Story Outline

I. Definition of Terms


“Tokno”: Bontoc general term for the intricate Bontoc handicraft utilizing rattan to decorate household items

“Uwey” or “We-ey”: Bontoc local term for rattan

“Funeng”: bolo

“Fangtinen”: local term for a certain kind of wood used in making the case of bolos

“Teffec”: local term for awl

“Uwas”: small paring knife

“Tukati”: a common design usually used on the handle of bolos.

“Lifun”: varnish

II. Materials:    Funeng            Sandpaper       Plainer             Wood varnish              Chisel              Pliers              Wood glue

Uwey Uwas Teffek

 

III. The Procedure

This particular rattan industry will literally start from the unspoiled forests surrounding Mountain Province. It is where the gatherers get the rattan poles. Most gatherers live in upland villages. For most of them, it is a part time activity. These poles are sold to middlemen who bring the poles to the capital towns for selling or for further processing.

Before doing the “tokno” it is vital to choose a good quality rattan to come up with an excellent product. The breakdown of rattan poles into wicker and splits is either done manually or by machines. It is sold either by piece or by bundles. The rattan splits are further processed into strips of rattan skin with a sharp hand-operated tool.

This tool is called “uwas” in Bontoc. It is a small sharp knife used for this particular purpose. The knife is also used in making “chaneg” which is used to tie the palay during harvest season. In peeling the skin off, utmost care should be done not to cut the poles. Skin peeling is a skill itself.

The splits are further processed to attain a desirable size and thickness while at the same time cleaning the rattan. The strips are then soaked in water to make it soft so that it will not easily break during insertion when doing the tokno. The artisan coils the rattan strip to the handle of the bolo and with the use of the “teffec,” (local term for awl) he starts inserting the rattan splits and uses pliers for pulling.  As there are no text book instructions in doing this, the artisan is free to exercise his imagination in creating various patterns and other native designs.

The next thing to be made is the casing of the bolo. To choose a good quality wood for the case is done first just like the first step in decorating the handle of bolo. The artisan uses the “fangtinen”, a kind of wood because it is light and is not damaged by termites. The artisan uses a planer and then a sandpaper to clean pieces of wood. He measures an appropriate length, width, and thickness of the wood which is approximate to the measurement of the length and width of the blade for the first piece.  He shortens the length of the second pair so that when both will be pasted a part of the blade will be visible. The next procedure is to trace the blade on the first or larger piece. The artisan then uses a chisel to carve the traced shape of the blade.

After ensuring that the blade fits the carved wood he then proceeds to carve the other piece. He uses a wood glue to paste the two pieces of wood together, binds it with rubber and leaves it overnight to make sure that the adhesive will attach the pair of wood.  Then, the artisan does the “tokno” to add more art. For last part, the casing is then applied with at least two coatings of wood varnish and allowed to dry 24 hours.

The production of 1 piece will take at least two days. Since it is handcrafted and not machine made, no two items are identical. In creating a masterpiece, an artisan is exerting a labor of love. Due to excellent beauty and craftsmanship, more and more people are ordering. The few artisans practicing this trade are now hard pressed to produce these limited handicrafts.
Tokno Finished Products

Bolo handles and sheaths embellished with tokno.

Other Handicrafts

The Lang-ay Wine which is the main feature of the Lang-ay Festival is given to friends and relatives during the celebration in April. More bottles of wine are sold especially if sold in handcrafted bottles such as these. 

Different household items with different designs of tokno. Such unique items as these may be given as souvenirs.

Aside from aesthetic purposes, tokno also has its practical use. It prevents slipping of glassware and adds safety in handling containers.

Lizards are considered helpful creatures. It serves as a handle to this native wine bottle and a “toknoed” lizard guards the house (far right)