A local lady is trimming off BioLuochun leaves to make green tea materials

BiLuochun green tea produced with traditional techniques

The Darangen is an ancient epic song that encompasses a wealth of knowledge of the Maranao people who live in the Lake Lanao region of Mindanao. This southernmost island of the Philippine archipelago is the traditional homeland of the Maranao, one of the country’s three main Muslim groups.\nComprising 17 cycles and a total of 72,000 lines, the Darangen celebrates episodes from Maranao history and the tribulations of mythical heroes. In addition to having a compelling narrative content, the epic explores the underlying themes of life and death, courtship, love and politics through symbol, metaphor, irony and satire. The Darangen also encodes customary law, standards of social and ethical behaviour, notions of aesthetic beauty, and social values specific to the Maranao. To this day, elders refer to this time-honoured text in the administration of customary law.\nMeaning literally “to narrate in song”, the Darangen existed before the Islamization of the Philippines in the fourteenth century and is part of a wider epic culture connected to early Sanskrit traditions extending through most of Mindanao.\nSpecialized female and male performers sing the Darangen during wedding celebrations that typically last several nights. Performers must possess a prodigious memory, improvisational skills, poetic imagination, knowledge of customary law and genealogy, a flawless and elegant vocal technique, and the ability to engage an audience during long hours of performance. Music and dance sometimes accompany the chanting.

The Darangen is an ancient epic song that encompasses a wealth of knowledge of the Maranao people who live in the Lake Lanao region of Mindanao. This southernmost island of the Philippine archipelago is the traditional homeland of the Maranao, one of the country’s three main Muslim groups.\nComprising 17 cycles and a total of 72,000 lines, the Darangen celebrates episodes from Maranao history and the tribulations of mythical heroes. In addition to having a compelling narrative content, the epic explores the underlying themes of life and death, courtship, love and politics through symbol, metaphor, irony and satire. The Darangen also encodes customary law, standards of social and ethical behaviour, notions of aesthetic beauty, and social values specific to the Maranao. To this day, elders refer to this time-honoured text in the administration of customary law.\nMeaning literally “to narrate in song”, the Darangen existed before the Islamization of the Philippines in the fourteenth century and is part of a wider epic culture connected to early Sanskrit traditions extending through most of Mindanao.\nSpecialized female and male performers sing the Darangen during wedding celebrations that typically last several nights. Performers must possess a prodigious memory, improvisational skills, poetic imagination, knowledge of customary law and genealogy, a flawless and elegant vocal technique, and the ability to engage an audience during long hours of performance. Music and dance sometimes accompany the chanting.

Enjoying Thingyan Pwe at Kandawgyi Lake

Ear-Ring Batyr Lake, 3rd century

Innlay Lake

Bamboo instrument s’ludoy, Lake Sebu, Mindanao Island, Philippines. 1996

Inta fishermen, Inle Lake, Myanmar. 1993

The Batak tribe has a population of over 8 million, making it the largest indigenous community in Indonesia. They live in the area near Lake Toba, the world’s largest volcanic lake in Sumatra. ‘Tandok’ is the basket that Batak women fill with rice during harvest season to express gratitude to the gods. To the Bataks with a deep-rooted agrarian culture, tandok is a sacred symbol of the life and survival of the community. Embas Tandok is performed during a traditional Batak ritual where the tandok is brought over, usually by 4 female dancers. The dancers wear the traditional black and red Batak costume, and use the tandok, ulos (traditional handwoven textile in the shape of a long scarf), and a sarong. The dance is performed in a traditional stage to the music of a Gondang (traditional Sumatran music ensemble). Embas Tandok is an expression of the Batak people’s prayer for longevity, the unity of the family community, and respect for their ancestors on the occasion of the rice harvest.\n\nCharacteristics:\n∙Danced by female dancers\n∙Originated from a ritual to give thanks for the rice harvest\n\nPerformed by Marwar Budaya Dance Atelier\nDirected by Maria Sofia Trimawarsanti\nChoreographed by Maria Sofia Trimawarsanti

The Batak tribe has a population of over 8 million, making it the largest indigenous community in Indonesia. They live in the area near Lake Toba, the world’s largest volcanic lake in Sumatra. ‘Tandok’ is the basket that Batak women fill with rice during harvest season to express gratitude to the gods. To the Bataks with a deep-rooted agrarian culture, tandok is a sacred symbol of the life and survival of the community. Embas Tandok is performed during a traditional Batak ritual where the tandok is brought over, usually by 4 female dancers. The dancers wear the traditional black and red Batak costume, and use the tandok, ulos (traditional handwoven textile in the shape of a long scarf), and a sarong. The dance is performed in a traditional stage to the music of a Gondang (traditional Sumatran music ensemble). Embas Tandok is an expression of the Batak people’s prayer for longevity, the unity of the family community, and respect for their ancestors on the occasion of the rice harvest.\n\nCharacteristics:\n∙Danced by female dancers\n∙Originated from a ritual to give thanks for the rice harvest\n\nPerformed by Marwar Budaya Dance Atelier\nDirected by Maria Sofia Trimawarsanti\nChoreographed by Maria Sofia Trimawarsanti