Marina Ambol

Marina Ambol Sagaw is a T’boli artisan from Lake Sebu who practices Mdu, the traditional art of braiding. She began learning the craft at 16 under the guidance of her stepmother, first mastering individual braided loops before developing the skill to create finished pieces such as bekelew (necklaces) and nomong (earrings). Over the years, what began as something she was encouraged to learn grew into a practiced craft defined by precision, patience, and careful work by hand.

Working primarily with nylon twine and repurposed fishing net, Marina forms and connects each braid individually, with a matching set of bekelew and nomong taking around a week to complete. Today, she hopes more people will encounter Mdu with a deeper understanding of the skill and time behind it. For Marina, her creations can also be an invitation to curiosity: pieces that encourage people to ask where they came from, how they were made, and learn more about the T’boli creators behind them.