The B'laan are one of the indigenous peoples of Southern Mindanao in The Philippines. Their name could have derived from "bila" meaning "house" and the suffix "an" meaning "people". Other terms used to refer to this group are Blaan, Bira-an, Baraan, Vilanes, and Bilanes.
The B'laan, are neighbors of the T'boli, and live in in Lake Sebu and T'boli municipalities of South Cotabato, Saranganai, the southeastern part ofDavao and around Buluan Lake in North Cotabato. They are famous for their brassworks, beadwork and t'nalak weave. The people of these tribes wear colorful embroidered native costumes and beadwork accessories. The women of these tribes, particularly, wear heavy brass belts with brass 'tassels' ending in tiny brass bells that herald their approach even when they are a long way off.
Some B'laan natives were displaced when General Santos City was founded in 1939. Others settled in the city.
Their language is said to be the source of the name for Koronadal City, from two B'laan words- koron or kolon meaning cogon grass and nadalor datal meaning plain which aptly described the place to the natives. On the other hand, Marbel, which is another name for the poblacion, is a B'laan term Marb-El which means "murky waters" referring to a river, now called Marbel River.
The tribe practices indigenous rituals while adaptating to the way of life of modern Filipinos.[1]
The tribe received some press when they gave Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao a tribal rank.[2]
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