Travel Guide Lake Sebu

North of General Santos, Lake Sebu is the stronghold of the primitive culture of the B'laans and T'bolis ethnic groups. It has eight islets and near its shores float nets for raising tilapia fish. The floating houses of the fishing communities sway peacefully on the waters of the lake. The T'bolis children who live on the islets travel to school in dugout canoes known as owung, hollowed-out tree trunks. The animist T'Bolis number around 100,000 in the South Cotabato region. They organize horse fights, especially at weddings, on the same principle as cockfights elsewhere in the country: with bets and in an electric atmosphere. Tribal women make belts with bells and bell bracelets. Traditional T'nalak clothing is hand-woven from abaca fibers and embroidered. The T'bolis are reputed to have the most colorful and refined costumes.