MAGUINDANAO PEARLS | Trizha C. Talandron

 MAGUINDANAO PEARLS

I enjoy love stories and dramas, which is perhaps why I enjoy the folktale MAGUINDANAO PEARLS. Maguindanao Pearls is a Philippine folktale written by Isidro L. Reztizos. The story has been told and retold. The tale is about Sinag-Tala (daughter of Pirang Kawayan) being falsely accused by Lakambini (daughter of the Rajah) for stealing her pearls. Lakambini's actions, on the other hand, made the story more intriguing.

In this blog, I'll discuss how this story relates to Philippine history and traditions. I'd also give my thoughts on the story and my reactions to it.

  (Picture of Rajah Sulayman)

The story also revolves around the Rajah's daughter, Lakambini, who falls in love with Walang Gulat, also known as "Magiting" (son of the chief of Pasigan). Magiting, on the other hand, admires Sinag-tala, a basket weaver. The tale becomes complicated due to the love triangle. Lakambini instructed her house slave to go to Sinag-tala and demand that she weave baskets for Walang Gulat or Magiting's mother. Sinag-tala met Magiting while gathering materials for the baskets. The house slave saw them and informed the Lakambini, who became envious and planned on hiding her pearls and blame Sinag-tala for it. When Lakambini's pearls went missing, she blamed the innocent Sinag-tala. 

(Picture of Lakan and Lakambini)

If you're wondering what the word LAKAMBINI means or where it came from, I'll explain. During Buwan ng Wika, I frequently hear the word Lakambini. Every August, the Philippines celebrates the Buwan Ng Wika festival where you get to have lots of fun. Schools usually celebrate Buwan Ng Wika. Students and teachers would dress in our national costumes, Filipiniana for the women and Barong Tagalog for the gentlemen. Everyone would sing OPM songs, dance traditional or cultural dances, and play Filipino games. The term "Lakan" is still occasionally used in modern culture, but it has usually been modified to other meanings. In the Philippines, beauty pageants have begun to refer to the winner as "Lakambini," the female equivalent of Lakan. In these kinds of occasions, the contestant's chosen escort is referred to as a Lakan. LAKAMBINI translates to "noblewoman" or "muse" in English. Lakambini comes from the word LAKAN, which means "chief ruler or king." According to writer William Scott, the word Lakan is the same as Rajah, Sultan, and Datu. The Lakambini is the Rajah's daughter in the story "MAGUINDANAO PEARLS," meaning that she and her family are of middle or upper class. Being high or middle class explains why they have house slaves. 

Because Sinag-tala is a basket weaver, I'll tell you about Basket Weaving. Basket weaving is practiced in the Philippines' Cordillera Central, on the island of Luzon. Weavers use bamboo, nito vine, and enapung, a softwood, to weave miniature baskets with exquisite designs. Tingkeps, or covered baskets, were previously used for storing rice, carrying a hunter's burden, and housing spirits during animist rites, which I find amazingly smart and useful. A little basket can take a day to weave, while larger baskets can take weeks. Basket weaving is a relaxing hobby that can beautify the appearance of your home while also allowing you to express yourself while giving the baskets you make as gifts, like what the Lakambini did.

According to the tale, Sinag-tala gathered and weaved the basket using bamban reeds. Basket weaving frequently uses bamban/bamboo. Bamboo and rattan, as well as a combination of the two, are used to make baskets in the Philippines. Baskets have been and are still being used by Filipinos for transportation and farm work, food delivery and storage, fishing and trapping, clothing, and to carry personal things.

(Pictures of Bamboo Baskets)

I also used the word "pearls." I'll tell you about the history of pearls in the Philippines. Natural pearls and shells are typically found in the Philippines, particularly in Southern Palawan, where the most beautiful pearls are produced. Badjaos are well-known for their diving abilities and their pursuit of rare natural pearls. Women in early Philippine history who want to be called beautiful must wear strings of gleaming pearls. The pearls would delicately caress a lady's exquisite neck and follow the delicate contour of her young, shapely breasts. Sinag-tala admired Lakambini's pearls. Sinag-tala didn't have as many as the Lakambini, meaning that she wasn't as beautiful as the Lakambini. 

It was their beauty standard at the time, but the beauty standard now is different. However, I still think women who wear pearl necklaces are stunning. And I also think pearls are fashionable. If given the opportunity, I’d also wear pearls. 

In conclusion, I find it very wrong to blame innocent people. Accusing someone for your own benefit is a terrible thing to do. It is completely unacceptable, especially when you are powerful, and you use your power to blame others for what you did wrong. They'll suffer the consequences of your misdeeds. If you don't have proof that someone did something wrong, don't start pointing fingers at them. Everyone should also treat everyone fairly. Being arrogant isn't going to help you.

References:

http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/c99774e4-c09c-4071-bd85-8ccda9716222.JPG

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Boxer_codex.jpg/250px-Boxer_codex.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakan

https://www.wordsense.eu/lakambini/

https://www.sfomuseum.org/exhibitions/philippine-basketry-luzon-cordillera-fowler-museum-ucla

https://www.sfomuseum.org/sites/default/files/11_63_0.jpg

https://gaurapearls.com/image/catalog/Styles/princess.jpg

https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/allure/2014/11/09/1389518/golden-south-sea-pearl-source-pride

https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/bamboo-basket-isolated-on-white-background-picture-id922279616

https://www.mpm.edu/research-collections/anthropology/online-collections-research/philippine-basketry-collection-2