The organization promotes ikat weaving, as a source of livelihood for indigenous women, as well an integral part of their indigenous culture. or LASIWWAI is a non-profit Community based organization comprised of 85 weavers. The organization promotes ikat weaving, not only as a source of livelihood for indigenous women, but also as an integral part of their indigenous culture. It is in line with th
e vision of empowering all T’nalak weavers through education. It seeks to empower women by working on two top priority programs: Peace and Multiculturalism, and Poverty Reduction. For every T’nalak cloth that you purchase, you are not only providing a source of livelihood for T’boli women but you are also giving the opportunity for a T’boli child to get early childhood education. Aside from women empowerment, proceeds of the T’nalak cloth support the Lasiwwai Learning Institute. The school is dedicated to develop and realize the potentials of every T’boli child through holistic education inculcating cultural integrity, leadership, and service to sustainable development. LASIWWAI facilitates the weaving of Tnalak Cloth which binds health and Cultural Heritage. For the Tboli women, Tnalak weaving is a way of life that has been handed down from one generation to another. The intricately hand-spun Tnalak fabric preserves the Tboli traditional knowledge, beliefs, and cultural practices. It is a proud symbol of a rich cultural heritage and a strong bond between old and new generations. LASIWWAI is one of the nine organizations comprising the T’nalak Tau Sebu or TTS. Tnalak Tau Sebu is an indication that the product has a unique link to the geographical area of Lake Sebu and the traditional practices of the T’boli tribe. It confirms product authenticity, which means the raw materials used are premium abaca and natural colors from local plants. It is hand woven with a back-strap loom to ensure high quality. It preserves the designs from dream weavers handed down through generations. It infused symbolism and meaning that respects traditions and production. With the support from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhil) and the European Union Trade Technical Assistance III (EU TRTA III), we developed our Code of Practice and quality assurance for the Tnalak cloth. DONATIONS CAN BE DEPOSITED TO THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS:
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)
Branch: Koronadal City
Account Name: Lake Sebu Indigenous Women Weavers Association
Account No.: 0935 012122 530
BDO
Branch: Koronadal City
Account Name: LASIWWAI Learning Institute Inc. Account No.:003 330 263 584
