National Living Treasures: Barbara Ofong

For over 50 years, Bo’i Barbara has consistently crafted the finest T’nalak, her exceptional skill and deep knowledge guided by her spiritual connection to Fu Dalu, the guardian spirit of abaca. As a dreamweaver, she artistically conveys T’boli cosmology, human relationships, and respect for nature through more than 90 intricate patterns, utilizing natural dyes in her work.

Her extraordinary visual memory and mastery of abaca weaving are evident in each intricate T’nalak design, reflecting a profound bond with her T’boli homeland, Lake Sebu. Every woven piece embodies the essence of the T’boli universe, where ancestral spirits and generations of weavers continue to reside.