As part of the media team covering the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines’ (TPB) Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Workshop program, I often find myself in the enviable position of exploring the nearby attractions of the chosen communities.
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| Members of the Mandaya community poses for a group photo at the conclusion of their 3-day workshop |
While I am given the luxury of seeing landscapes and cultures with
fresh eyes, those behind the #CBT initiative do the painstaking work that makes
these visits possible. Their responsibilities go far beyond logistics. They
involve the delicate, often slow, process of engaging communities, earning
trust, and working in places where culture, livelihood, and local identity are
tightly interwoven.
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| Rolled up colorful dagmay cloth creations of the Mandaya weavers |
TPB’s
Domestic Tourism Promotions department keeps the program in motion by first
identifying a community whose traditions or natural environment deserve both
protection and support. What follows are days and weeks of
relationship-building: listening to local leaders, coordinating with LGU
units, conducting repeated site visits, before the long and meticulous task of
facilitating the workshop itself can begin. The chosen communities are
typically located in areas where the surrounding environment needs safeguarding,
or where long-standing cultural practices remain alive yet vulnerable, often
in need of government assistance, training, and renewed visibility.
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| with Samporonia Madanlo, a GAMABA (National Living Treasure) awardee from Davao Oriental, known for her mastery of weaving the dagmay and baylan |
One such trip that I recall fondly involves members of the Mandaya ethnic group in the ancestral domain of Sitio Sangab, located in the municipality of Caraga, Davao Oriental. They became a partner community of the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB)'s CBT program.
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| Apple Alison, the facilitator of the 3-day Community Based Tourism workshop conducted by the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines (TPB). |
As one of the 11 major ethnic
groups in the Davao Region, the Mandaya people hold a cultural identity steeped
in an artistry rooted in land and ancestry. Their iconic Dagmay — a handwoven,
mud-dyed textile adorned with traditional motifs — is not merely a fabric. It
is a visual narrative of their myths, beliefs, and relationship with the
natural world. Complemented by intricate embroidery passed down through
generations, these crafts form a cultural identity at risk of being
overshadowed by modern creations.
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| Alberto Gadia from the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines |
For
many younger Mandaya, pursuing traditional weaving competes with the draw of
more contemporary livelihood options. To preserve the art form, it has become
essential not only to teach the youth about its cultural significance but also
to show that heritage and economic sustainability can reinforce each other
rather than exist in conflict.
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| Mandaya youth after a cultural performance |
The three-day Marketing Enhancement Program, held in Sitio Sangab, sought precisely this balance. Participants were introduced to the language of modern commerce: product development, branding, social media strategy (they were even asked to create a video reel introducing their creations), and even the nuances of collaborating with fashion designers and importers.
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| Showing off her Community Based Tourism workshop certificate of participation |
They learned how to
position their work in markets that increasingly value authenticity and
craftsmanship. More importantly, they were taught how to navigate these
opportunities without sacrificing the integrity of their traditions.
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| A Mandaya woman wearing their traditional dagmay clothes and intricate beads they also create |
In
an era when many regional art forms across the Philippines face the threat of
fading into memory, these workshops serve as timely reminders: communities can
thrive while honoring their heritage. The Mandaya weavers of Caraga are not
merely preserving a century-old tradition. They are weaving a future where
culture, empowerment, and livelihood can coexist — strong threads bound
together by their own hands.
