What an incredible day! It was a bright, crisp, and slightly windy fall New England day that unfolded into a vibrant celebration of community, family, and love. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello and learn about the indigenous tribes of the Philippines, particularly the T'Boli.
Harvard Square was alive with enthusiasm, pride, and the unique rhythms, dances, crafts, and cuisine of the Philippines. We had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful people within the local Boston Fil-Am community. One woman approached us at the MgaKwento booth, her face filled with wonder, and said, "I've lived here for 22 years, and I've never seen so many Filipinos in Boston." Her smile spoke volumes—she felt a sense of belonging and a taste of "home."
We'd like to extend our gratitude to everyone who supported local artists Lewanda and Zoe. Zoe made her debut with her handmade ceramic pendants inscribed with Baybayin script. Thank you for being a part of this beautiful day!

MgaKwento Pop Up Store will be featured on October 8, 2023 in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA!  Join us at the 2nd Philippine American Festival from 11 AM- 6 PM on Church St, Harvard Square.  Lewanda will be selling original T'Boli weavings called, T'nalak.  In early 2023, Lewanda visited the T'boli tribe in South Cotabato, Philippines and met the weavers that make this beautifully handcrafted fabric.  MgaKwento will be selling decor, wall hangings, hand-beaded tribal jewelry, baybayin jewelry, artwork and more.  

​T'nalak weaving is part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Tboli people,[1] an indigenous people group in the Philippines whose ancestral domain is in the province of South Cotabato, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.

​T'nalak cloth is woven exclusively by women who have received the designs for the weave in their dreams, which they believe are a gift from Fu Dalu, the T'boli Goddess of abacá.

Lewanda's latest painting "1904 World's Fair"

1904  World's Fair. 2021. Acrylic. 36” x 48”

Just a few years after the Philippines was annexed by Spain to the US, it was represented in the 1904 World Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. In an extraordinary and sprawling manner, the fair  was a venue  to showcase an  American achievement  and entry into the world stage as an imperial power.
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The ethnic tribal character of the newly acquired colony was prominently displayed in simulated settings. Certain tribal practices were featured and attracted huge  audiences because of the sensational ways they were shown. Over-all, the idea was to represent the Philippines as a backward and less civilized country that needed to be educated and modernized by a benevolent colonizer. This lop-sided presentation of the Philippines angered some people  but their protests were drowned out by the prevailing big brother sentiment of the public and government.