MALITA, Davao Occidental (PIA) – The Katutubo Kids Malita dolls representing the indigenous people (IP) tribes of Blaan, Tagakaulo, and Manobo, and the Muslim, have been gaining popularity and marketability through social media.
The Malita Tourism Office was not expecting that the IP dolls, which were originally made as souvenirs in a project turnover in August, would immediately gain interest and have now gone to different places in the country and even abroad through individuals who bought the dolls.
Jeremiah Danolko, Malita Tourism Officer, disclosed that beginning November this year they already received more than 300 orders from different individuals who saw the dolls through social media posting and sharing.
The IP dolls and their respective traditional clothes are crocheted by local artists, including mothers and students in Malita, who belong to the Blaan tribe.
The bead accessories or “kinamagi” like necklace, bracelet, waist accessory, and head dress are intricately hand made by the members of the Datu Danwata Women’s Association, Danolko said.
Its special box is from the plant “nito”, also hand-made by the members of the Talugoy Association from the Tagakaulo tribe.
“Ang tourism sa (Tourism in) Malita, we can’t compete with the natural landscape of Boracay, Taal volcano, Mt. Apo… We conceptualize something that we can compete with in other places. We’ve come up with our culture, because we also want to put in the map our IP cultural communities,” Danolko stated in an interview.
“Each piece is created with full respect and consent of the indigenous communities involved,” he emphasized.
He said that the IP dolls have undergone product development to ensure their good quality and marketability.
The Malita Tourism Office has also gone through the process of the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), which was approved by the National Commission on Indigenous People in Davao Occidental.
The tribal chieftains from the 30 barangays in Malita also approved of and supported the production and marketing of the IP dolls.
“They look at it as an opportunity to showcase their capability to produce the dolls representing IP women and IP men, and at the same time, the opportunity to earn,” said NCIP Davao Occidental provincial director Atty. Leonor Oralde-Quintayo.
She emphasized, “The worth of your money will help the community… and at the same time help promote the culture of IPs and identity represented by the IP dolls.”
Danolko said that the Malita Tourism Office is the only authorized entity to get orders of the dolls, which is sold at P1,000 per doll. Interested individuals can buy one doll, or a set of girl and boy, or all four sets of the Manobo, Tagakaulo, Blaan tribes and Muslim.
He, however, clarified that the local government is not getting any profit from the earnings, saying “ang tumong promote and tabangan ang IP communities magkaroon ng income. Bonus na lang nga ning sikat ang Malita because of IP dolls (We intend to promote and help the IP communities to have an income. It’s a bonus that Malita gains popularity because of the IP dolls).”
The IP dolls are pre ordered considering that they are intricately hand-made, which takes a week or two to finish a doll, Danolko said.
“We want that before the dolls are received by the owners, they are in good quality,” he added.
“I hope they will treat the dolls with due respect and put them somewhere to preserve ang ka gwapa ka gwapo (their beauty) and remembering the IPs. It’s empowering our people, our community,” Oralde-Quintayo urged the buyers and collectors.
“Ang katutubo kids, dili lang nag represent sa (the katutubo kids do not only represent) Malita, but also represent the culture of Pilipinas, sa mga Pinoy (of the Filipinos). Hopefully mas maging proud ta dili lang sya sa (we are more proud not only for the) preservations, but sa pag continue sa unsa mang mga tradition sa (for continuing whatever traditions of the) indigenous communities,” Danolko stated. (CLC/PIA Davao Occidental)
