Large Native Containers

The alat is used for storing large objects that won’t fall through the holes of the container. If you want to know what makes an alat different from other Manobo baskets, see my March 18 post.

The lihub is made of the bark of a tree. It is used for storing grains and other items.

I made my brother stand beside a lihub for you to have an idea how large the container is.

(Blogger's note: This post is part of a series on items that the Dulangan Manobo people traditionally use in their daily lives. Special thanks to the RNDM nuns assigned in Kulaman Plateau. For more information about the series, read my introductory post or click the label Delesan Menubo below.)

Native Water Containers

The Dulangan Manobo people traditionally keep their drinking water in a sekedu, made of bamboo. The design of the spout can be playful. Most likely, actual sekedus do not have beaded ornaments, as shown in this photo.

For long-distance travels, Manobos carry water in dry and hollowed-out gourds.

(Blogger's note: This post is part of a series on items that the Dulangan Manobo people traditionally use in their daily lives. Special thanks to the RNDM nuns assigned in Kulaman Plateau. For more information about the series, read my introductory post or click the label Delesan Menubo below.)

Tools for Preparing Rice

Once rice has been harvested and dried, the lesung

(mortar) and seelu (pestle) is used to separate

the chaff from the grain.

The sinulon, made of weaved bamboo strips, is used to winnow rice.

Traditional Manobo people use a kuden tana (earthen

pot) to cook rice. Kuden literally means “pot,”

and tana means “dirt.”

(Blogger's note: This post is part of a series on items that the Dulangan Manobo people traditionally use in their daily lives. Special thanks to the RNDM nuns assigned in Kulaman Plateau. For more information about the series, read my introductory post or click the label Delesan Menubo below.)

Manobo Baskets

Get to know your Manobo baskets. Here’s a basic guide, based on the Cotabato Manobo Classified Vocabulary by the Summer Institute of Linguistics and on my own research:

baskit—round, rattan, open weave, with handle, small to medium
alat or melit—round, rattan, open weave, no handle, large
solok—round, bamboo, tightly woven, without lid, small to medium
sinagpeng—round, bamboo, tightly woven, with lid, small to medium
suladan—round, bamboo, tightly woven, large
kelepi—oval, vine, tightly woven, small
kampilu—oval, vine, tightly woven, large

Sinagpengs have lids and soloks don’t. Take note

of that very simple difference.

My bro demonstrates how the Dulangan Manobos

carry their baskets. Now you know why

the slings are unusually long.

(Blogger's note: This post is part of a series on items that the Dulangan Manobo people traditionally use in their daily lives. Special thanks to the RNDM nuns assigned in Kulaman Plateau. For more information about the series, read my introductory post or click the label Delesan Menubo below.)