“Every word and name tells a tale and serves as a beacon pointing to its history and roots.”
Names are the fingerprints of our identity, each unique and steeped in heritage. In every name, there is a history—a narrative waiting to be told. Behind every name lies a story, a legacy, an identity.
In Malaybalay, the City of Bukidnon, in a particular place, Sitio Manalog, there is a particular tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation, Hinabol, hinabol weaving, a traditional hand-woven fabric created by the Higaonon tribe. The fabric is highly regarded for its detailed patterns and its vibrant variety of colors, they are obtained by using abaca fibers and natural dyes in traditional weaving processes. Each completed piece of hinabol is a work of art that symbolizes the tradition, cultural heritage, and craftsmanship of the Higaon people.
The Process of making hinabol:
- Harvesting: They use abaca fibers, it is harvested and sun-dried
- Spinning: The sun-dried fibers are then spun into a ball of yarn
- Dyeing: For the dyeing process, they use natural plant-based dyes for coloring the yarn.
- Weaving: The dyed yarn is then woven into fabric using their traditional looms.
Every piece of hinabol has a symbolic meaning for the Higoan, it symbolizes resilience and artistry. Every woven fabric and pattern is connected to the Higoan Tribes, beliefs, stories, and their daily life, it is not only a craft but also a communal activity to encourage the tribe members’ unity and sense of cultural identity. The word “hinabol” means “woven happiness”, it is considered as a joyful activity of the Higoan Tribe.
Hinabol is recognized as a cultural gem today. A lot of effort is being made to keep this old trade alive and teach it to the next generation. In addition to encouraging sustainable practices and conserving indigenous knowledge, it provides a living for a large number of Higaonon families.
Every strand of the woven clothes has a story to tell, every colorful dye of the strand has every joyful moment that they are woven. Hinabol is one of the gems of Malaybalay that need to be preserved and to pass their tradition to the next generation to keep it alive. Indeed hinabol is a woven of happiness of the people weaving it.
