Months ago, GaMaBa Awardee Aunty
Rosie Godwino Sula invited me to the Slingon—a chanter’s meet in Lake Sebu. I
didn’t hesitate to say yes. How often do you get to join an event filled with
spontaneous chanting?
The Slingon was held on September
20–22, 2025, in Gono Lemingon, Klubi, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. I arrived a
day earlier to meet the volunteers and help iron out last-minute details. Our
small but determined team was there to support Aunty Rosie in making sure the
Slingon was documented and a great success.
Sligon is a chanter’s meeting. It
has a deeper meaning in the T’boli language. It means to meet under one roof,
to be one. This does not happen often. I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime
event.
Months before the event, I sent
out an SOS to friends and supporters—and you all came through! With the help of
donations, we were able to buy tokens for the chanters and students, provide
books, and use the cash contributions for food. Truly, community spirit made
this gathering possible.
In the end, the Slingon gathered
12 cultural workers, 18 students, 5 volunteers, and representatives from the
NCCA. It was a heartfelt gathering, filled with voices, stories, and rhythms that echoed into the night. For the students, it became a rare chance to practice
their craft in a semi-public space. At the same time, cultural workers saw the possibility
of this becoming a tradition to replicate in other communities.
Did I
mention Aunty Rosie sang an impromptu song about me? Yes, that is the reason
why she is a Gawad Manlilikhang Bayan Awardee or National Living Treasure. She
can chant or sing, composing on the spot!
Lake
Sebu has always been close to my heart, not just for its natural beauty, but
for the passion of its people for culture and the arts. There are four GaMaBas
from Lake Sebu: Lang Dulay, Rosie G. Sula, Barbara Ofong and Bundos Farah. No
doubt there will be more. Compared to Davao, they proudly wear their clothing,
their malongs, their T’nalak. May the T’boli culture continue to live on and
prosper!
To all who supported—through
donations, sharing posts, or simply cheering us on—thank you. This event was
not just a celebration, but also a seed for something bigger: a future where
more Slingon gatherings will rise, honoring and sustaining our heritage.
Special thanks to Karl of Philippine Spirits, Mike Patolot and his wife,
volunteers Isaac Maluhia Castillo, Jillian Bacarisas, Levi and Summer, Mechie
Mafok, Armila De Velez Todi, Maria Todi (for one night at SLT), and to those
who donated anonymously—you made Slingon 2025 shine brighter.
Here’s to the next Slingon, and
to more adventures that keep our stories alive.
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