Meet some of the modern guards of our local weaves
One can discover many things about the Philippines by looking at its woven textiles. Each region of the country has its own weaving heritage, imbued with design and materials unique to its tradition. These almost-forgotten tapestries are again put in the spotlight thanks to the government's efforts and the style reimaginations of local brands and Filipino designers. These aren’t just testaments to the wonders Filipino hands can make but also to the discipline and respect our ancestors have in preserving our national identity.
This time, we get a deeper understanding of these hand-loomed fabrics as we get to know the stories of today’s traditional weavers. During the launch of “Likha,” a week-long event bringing together textile communities, designers, brands, and manufacturers, Manila Bulletin Lifestyle got the chance to talk with some of the artisans from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, whose dedication to their craft has kept our age-old weaving heritage alive.
*Julmina Sawad Juri (Photo by Jessica Palo)*Julmina Sawad Juri
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray has been a staunch supporter of local weaves. Among her best ensembles are the looks made with the Pisyabit textile, one of which featured the weaving of Julmina Sawadi Juri. Hailed from the Tausug Livelihood community in Parang, Sulu Jolo, the 24-year-old has been weaving Pisyabit for over 15 years, starting as an apprentice to her mother, a Pisyabit master weaver. Pisyabit is made from cotton and silk with gold threads adding to its charm. It is traditionally worn by Tausug men “Pis” and features geometric patterns “syabit” and colors seen in many Islamic arts.
*Nida Bacaling (Photo by Jessica Palo)*Nida Bacaling
Nida Bacaling of the T’boli tribe has been weaving T’nalak as early as seven years old. She grew up in a family of skilled artisans, creating traditional embroideries and beading apart from weaving. Currently, Nida is the president of Kenhulung Handicrafts Federation, Inc., Lake Sebu Indigenous Political Structure Women Association, and South Cotabato Crafters Association. One of their champion products is the T’nalak fabric, the T’boli people’s sacred cloth made of abaca tinted with natural dyes.
*Evelinda Otong (Photo by Jessica Palo)*Evelinda Otong
Evelinda Otong is a fourth-generation weaver who started making Yakan at the age of seven. She’s an apprentice of National Living Treasure Apuh Ambalang and is now sharing her passion for weaving with her children and cousins. Yakan is may of polycotton and features elaborate nature-inspired designs such designs like the “Palipattang” (rainbow), “Bunga-sama” (python), and the elaborate seputangan pattern with a “pussuk” motif at the center, which can be a flower or a star shape inside a small diamond.
*Raquel Elisero (Photo by Jessica Palo)*Raquel Elisero
Raquel Elisero has been making pina fabric since she was 16 years old. Now a master of her craft, she works with almost a hundred weavers and fiber knotters in Balete, Aklan and leads another loom house in the neighboring town of Tangalan. Pina fabric is made of the finest Liniwan pineapple fibers and is decorated through suk-suk, sintas, and renggue design techniques.
*Angelina Buhle (Photo by Jessica Palo)*Angelina Buhle
Hailed from Ifugao, Angelina Buhle's journey to becoming a weaver at the age of seven under the tutelage of her weaver mother. Angelina is known for making Binodbodan or the Ifugao Ikat. to make it, the cotton yarns undergo a resist-dyeing process. During the process, the yarns are tied, dyed, and re-warped to create the designs, and then woven onto backstrap looms.
*Nelia Ardaniel (Photo by Jessica Palo)*Nelia Ardaniel
For 60 years, Nelia Ardaniel from Abra has been making Binakol, one of the many patterns of Inabel weave. The most popular Binakol design is the optical illusion Kusikus (whirlpool) or Alipugpug (whirlwind), which is thought to be the abode of a ferocious wind god.
You can hear more of their stories at “Likha,” which runs until Feb. 28 at the PICC Forum 2 in Pasay City.
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