MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

GENERAL SANTOS CITY

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

ENGLISH 155- FOLKLORE

TBOLI: A MIRROR OF THE PAST

PROF. IRINEO S. PELAYO

PROFESSOR
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
II. FOLK LITERATURE
A. MYTHS
B. LEGENDS
C. FOLK SPEECH
D. FOLKS SONGS
III. MATERIAL CULTURE
IV. VALUES
INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is a rich country in terms of cultural diversity as the country is

filled with ethnics groups. Numerous tribes are scattered all over the country: The

Igorots from the north, The Manyan in Visayas, and the Lumads from the South. They

encountered many trials and tribulations that threatens their way of living. Long ago,

when foreigners first landed in the Philippines, they brought diseases to which these

native people have no immunity and they succumb to the illness. The arrival of religion

in the country brought a conflict in terms of beliefs and traditions as these people

practice Animism-They worship and revere things found in nature. But the worst

problem of all is that they are forced to abandon their homes in the plains and valleys

and were forced into the mountains. However, against all odds, these native groups

manage to survive and persist into the new age. It is worth noting that their tenacity is

unmatched.

Folklore is the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed

through the generations verbally. As the Philippines are filled with native people, it is

also filled with countless traditions. Studying their folklores will help them preserve their

identity in the modern world.

Here in Mindanao, particularly in the Cotabato area, one ethnic group is still living

in prosperity: The TBoli people. The TBoli are one of the major ethnic groups that

inhabit the Island of Mindanao. Before contact with modern civilization, they lived for

centuries in the rich forest sustaining themselves through foraging and hunting. In the

present, they have mixed in into the modern world but their traditions and beliefs are
well preserved. Their folklore is very rich, and we are very lucky that we are exposed to

them.

This paper aims to present their identity-their way of life- to the readers. With the

help of Prof. Bao Baay and Mrs. Rosie Sula, we are introduced to the traditions of the

Tboli and various articles found in the internet.

FOLK LITERATURE- MYTHS

The TBolis are an animistic ethnic group. They worship and believe that there

are deities present all around them in the form of nature. The TBoli, like all other tribes

and native groups have their own myth of origin.

In the TBoli origin myth, the god Dwata warns humans of a coming deluge. La

Bebe, La Lomi, Tmefeles, and La Kagef hide inside a huge bamboo. After the waters

recede, the four split their way out of the bamboo. La Bebe and La Lomi married,

becoming the ancestors of the Christian Filipinos. La Kagef and Tmfeles also join and

go on to produce 10 sons and daughters. Of these, Bou and Umen are the ancestors of

the Tboli. The other 8 form couples; their descendants are the other non-Christian

peoples of Mindanao, both Muslim and non-Muslim.

FOLK LITERATURE- LEGEND OF TUDBULUL

A hero is always an integral part of any civilization. It sets a standard that all men

must follow and women must admire. A hero is an embodiment of a culture: a symbol

that should be unique and must bear the identity of the people. TBolis have one such

hero- Tudbulul, The folk hero of Tboli

The story of Tudbulul is told through an epic, performed by singing or chanting.

There is no fixed way of performing the epic as the interpretation is varied according to

the chanter and the condition of nature. The performance will also vary according to the

singers condition: reaching a high note one day and not reaching it on another.
 The story of Tudbulul is divided into four parts:

1. The Family of Tudbulul

2. The Birth of Tudbulul
3. The First marriage of Tudbulul
4. The Adventure of Tudbulul

The epic starts with the longing of Tudbululs father- Kemokul- to have a son who

will protect their community, Lemlunay. The birth of Tudbulul was the fulfillment of that

longingness. The greatness of the infant was shown together with the armor, hat, an

expensive gong and a horse- all of which was born with him. When he grew up to be a

man, Tudbulul became a hunter and went on many hunting trips and adventures.

In one of these adventures, he encountered a python which swallowed him up.

The lady of the moon, Lemfayon, found the python and cut it up into 8 pieces, rescuing

Tudbulul in the process. Tudbulul was able to return to Lemlunay and married Lemfayon.

Later on his life, Tudbulul and his family moved to a place called Lemhadong.

One day, Tudbulul organized a concert in which he gather all the known instruments and

played with them one by one with his sisters. It attracted many inhabitants of the forest,

who were very much delighted and decided to stay and live with Tudbulul: This is how

the Tboli nation was founded.

FOLK SPEECH: RIDDLES

During the course of the workshop with maam Rosie Sula, She presented

examples of Tboli riddles. The riddles she presented are plain and obvious suggesting

that the Tboli did not develop artistry in the field of riddles. For example:

Question-Bud Tu bud ni (Exhale Inhale)

Answer- Nawa (Breath)

Some riddles also take nature as an inspiration. For example:

Question- Mulu Sowu Lengeb ben Benwu (A long snake winding around the world)

Answer- Lan (Road)

Other examples:

Question- Semduk Kut ni?

Answer- hehek

Question- Hatan Mebol Ke Ntol

Answer- Seel Tnasa

FOLK SPEECH: PROVERBS

Tboli also have a wide range of proverbs. Proverbs are saying that encourage a

better attitude towards life.

Examples:

1. Ko Kay Lwadi
2. Kudel Ko
3. Mehe Ke Med
4. Mkel Ke Kemimi

FOLKSPEECH: FOLKSONGS

Tboli folksongs are stories blended with music. Their music are about the most

trivial things such as children playing and a tree on a hill.

The people have a wide range of repertoire for many events: Death, Birthday,

Wedding, Feasting, Worship, Hunting, Fishing etc.

Examples of Tboli songs:

1. Bei Mekel Ke Mekulen

2. Koyus Note Bulul
3. Beem Tagad Banus Nawahem
4. Sok Smolu Silang Kdaw
5. O Dwata Holi Kmudung (God help us and protect us)
6. Ma me Mfasang (Lord protect me where ever I go)

VALUES
 The Tboli also have their own set of values. Values are the main staple of almost

any civilization. It separates the good from the bad. It serves as a guide for the society

to follow, ensuring a better and peaceful life.

The most important value for the Tboli is courage. Almost all cultures all over the

world value the trait of being courageous. Every man should have