Weaving Iloilo for the Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair

Loom weaving is popular home-based tradition in the rural area in the Philippines, especially in the Visayas. It has graduated into a firm level production in some parts of the island. The provinces of Aklan, Antique and Iloilo were known for it.

History would tell us that even before Iloilo became known as the “Textile Capital of the Philippines” in the 18th century, women had been weaving using materials that were bartered with the Chinese. It was said that the Chinese had traded amicably along the Philippine coasts for several centuries before the coming of the Spaniards. Popular products bartered by the locals were pearls, shells, medicinal nuts in exchange for porcelain, fine crystals, glass beads, silk threads and iron needles.

Our local weavers had been providing the world with world-class hand-woven textiles such as Pina (pineapple fiber), Sinamay (pineapple and silk fibers) and Jusi (Banana fiber). In fact, Iloilo had been ranked as the top producer of hand-loomed textiles of the country and hand-loomed textiles had been the top export in the 18th century. Looms were said to have scattered by the thousands in the towns of Miagao, Tigbauan, Sta. Barbara and Janiuay.

Weaving these textiles is a slow and tedious process mostly done by hand. It starts with harvesting crops where the fiber to be used for weaving will be stripped, knotted and tied. For coloring, natural dyeing method is applied using leaves, barks and roots from trees. Months are consumed before producing the fabric.

Our loom-weaving industry had failed to pick up in the 1980’s with the introduction machine=woven textiles that were less labor-intensive. And because of that, the numbers of weavers declined. Many opted for better opportunities outside of their communities, and the younger generation lack interest to the trade.

However, effort had made to revive the interests in loom-weaving. The Department of Trade and Industry with the town of Miagao advocated for the craft not only for domestic consumption but as an important household entrepreneurial activity, particularly in the barangays of Indag-an and Valencia where a cooperative and several groups of women had been engaged in weaving for quite sometime now.

Presently, the towns of Miagao, Badiangan, Oton, Igbaras and Duenas in Iloilo considered its loom-weaving industry as a major contributor to their economy and had become a major provider of family income.

Hablon is a Hiligaynon word for habol or the weaving process itself. But it is now popularly identified as a textile. In the past, abaca fibers were popularly used as materials in weaving Hablon and Patadyong. But due to the decline in the supply of its natural fiber along with its long production time, Hablon is woven using polyester thread, a much cheaper and readily available thread with a small percentage of cotton fiber. It takes approximately 4-5 meters of patadyong or hablon fabrics a day to finish.

Patadyong and Hablon are popular Ilonggo fabrics. Both also boast of a rich, ancient craft. As a textile used in garments, people wear it with pride and dignity. Surely, one is wearing a legacy. How it has become Iloilo’s pride and how it evolved from the simple wrap around dress or as table runners to an elaborate handicraft that it is now is what had been annually featured during the Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair help every August at the Event Center of SM City Iloilo.

Among the key players of this annual event is the Provincial Tourism Office of Iloilo along with the Regional Office of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade and Industry which had been donating wooden looms and threads to weaving communities.

The Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair (IFFF) a trade fair, demonstration and fashion show in one will be celebrating its 9th year on August 3-7, 2016. August 3 (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. will feature LGU-DUENAS with HABOL DUENASANON and 6 p.m. will have DARYL AMAR for HABLON MODA; August 4 (Thursday) at 5 p.m. will showcase LGU-OTON on Spotlight and 6 p.m. will feature MARGRET ESTELLE BLAS for ANYAG; August 5 (Friday) at 5 p.m. will make way for the graduating students of the Fashion Design and Merchandising Department of ISAT University featuring JEFFY TICAO, JO NINO DAMASCO, ELON DELGADO, JOHN EDWARD SALES, JOHN ASDOLO, MELVIN ARANGA, MARIA ERICKA CELIZ, CLOE ANN SERUE and JOHN LARLAR and 6 p.m. will feature LEXTER BADANA for PRECIOSA; August 6 (Saturday) at 5 p.m. will spotlight LGU-MIAGAO on Centerstage and 6 p.m. will have International Lifestyle Designer PJ ARANADOR for PATADYONG ACCESORIOS; August 7 (Sunday) at 5 p.m. will present the Iloilo Tourism Officers Association, Inc. on the Ramp and 6 p.m. will be highlighted by the ILOILO FASHION DESIGNERS COUNCIL featuring JOHN MONTINOLA, IAN JORDA, HELLO HELLO, JUN-G CANDELARIO, PAUL CONTE, LEXTER BADANA, BINKY PITOGO and AUDREY ROSE ALBASON.

The event is organized the Provincial Tourism Office of the Iloilo Provincial Government and SM City Iloilo in partnership with the Department or Trade and Industry, the Department of Tourism Regional Office, LGU-Miagao, LGU-Oton, LGU-Duenas, LGU-Badiangan, Tinukib and the Daily Guardian.

9th Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair

curtain call for the man of the hour, designer Sidney Eculla, photo by Al Destacamento

The Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair (IFFF) a trade fair, demonstration and fashion show will once again bring its wonderful designs to the catwalk at the event center of SM City Iloilo on August 3-7, 2016.

hablon gown by JM Escullar

The annual event established in 2008 had brought together some of the best clothing designers in Iloilo, Aklan and Bacolod to create unique and one-of-a-kind clothing made from local hand-woven fabrics. This year’s show will do the same, with more designs, colours, and catwalk struts than ever before.

The daily fashion show will showcase contemporary collections from talented local fashion designers and will feature diversity in terms of designs and inspiration. It is also their way of sharing their creativity, innovation, and expertise in using our local hand-loomed textiles.

August 3 (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. will feature LGU-DUENAS with HABOL DUENASANON and at 6 p.m. DARYL AMAR for HABLON MODA; August 4 (Thursday) at 5 p.m. will showcase LGU-OTON on Spotlight and 6 p.m. will feature MARGRET ESTELLE BLAS for ANYAG; August 5 (Friday) at 5 p.m. will make way for the graduating students of the Fashion Design and Merchandising Department of ISAT University featuring JEFFY TICAO, JO NINO DAMASCO, ELON DELGADO, JOHN EDWARD SALES, JOHN ASDOLO, MELVIN ARANGA and JOHN LARLAR and 6 p.m. will feature LEXTER BADANA for PRECIOSA; 

hablon top by Francis Ian Chua

August 6 (Saturday) at 5 p.m. will spotlight LGU-MIAGAO on Centerstage and 6 p.m. will have International Lifestyle Designer PJ ARANADOR for PATADYONG ACCESORIOS; August 7 (Sunday) at 5 p.m. will present the Iloilo Tourism Officers Association, Inc. on the Ramp and 6 p.m. will be highlighted by the Iloilo Fashion Designers Council  featuring JOHN MONTINOLA, IAN JORDA, HELLO HELLO, JUN-G CANDELARIO, PAUL CONTE, LEXTER BADANA, BINKY PITOGO and AUDREY ROSE ALBASON.

The runway presentations will showcase the different handloom textiles such as Hablon, Patadyong and Polyabaca from weaving towns of Miagao, Oton, Badiangan and Duenas.

hablon top by Ram Silva

Ilonggos have woven fabric using pineapple, banana and maguey for centuries. Using simple spindles and looms they create a unique and colourful fabrics and clothing. Weaving was a family tradition and activity, the women, mothers and daughters do the knotting and designing, while the men, husbands and sons harvest and strip the fibers, and knot when they have free time.

The annual Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair celebrates the humanity of the handmade and empowers local communities by giving them the opportunity to showcase their art and earn from their art.

The annual Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair is organized the Provincial Tourism Office of the Iloilo Provincial Government and SM City Iloilo in partnership with LGU-Miagao, LGU-Oton, LGU-Duenas, LGU-Badiangan, Tinukib, DTI and the Daily Guardian.

Sustaining Hand-loom Weaving in Iloilo

weaver in Barangay Cagbang, Oton, Iloilo

In the small weaving barangays of Miagao, Igbaras, Oton, Badiangan and Duenas in Iloilo, there are plenty of awe-inspiring histories of loom-weaving that is so important to preserve and help pass on this knowledge of the skill.

weaver in Barangay Sta. Barbara, Igbaras, Iloilo

Weaving is a tedious process that requires a great deal of concentration from the weaver. It is very labour intensive craft that starts with careful planning of colour matching, warping, beaming, hedding, reeding, tie-in, spooling then the weaving process.  Our weavers have learnt their weaving skills from their more experienced elders.

There is a scarcity of weavers today.  Most young women, whose predecessors had hand-weave for a living, are no longer interested in weaving as it is thought to be time-consuming and boring. Some have stopped because they moved to other places hoping to land a better job.

weaver in Barangay Cabayugan, Badiangan, Iloilo

The art of hand-weaving may one day diminish if our younger generation is no longer interested in it. It is crucial to find ways of educating especially the younger generation and to innovate the process of weaving from traditional patterns and colours to contemporary ones so that more interesting products can be produced to cater for today’s market.

weaver in Barangay Indag-an, Miagao, Iloilo

In order to address and solve the issues and challenges faced by the current local weaving industry, it is important to think of various approaches to value-add and innovate our local fabrics to broaden its usage to cater for today’s local and international market demand. In view of these problems, the Provincial Tourism Office with SM City Iloilo has chosen to direct its efforts on hand-loom weaving as its local heritage to preserve and promote aside from improve the livelihood of local weavers through an annual project, the Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair. 

weaver in Barangay Indag-an, Miagao, Iloilo

The event decided to focus on producing contemporary hand-woven textiles to cater for a broader market. Unlike the old days where hand-loomed fabrics were considered prized possessions and were only worn by the elite and their families. Today, it is mostly worn as evening pieces for festive occasions and formal functions. Our local fabrics the Patadyong, Hablon and Polyabaca have been transformed into apparel, fashion accessories such as handbags as well as home products such as place mats, cushions, table runners and gift items such as shawls.

daily selling of hand-loomed fabrics from weaving communities in Iloilo

Organized in 2008, the Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair is aimed at giving a voice to the traditional, hand-loomed fabrics of Iloilo. The annual event has given our women weavers the opportunity to show their strength, talent and pride in ways they never thought possible. The event started working with women artisans from the weaving towns of Miagao, Oton, Badiangan, Duenas and Igbaras who hand-make beautiful textiles and allows them to take their wares to the mall so they can be sold sustainably.

hablon, patadyong, polyabaca textiles are sold daily during the event

Sustainability is our primary objective.  Since 2008, the event had supported the local weaving communities in Iloilo. Wooden looms and threads had been handed out to beneficiaries to help them develop more economic opportunities, specifically for women who are entirely dependent on their partners’ income.

shawls, bags, etc. made from handwoven textiles on sale

The Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair believes in the importance of preserving and promoting our local culture and heritage through improving the livelihoods of artisans, raising awareness on Ilonggo heritage and its artisans, making heritage relevant and contemporary through design and innovation, and developing new markets via new ways of branding and marketing Ilonggo heritage products.

wooden loom with daily weaving demonstration on display

The Provincial Tourism Office and SM City Iloilo with the municipalities of Miagao, Oton, Badiangan, Duenas and Igbaras, ISAT University, DTI and the Daily Guardian will celebrate the 9th Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair on August 3-7, 2016 at the event center of SM City Iloilo.

The annual Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair ensures that this tradition will continue to be practiced for generations to come. For more information, please contact the Provincial Tourism Office at (033) 3384910.

Leganes Celebrates Fun Coastal Races Through Biray Paraw

Now on its 10th year, Biray Paraw festival in Leganes, Iloilo continues to offer lots of fun activities for everyone. Throughout its 5-day activity from June 22-26, 2016, the whole family will spend time having fun around its coastal. These days will be all about enjoying as we bid goodbye to summer and making lifelong friendships.

June 22 (Wednesday) Grand Launching and Seaside Party at Sea Garden Resort, 5 p.m.; June 23 (Thursday) Tourism Orientation Caravan; June 24 (Friday) Motorboat Race and Beach Volleyball at 9 a.m., Rianne’s Beach Resort; June 25 (Saturday) Eco Walk and Coastal Clean-up at 7 a.m., Sina-ot sa Hunasan, Palumba Paraw, Biray-Biray, Becah Volleyball and Fun Games at 9 a.m.; June 26 (Sunday) Biray-Biray sa Jaen’s and Rianne’s Beach Resort and Closing Program at Sea Garden Resort.

Sailing is one of the traditional and fastest growing recreational activities of the Ilonggos. It allows one to become part of the action rather than solely a spectator. Everyone has the opportunity to take part. The annual Biray Paraw festival provides a sailing environment for the benefit of community and visitors. The festival is to satisfy their social and recreational needs while fostering a spirit of camaraderie.

Leganes has a strong agenda for sailing. Sailors from this town had been winning the annual Iloilo Paraw Regatta race and with an annual festivity program anchored on it.

A paraw is a double outrigger sailboat traditional to the Visayas region. Visitors to the festival will experience biray-biray  (recreational sailing) where the riggers will take everyone for a ride.

Biray-biray offers the perfect platform for enthusiast to create a level playing field, allowing one to display competitive qualities. Amateurs can test their skills and experience the atmosphere and the excitement it gives.

  

The peaceful town Leganes is only about 11 kilometers from Iloilo City and about 13 kilometers from the Iloilo Airport via the provincial access road and can be reached from the city via the National Highway to the North or the Coastal Highway leading to the town of Dumangas. The town is one of the 19 coastal towns of the province. Being the only coastal municipality that shares a common border with the city, it is adjacent to Pavia in the southeast; west by Sta. Barbara; and in the North by Zarraga.

To get there, one can take a jeepney at Jaro Plaza, Iloilo City. For more information, please call the Municipal Tourism Officer of Leganes, Jerry Anas at (033) 3296622 or at 09166030635.

Pandayan sa Badiangan

One of the major festivals of Iloilo, Pandayan of Badiangan, the like of which is one-of-a-kind seen in the province of Iloilo will take place on June 17-24, 2016.

The event annually showcases and celebrates the best of Blacksmithing in Badiangan, the tribes who participate in this ancient but essential craft, its historic roots and its relevance and place in today’s society. Open to the public, this important event include demonstrations on how bolo is made. It also features other important backyard industries of the town such as weaving and taho-making.

The festival is a meeting place for professionals as well as the general public where people of all ages and all walks of life have a good time. Music, dancing and dining are part of the event starting on June 17 (Friday) Opening Salvo with a parade and presentation of muses in the morning and Pasidungog, an evening with Talalupangdon nga mga Badianganons; June 18 (Saturday) Farmers Day and in the evening the Honoring Retired Teachers; June 19 (Sunday) Sinadya sang Banwa and LIGA Night; June 20 (Monday) MSWDO Day and Night; June 21 (Tuesday) Tribal Dance Competition of Pandayan Festival at 9 a.m. and Search for Bb. Pandayan in the evening; June 22 (Wednesday) Oath Taking Ceremony of Newly Elected Municipal Officials and Cooperative Day in the morning and MAC and PNP Badiangan Night in the evening; June 23 (Thursday) High School Day and Night; June 24 (Friday) Mass and Procession in the morning, Sports League Championship and Coronation Night in the evening.

Badiangan, Iloilo has long been known for its taho or ginger ale, hablon and patadyong, banana chips and bolos.

A major Badiangan backyard industry is bolo making. A number of Bingawanons are engaged as blacksmiths or “panday” and have experts of the trade using manual and improvised equipment. The Barangay of Bingawan in Badiangan is the most popular source of fine crafted bolos in Iloilo. Men and women are in the barangay are becoming active in the manual production of bolos. And this backyard industry is fast gaining a lucrative reputation among its people.

The most important bolo type manufactured by the Badiangan blacksmiths are (1) Binakuko for chopping wood; (2) Sinuwak for carpentry and cutting shrubs and smaller trees; (3) Ginunting having the same function as the Sinuwak; Pinuti for slicing meat; (4) Tangkap for kitchen use; (5) Linamay, Surot, and Balintawak are used in gardening; (6) Kayog is used to harvest rice; and (7) Wasay used to chop lumber and bigger trees. Bolos are made by hand with blades made from recycled steel.

Belonging to the 3rd Congressional District of the province of Iloilo, Badiangan is a Fourth Class Municipality subdivided into 31 barangays spreading over an area of 7,750 hectares. It is located in the northwest central portion of Iloilo Province, 39 kilometers away from the city or an hour land trip. The town borders on the north by the municipality of Dueñas; on the northwest by the municipality of Lambunao; the municipality of Pototan on the east; on the southwest by municipality of Janiuay; and the municipality of Mina on the southeast.

Visitors can take the jeepney at the terminal Fronting Christ the King Memorial Park. For more information, please contact Miss Fe Martinez – Municipal Tourism Officer at 09182809023.

Sara Celebrates San Juan with Masskara sa Sulay-Basya Festival

People who go to the town of Sara, Iloilo on June 24 cannot stay dry as the whole community of devotees perform their annual rites by dousing one another with water or sprinkle water on guests to honour their Patron Saint, John the Baptist.

The Sulay-Basya Festival now on its 14th year highlights the annual rites with series of special events from June 19-24, 2016.

With the theme, “Pagpasag-uli, Pagpanibag-o, Pagkinasadya: Arangka Sara!,” the celebration opens on June 19 (Sunday) Opening of Food Festival with Live Band in the evening;  June 20 (Monday) Parade at 7 a.m. and Opening Program , the Sulay Basya Got Talent sponsored by NIPSCV-VSC is at the evening; June 21 (Tuesday) Pintados de Walkaton at 5:30 a.m., Laro Ng Lahi at 9:30 a.m., Boodle Fight at noontime, Basketball Championship Game, Mass Dance Competition at 3 p.m., Showcase of Talents with guest DJ courtesy of Globe Telecom in the evening; June 22 (Wednesday) Hashtag Luke and Showtime Dancers with MKF Production Artists in the evening; June 23 (Thursday) Taebo in the morning, Talent Showdown with Search for Little Miss DepEd in the evening; June 24 (Friday) Tribe Competition at 9 a.m. followed by the Basyahanay Parade, Coronation Night in the evening with Guest Artist.

Both coined from Hiligaynon words, “Sulay” is a term for “to get wet” and “Basya” is “to douse with water,” the festival, celebrated as Masskara sa Sulay Basya features performing groups in masks.

Masks are the order of the day at the tribal dance competition as brightly-costumed performers dance to the samba beat, considered as the dance of celebration and joy with lively and rhythmical movements. The dancer’s painted masks and elaborate costumes, all vying for prizes in judging that will be held in the morning.

Our local custom is the most appropriate way of the feast day of St. John the Baptist, the precursor who prepared people for the coming of Jesus Christ. St. John baptized the people with water. To remind one of one's baptism, people in the community use a tabo or water dipper, others have water guns to douse everyone with water. By allowing oneself to get wet, devotees hope to receive blessings and the community have bountiful harvest in their farming.

Celebrate Sara’s culture at Masskara sa Sulay Basya led by the rhythmic beat of Samba. Guests are guaranteed to see a dazzling array of beautiful samba dances, surely making the festival a one- of- a-kind festival in Iloilo.

The municipality of Sara is a 2nd-class municipality belonging to the 5th Congressional District of the province of Iloilo. It is 97 kilometers northeast from the city and is politically subdivided into 42 barangays. Its land area measures 18, 300 hectares and is bounded on the north by the province of Capiz, on the east by the towns of San Dionisio and Concepcion, on the south by Ajuy, and on the west by Lemery. It annually celebrates its patronal Fiesta every 24th of June in honor of San Juan de Bautista. Market day is every Mondays and Saturdays.

Developing and Transforming Iloilo’s Backyard Industries

weaving in Barangay Indag-an, Miagao, Iloilo

Small Scale Industries may sound small but actually plays a very important part in the overall growth of an economy. Our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises or MSME sector has emerged as a highly vibrant and dynamic sector of our local economy. It provides large employment opportunities assuring more equitable distribution of local income and wealth thereby contributing enormously to the socio-economic development of our country.

In the Ilonggo economy, where many communities are characterized by serious unemployment problem, small-scale and cottage industries are emphasized. Cottage industry is one which is carried on wholly or primarily with the help of the members of the family, while small-scale industry employs hired labour.

Our small-scale and cottage industries occupy an important place because it provides sustainable employment especially to our rural artisans and our local Government has taken a number of steps to promote them. It has been observed that various communities have gone long strides in this field.

bolo-making in Barangay Bingawan, Badiangan, Iloilo

Pagpamanday or bolo-making continues to remain a relevant symbol of the people In the remote barangay of Bingawan in Badiangan, Iloilo.  It is the town’s most popular backyard industry and several kinds of bolo along with its specific uses are produced, namely: (1) Binakuko for chopping wood; (2) Sinuwak for carpentry and cutting shrubs and smaller trees; (3) Ginunting having the same function as the Sinuwak; Pinuti for slicing meat; (4) Tangkap for kitchen use; (5) Linamay, Surot, and Balintawak are used in gardening; (6) Kayog is used to harvest rice; and (7) Wasay used to chop lumber and bigger trees. Bolos are made by hand with blades made from recycled steel. The handle is usually made from hard wood found in the area. A day is spent in producing a single bolo. The men are doing all the hard labour such as the forming of the metal, while the women are the ones doing the hasiwas or the pumping of bamboo implements inserted to the metal pipes to produce the air needed to continuously heat to the coal that is used to shape the metal.

loom-weaving in Barangay Indag-an, Miagao, Iloilo

Panghabol or weaving has been a part of the culture of Miagao, Iloilo. It is one of the most important crafts handed down from generation.  It is a livelihood program where the ancient craft of hand-weaving, along with hand-spinning, remains a popular in many barangays up to this day. The town has a small industrial sector, dominated by artisan production and small home-based businesses specifically in hand-loomed fabrics such as Patadyong, Polyabaca and Hablon. These fabrics are mostly of cotton with relatively small quantities of rayon, and polyester cotton. And these hand-made textiles have been able to compete successfully with machine made fabrics. Weaving is done using two sets of threads interlaced; the warp which is run lengthways, and the weft that runs across one end to the other. The fabric is woven on a wooden loom, a device that holds the warp threads in place while filling threads are woven through them.

nito weaving in Sitio Ngpana, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo

Nito-weaving in Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo is a popular backyard industry where viitors to the area can gain a better understanding and appreciation of its Aboriginal culture. Nito is a type of vine that grows clinging on trees and rocks. To use the vine, it must be gathered and then expose to sunlight to dry. As an art material, it does not need to be treated by soaking, scraping or hacking processes to enhance its natural beauty and color. The elements are mostly flat flexible strips popular for in matting. The weavers of Nagpana uses nito to produce beautiful baskets, hats, bags, coin purses, coasters, placemats, bracelets and even rings. Nito weaving is this community’s primary means of increasing their income. In fact, they organized themselves as The Nagpana Nito Weavers Group that was established in 2005.

shell-craft making in Barangay Cagbang, Oton, Iloilo

Barangay Cagbang in Oton, Iloilo is a center for the producing quality shell craft products that will make that perfect holiday souvenir. Visitors can choose from a wide range of hand-crafted shell fashion accessories, curtains, jewelry boxes, lamp shades, candle holder, picture frames, table decors and many other items all handcrafted and made of natural shell component and materials. Oton’s shell-craft industry has metamorphosed into one of Iloilo’s top pasalubong items. 

traditional pottery in Barangays Jibao-an and Pandac in Pavia, Iloilo

Pik – Pik Koron, the century-old style of pottery is still being practised in Barangays Pandac and Jibao-an in Pavia, Iloilo.  Pottery makers made pots or coron, firewood-fired stoves or sig-ang, drinking jars or banga and water containers or tadyaw using the open pit firing method. The soil sub-stratum in the barangays mentioned is best suited for pottery-making thus, pottery-making became the livelihood of many in the area.

Small Scale Industries act as an essential medium for the efficient utilization of such skills as well as resources available locally. These small scale Industries have helped the various sections of the Ilonggo society especially our local artisans to hone their skills to continue the tradition. Though the art of making these local products has changed over the years, and the process has been modernized in some ways, things have remained constant down the generations: the passion of local artisans showing for their craft and the hard work they commit to it.