be passed on their generations through generations.

If you want to see and buy their hand-made works, visit them along National Highway, Balungis, Tuyan, Malapatan, Sarangani Province or you may call their President, Ms. Janaira S. Magangcong through her mobile phone 09061052618 or e-mail her at balungiswomenassociation@yahoo.com


Balungis Women’s Association is a proud sponsor of Neyem Sarangani Adventure 2010. Special thanks to SOCSKSARGEN Bloggers, the Department of Trade and Industry and Provincial Government of Sarangani.