TUESDAY this week, I traveled to Surallah in South Cotabato to check Balay Kultura as suggested by artist par excellence Leonardo Rey “Bing” S. Cariño. You see, I have really missed visiting and admiring museums, and more importantly, writing about them for the past two years! How I wish I can visit another museum in the next couple of days.
While at museums, I genuinely want to visit Museyo Kutawato, the museum of the province of North Cotabato, situated at the Provincial Capitol Complex in Amas, Kidapawan City. I look forward to visit and write about it in my next column. It will be another charming piece. Fingers crossed!
Since my Tuesday afternoon meeting was cancelled, I immediately decided to go out and find something to write about.
Hence, we travelled leisurely to Surallah from General Santos City. As we arrived in Koronadal, South Cotabato, the skies started to grow dark, and rains began to pitter-patter. As we entered Banga, still another municipality in South Cotabato, and to be certain we wouldn’t get lost, I called the artist-owner of Balay Kultura a couple of times.
Balay Kultura Resto Bar & Grill – a restobar that promotes the unique Mindanao culture – is owned and managed by Dante P. Mana and Benjamin D. Zamora III.
Dante at 22, is a young fashion designer and entrepreneur who was exposed to tourism at an early age courtesy of his mom, Jingle Palomo Mana, who served as Tourism Officer for a couple of years in a municipality in South Cotabato.
Dante who also owns Durante Clothing with his artisans belonging to twelve (12) families in Lemsnolon, T’Boli, South Cotabato, cares about these artists and makes sure that they grow alongside him in his journey as a fashion designer.
On the restobar business, interestingly, when asked by a consultant together with his business partner on their decision to put up a restobar, they both quipped, “We want to eat good food.” Now, isn’t that delightful!
With that, followed the construction of the structure that took only a month given the light materials used consisting mostly of bamboo.
While I was there, I admired the exhibit called “Sa Balay Kultura” featuring Diwa ng Kultura (Soul of Culture) artworks from previous exhibits, namely Duyog (Fr. Demetrio SJ Gallery, Museo de Oro, Xavier University, 2017), Indigenous Madonnas (Museo Dabawenyo, 2018), and Bai Nu Galang (Ateneo De Davao University, 2019) of Bing S. Cariño.
“They are depictions of Tau Mindanao (Peoples of Mindanao) and their crafting traditions – musical instruments, brass, and textiles, as well as their practices,” explained Bing.
The exhibit is part of the restobar’s monthly activity highlighting Mindanao culture through performances and exhibits.
According to Bing, “It’s like a two-person exhibit comprised of his own paintings and Dante’s art installations – an assemblage of local materials from T’boli (woven T’nalak), taken in the context of his masterpieces as a designer who collaborates with the weaving communities of T’boli and Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.”
For the month of love, Dante’s Diwang ng Kultura fashion show is slated on Feb. 14, 2022, at 5 p.m. at the Balay Kultura restobar.
So, culture and the arts enthusiasts in these parts of Mindanao, it’s a Valentine date!
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Isn’t it enlightening that at the start of the year, some things become very clear to us? Don’t you love that moment when you say, “Ah, finally, I have attained clarity of thought!” This could involve both the personal and the professional stuff in one’s life.
I have attained this “Aha” moment these past couple of days and I thank the individuals who have aided me in the process. Indeed, Proverbs 27:17 is right: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”.
I also believe that talking to a stranger is helpful since this individual is not personally involved in your life. Thus, he or she has no biases and can objectively listen to your story without passing judgement.
I must mention this again because most human beings tend to pass judgment. This societal propensity makes people stay away and withdraw from others, even from family and friends, instead of resorting to honesty and authenticity.
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Food for Thought
In our lifetime, we are confronted by so much betrayal. Its initial impact hurts so much, we lose our sense of balance, we trip, we fall. It takes time to heal especially when the pain cuts so deep. Unfortunately, it cannot be rushed. Healing takes time. How I wish it comes fast but it doesn’t.
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
