Mabal is the Blaan term for the abaca weaving process. Tabih is the term for the finished hand woven cloth and it also refers to the traditional Blaan tubular skirt. Natural dyes from endemic plant species in the community are the source of colors for different designs of this indigenous textile.

"Blaan Tabih: reserve dyeing (warp – ikat); Weaving (plain); Accessorizing (applique, embroidery, added objects and braiding/twining). The Blaan Tabih is a reserve-dyed plain woven abaca." - Marian Pastor Roces, Sinaunang HABI Philippine Ancestral Weave

“Blaan women employed a particularly wide repertoire of design formats for their abaca skirts. They were also recognized throughout the region as the most accomplished embroiderers. Aside from the primary use of the Blaan Tabih for female tubular skirt, the Blaan weavers also make use of them to create embroidered hand woven abaca garments for Blaan men and as covering of important materials like knives of Blaan wise men." Roy Hamilton, From the Rainbows Varied Hue Textiles of the Southern Philippines
Philippines President Rody Duterte's Proclamation # 126 s. 2017 (signed on January 6, 2017) made Bai Yabing Masalon Dulo  as one of the 3 Manlilikha ng Bayan/National Living Treasures of the Philippines for 2016. "Whereas, Yabing Masalon Dulo, a Blaan ikat weaver from Mount Matutum, Polomolok, South Cotabato, is recognized for her commitment to the safeguarding and promotion of the Blaan mabal tabih (ikat weaving) tradition."

"In April 1992, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award was institutionalized through Republic Act No. 7355. Tasked with the administration and implementation of the Award is the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the highest policy-making and coordinating body for culture and the arts of the State. The NCCA, through the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee and an Ad Hoc Panel of Experts, conducts the search for the finest traditional artists of the land, adopts a program that will ensure the transfer of their skills to others and undertakes measures to promote a genuine appreciation of and instill pride among our people about the genius of the Manlilikha ng Bayan." - http://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/gamaba/ 

GAMABA Nomination for Bai Yabing Dulo by Leonardo Rey S. Cariño
"The journey started when she decided she is a weaver, not a farmer. No amount of proper documentation makes a GAMABA. Its her and her work." 

Photo credits: Kim Tiblani (kim windell tiblani), Leonardo Rey S. Cariño, Danny Sabino 

Bai Yabing  Masalon Dulo

Yabing Masalon Dulo served as the Cultural Master for the Blaan Weaving School of Living Tradition Project implemented back in 2005 at Sitio Lamlifew, Datal Tampal, Malungon, Sarangani Province. This SLT was funded by National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). She became a partner for the cultural preservation in Sarangani under the Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP) of former Governor Migs Dominguez. While serving as cultural resource for Sarangani, she participated in the following events:

1. WOW Mindanao 2004 Tourism Expo held at Davao City wherein she was one of the featured cultural weavers for 1 month.

2. The 2nd ASEAN Traditional Textile Symposium held in Manila last February 1-2, 2009 hosted by the National Museum of the Philippines and the Museum Foundation of the Philippines.

3. Participation to at least 3 consecutive years of the MunaTo Festival of Sarangani featuring the Blaan Mabal Weaving and Blaan Dance.

4. Honored by the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges - Blaan Studies Center as 'Kanfulung Bai" in in 2015 as an academic recognition of her artistic excellence for preserving the Blaan cultural materials from her weaving, to embroidery, and basketry.

Mabal Tabih has been a part of her life in Barangay Landan, Polomolok, South Cotabato. Back in 2002, there were 3 of them (each with an assistant) living in a Blaan weaving house established by the Blaan Evangelistic Mission teaching the younger generation in the village. The other two cultural masters died in the past years. Their knowledge on the plants where they get the natural dyes, the proper management of fiber used, the intricacy of the design based on a dream are all integral part of their spirituality and day to day living.

Right now, it is just her and her assistants, Fu Gusabin and Fu Sala that are still alive. However, she is the only one who is skilled in designing the Blaan Tabih.  Her daughter Lamena is her protégé too for close in training in designing. Her grandchildren are also stepping up in learning the Mabal Tabih culture along with some members of the Kalyak Blaan Care Group. She is the Blaan cultural master that deserves recognition for her devotion to this craft and the skills transfer she has imparted to the younger Blaan generation not just in her own community but to other Blaan Indigenous Peoples group like those in Lamlifew Tribal Women's Association in Lamlifew Village, Datal Tampal, Malungon, Sarangani Province. 
Yabing Masalon Dulo is also expert in embroidery and she makes her own Blaan costumes (Albong Takmon, Albong Sanlah, Albong Ansif) as shown below (photos by Bing Carino):

"Kanfulung Bai:Masterworks of Yabing Dulo" retrospective exhibition
Edwin Espejo, a journalist, wrote a feature article entitled "Artist, purist:Fu Yabing, the Blaan master weaver" during a community visit with the Department of Tourism Region 12 in Kalyong, Landan Polomolok. Photos below courtesy of Mr. Espejo and the DOT 12 Regional Director Nelly Nita Dillera.
During her participation at the 2nd ASEAN Traditional Textiles Symposium, a foreigner participant bought one of her early Tabih works and then donated to the National Museum of the Philippines. Below are some photos courtesy of Bing Carino.

Gusiye Buan
Gusiye Buan is from Kibala, Malungon, Sarangani Province. She is the current cultural master for the Blaan Mabal Tabih skills transfer among the Lamlifew Tribal Women's Association (LTWA) in Datal Tampal, Malungon. The LTWA receives assistance/support from the Sulong Tribu Program of Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon and partner agencies like ABS-CBN Foundation's Green Initiative Project, NCCA, Non-Profit Organizations.
Fu Gusiye is also expert in Blaan embroidery as shown in photos for some of her works (now part of a private family collection).

"Blaan warriors “who have killed one or more persons” known as lebe were permitted to wear plain red suits decorated with embroidery called Tabih Nihok in Blaan and Linombos among Tagabawa Bagobo."- Marian Pastor Roces, Sinaunang HABI

Mabal Blaan: Weaving the Threads of Heritage Exhibition

Click HERE for an article about the Blaan Tabih and the exhibition. Exhibition photos also in this link.
Video courtesy of Cocoy A. Sexcion taken during the last day of the "Mabal Blaan:Weaving the Threads of Heritage" exhibit. The weaving demonstration featured in this exhibition used a contemporary design of a Tabih done by Lamlifew Tribal Women's Association...it is not a traditional Blaan Tabih design.