21/07/2025
In Lake Sebu, embroidery is more than just an ornamentation, it's a living tradition, passed through generations and anchored in identity, memory, and the land. Among the T'boli people, where culture is deeply woven into daily life, embroidery becomes a quiet yet powerful form of storytelling.
T'boli embroidery is often done by women, using bright, carefully chosen threads to create symbolic patterns on traditional garments like the kegal nifu (blouse) and kegal bentilas (skirt). Each motif carries meaning; representing nature, ancestry, or spiritual beliefs. It's common to see geometric shapes and patterns inspired by the environment: lakes, mountains, birds, and dreams.
Two women stand out as guardians of this art form: Edna Lugan Mofak and Amelita Mindal Lugan. These culture bearers continue to practice and teach T'boli embroidery, ensuring that the tradition lives on, not just as a craft, but as a vital expression of T'boli identity.
Edna Lugan Mofak, known for her intricate beadwork and embroidery, is often seen in her home near Lake Sebu working patiently on a piece, her hands moving rhythmically, guided by years of memory and muscle. Her creations are not just beautiful, they are vessels of history. She often shares that the patterns come naturally, inherited through observation, dreams, and daily life.
Amelita Mindal Lugan, another skilled embroiderer, embodies the same commitment to cultural preservation. Her work adorns traditional attire worn during performances and rituals. She also mentors young T'boli girls, encouraging them to pick up the needle and thread not just as a hobby, but as a responsibility to their roots.
Their embroidery is not done on blank canvases, but on the fabric of lived experience; of festivals, lullabies, chants, and sacred spaces. It’s this authenticity that gives their work depth far beyond the decorative. To witness Edna or Amelita embroider is to witness a culture being kept alive, one stitch at a time.
