Lake Sebu: Living with the T’boli

During my much-anticipated visit to Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, I had the opportunity to experience spending a night in an indigenous home. The T’boli are one of the numerous non-Islamic indigenous peoples – or lumads – in Mindanao. They once occupied a majority of the island, but due to the arrival of Christian migrants from Luzon and Visayas in the early 20th century, as well as sporadic ethno-political conflicts, they have been pushed to highland areas such as the municipality of Lake Sebu. Modernization and evangelization have changed the way of life of many of these ethnic groups, with their heritage and traditions quickly fading away.

IMG_9298
My T’boli host Maria dressing up her daughter.

Like my trip to Kalinga last year, homestays are the best way to experience local cultures and directly help their communities. Rather than staying at the touristy lakeside resorts, an enriching way to experience Lake Sebu is by staying with a T’boli family. Oyog “Maria” Todi Arroz is a T’boli cultural worker who occasionally hosts travelers at her tribal hut in Brgy. Lambanig. Her traditional house is located beside a T’boli primary school that runs through an NGO she also founded, the Schools for Indigenous Knowledge and Traditions (SIKAT). Since 1994, Maria has established non-profit organizations that promote T’boli arts and culture through the Helubong Cultural Dance Troupe, and uplift the education and livelihood of indigenous peoples through the Kesetifun Cultural Care Foundation.

Lake Sebu
Tilapia fish pens at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

The spacious tribal hut was first built as a performance space for the dance troupe, but later on become a guesthouse for visiting researchers and documentarists. Built on a hill overlooking the placid lake, Maria’s longhouse is built with nipa palm, bamboo and hardwood. Inside, the rectangular floor plan is composed of a central living area called lowo, surrounded by elevated sleeping areas called blaba, where during day Maria and her friends sit by the large windows, making traditional beadwork jewelry to sell as souvenirs.

T'boli Dinner at Homestay
A traditional T’boli meal of tilapia, keteng (freshwater clams) and eggplant.

Dinner was the most memorable part of my stay. Maria served a traditional feast on large woven bamboo mat: stewed tilapia – Lake Sebu’s primary produce, eggplant salad and keteng (freshwater clam) soup. Warm rice was wrapped in large leaves called duon lmenge, which we used as plates. Together with her children and nephews, we enjoyed our meal at the lowo, lit by an oil lamp made from a tin can, as Maria shared stories about her life and her efforts to preserve and share T’boli heritage and traditions. Her strength and determination to overcome the personal challenges she faced and her selfless commitment to preserving her people’s heritage and culture are truly inspiring.

HOW TO GET THERE: From General Santos, ride a bus to Koronadal (Marbel), PHP 65 (non-AC, 1 hr). Then catch another one to Surallah, PHP 28 (AC, 30 mins). From Surallah, take the final ride to Lake Sebu aboard a jeepney (PHP 36.50, 45 mins) or hire a motorbike (PHP 100, 1-2 pax, 30 mins).

T'boli Homestay
Maria’s traditional homestay at Brgy. Lambanig

WHERE TO STAY: Maria’s homestay is located at Brgy. Lambanig, Lake Sebu, Cotabato. When you take a jeepney or motorbike from Surallah, tell the driver to drop you off near the SIKAT-T’boli school. Bring a sleeping bag as it gets very cold at night. Maria does not specify a rate for her homestay. PHP 200 per night would be a fair rate (excluding meals). I encourage visitors to donate more for the upkeep of the house, and to support her NGOs. Contact Maria Todi at +639066345367.

5 Replies to “Lake Sebu: Living with the T’boli”

  1. Myx says:

    Interesting. I was in Lake Sebu earlier this month for the SOCCSKSARGEN EXperience Tour (S3X Tour for short LOL) and I am planning to go back there soon. I think staying in a house of a T’boli will make this experience a bit more rewarding. I-bookmark ko ito and might just go there soon. Gusto ko rin bumalik ng Davao del Sur and stay with the Bagobo tribe 😀

    Mica of http://www.senyorita.net

  2. Thanks Myx! Lake Sebu is definitely one of those places I’d love visiting again and again. Tell me about your Bagobo experience when you get to homestay with them. Good luck on your trip and thanks for dropping a line! =)

  3. Thanks Wade! I’m glad to have convinced you and Coz to stay in the Philippines longer. Awesome posts on your blog – reading them right now!

  4. THanks for posting Ed! See you at Helubong Festival on November.

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Welcome to my website! I’m travel writer, photographer and online influencer Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap from the Philippines. Join me as I hike, dive, fly, eat and do pretty much anything in between across 7,641 islands and beyond. Need to reach me? Please write me an email.

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