Mathematical Analysis of Unidentified Blaan Costume Designs: Basis for School of Living Tradition (SLT) Curriculum Integration

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The main issue to be addressed in this action research was the problem of current Blaan weavers to decode the designs of their elder Dreamweavers. The transfer of knowledge from generation to generation done in the School of Living Tradition (SLT) is the current challenge of the SLT teachers. It is believed that the designs were imparted to the Dreamweaver through l'nilong (fairies) who were considered guardians of nature. Every design is unique as each Dreamweaver dreams of different designs. Currently, the weavers are not dream-designed dependent. SLT teachers taught how to preserve the Blaan designs. According to the Gumusek president, Rebecca S. Ayao (2018), the number of Blaan designs as of the moment was not added nor subtracted. However, they found five (5) designs that were very complicated to copy, identified, and duplicated. Thus, the SLT teachers were not able to teach these intricate designs to the SLT next generation weavers. The main purpose of the study was to determine the patterns of unidentified Blaan costume designs in a mathematical way. The researcher was interested in teaching strategies to be crafted and which part of the teaching aids needs enhancement. The researchers used the inductive analysis with the aid of isometry, wallpaper guide of Fisher, G.L. (2010) and the international union of frieze & crystallography (IUC). The Blaan weavers in Lamlifew, Datal Tampal, Malungon, Sarangani Province were interviewed on the designs that they considered unidentified, responses were transcribed.

Designs which were not considered crystallographic nor frieze were not included in the investigation. Two unidentified designs were present on the l'bong " ̃Slah. The first was identified as Pmm2 and the second was Pm11. One unidentified design was present on the l'bong Nsif and it was identified as Pm22. The last two unidentified designs were present at the Salwal Nsif. One was identified as P111 and the second was identified as Pm11. From the findings, the strategies to be crafted was the teaching aids: brochures and video animation. A brochure is a three-folded form printed in a letter size while the video is a 2:45 (min: sec) presentation. Evaluations were conducted with the IPED representatives (IP Education), Tourism officer, and Gumusek President. In general, the brochure and animation were above average on organization, knowledge-based, and appropriateness. The front page pixelated photos of the brochure and the captions of the video needs to be enhanced. Teaching aids were now ready to be used by the SLT weaving teachers. Evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching aids is recommended.