Manobo Nito Weavers Unveil Monumental Tinayok Rockets at Mindanao Art 2025

At Mindanao Art 2025 held at SM Lanang, Davao City, the Manobo Nito Weavers of Marabatuan, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, unveiled two impressive rocket sculptures named Tinayok. Standing eight and ten feet tall, these creations are woven from nito (Lygodium circinnatum), rattan, bamboo, and steel, combining contemporary artistic vision with deep cultural heritage.

The Tinayok rockets draw inspiration from Manobo folklore, specifically the myth of a flying vessel that carries the hero Lumabot and his people to the divine realm. By manifesting these stories into tangible sculptures, the weavers bridge ancestral narratives with modern artistry.

Leading the project was Bae Gemma Diems Medel, supported by master weavers including Jackson Diems Medel, Elen Lalo, Sina Dawa, Welma Banay, and others. This effort extends the legacy of their prior acclaimed work, "Ahungan sa Panaghiusa," displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines in Davao.

Central to the sculptures is the uso of nito, a climbing fern native to Philippine forests, renowned for its flexibility, strength, and lustrous finish. Traditionally used for baskets, mats, and ritual objects, nito is here transformed into monumental art that carries both durability and deep cultural symbolism.

The Tinayok also engages in a creative dialogue with the renowned Mindanao artist Kublai Millan, whose recurring rocket imagery symbolizes ambition and progress. Karlo Antonio Galay David, cultural heritage consultant and curator of the Davao Occidental booth, explained that Millan’s work inspired the community to reconnect with their mythology, leading to the revival of the Tinayok legend.

To ensure cultural authenticity, Bae Gemma consulted Manobo elders Umla and Esus Lalo, anchoring the project firmly in oral tradition. The resulting sculptures serve not only as artistic masterpieces but as vessels for cultural preservation, linking elders with the younger generation, and legend with material form.

The exhibition of Tinayok rockets at Mindanao Art 2025 symbolizes the enduring craftsmanship and resilient spirit of the Manobo people—reaching toward the future while honoring their profound ancestral stories. Through the interplay of nito’s natural strength and oral heritage, the weavers communicate that cultural identity remains a dynamic, living practice continually woven into contemporary life.