In celebration of the 2021 Ibagiw Creative City Festival, the Department of Tourism – Cordillera Administrative Region conceptualized and organized the Cordillera Weaves Exhibit and Talk Show, and the Weavers Bazaar from November 27 to December 1, 2021. The event was supported by the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines.
The Significance of Weaving in the Cordilleras
Weaving is one of the four expressions of the crafts and folk arts that are included in the UNESCO Creative City designation of Baguio as a Creative City in the Crafts and Folk Arts category. Like woodcraft, silver craft, and tattooing, weaving is known as one of the most creative expressions of local culture not only in Baguio City, but more so in the Cordilleras. Almost each province in the region has its own weaving traditions, each one distinctly unique from each other.
Despite their differences, there are common threads that bind the different weaving communities. First of this is that weaving was not originally done as an economic activity, but was more of a recreational one. Most of the weavers are actually farmers and they would do weaving after work is done on the farm. In some cases, weaving was a communal activity that followed major farming chores, such as planting and harvesting.
Weaving was also a predominantly communal activity, with different community members working on the different processes of the activity, from the winding of the thread, the warping to form the design, and the setting up of the backloom. And because the backloom does not take up too much space, and is very much mobile, weaving can be done anywhere where people can gather.
For a local community, weaving serves a very important purpose in its local traditions. Woven cloths symbolize status in the community and are central in important rituals, celebrations, and events. Surely, there are interesting stories and narratives behind each handwoven piece.
The State of the Weaving Industry
Another common element among Cordilleran weaving cultures is how they rely on the passing of this traditional knowledge from one generation to the next. This element proves to be the most challenging to maintain.
Most of the master weavers are in their senior years, and if they are unable to find new weavers to train and take over this important cultural enterprise, this may spell the end of the weaving industry. As it is, master weavers are having a hard time looking for young people willing to take on the challenge of preserving this tradition.
Supporting Weaving Communities in the Cordilleras
Weaving communities not only here in the Cordilleras but possibly in other parts of the country are saddled with these realities. Without a new generation of weavers, the industry will continue to struggle. There are also outside threats such as new technologies that allow the mass production of similar-looking cloths that result in cheaper products. The high price of handwoven cloth and products simply cannot compete with these cheaper versions.
The Department of Tourism – CAR, through the leadership of OIC-Regional Director Jovita Ganongan, conceptualized a special project supporting the age-old craft of handweaving in the region. The Cordillera Weaves Exhibit and Weavers’ Bazaar were conceptualized to be DOT-CAR’s contribution to the 2021 Ibagiw Creative Festival. Among the project’s objectives were: preserving the cultural heritage of the Cordillera Region through its woven fabric, showcasing the distinct designs, colors, patterns, methods, and practices of weaving, providing a venue for different weaving communities to promote their craft and products, and to expand their market.
Cordillera Weaves Exhibit: Creativity and Resilience On Display
The exhibit aims to achieve a long-term objective of continuous promotion of Cordillera weaves and the communities that create them. According to the exhibit curator, Erlyn Alcantara:
“This exhibition of selected handwoven textiles from the Cordillera brings together some of the best works of weavers working in the region’s different communities. While contemporary Cordillera residents use commercial often imported textiles in the form of clothing and household accessories, “traditionally woven” cloths such as the pieces displayed here continue to play essential roles in everyday and ritual activities while they simultaneously function in arenas of exchange. Indeed, with the increased appreciation of the labor and knowledge involved in producing handwoven cloth gleaned through trade and tourism, people outside of Cordillera communities are increasingly purchasing these textiles finding new uses for them.
In village societies across the Cordillera, weavers play creative and culturally valuable roles. This is clearly evidenced in the exhibited handwoven textiles, which demonstrate women’s consummate artistry and innate mathematical acumen.
This exhibition additionally introduces a unique weaving vocabulary by providing the native names of various types of blankets, wrap skirts, skirt belts, and loincloths as these pieces are locally known in the various languages across the region.” (E. Alcantara, Curatorial Rationale)
The walkthrough exhibit has been set up at the ground floor of the DOT-CAR office along Gov. Pack Road. It officially opened on November 27, and will be a semi-permanent exhibit that’s open to the public until May 2022.
Aside from the exhibit, a two-day webinar was also conducted, with experts from the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry sharing their programs that aim to provide support for the weaving industry. The Intellectual Property office also shared what their office is doing in the area of protecting the intellectual property rights covering indigenous weaving designs.
During the webinar, Museo Kordilyera’s Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores also shared the research they have done on Cordilleran textiles and weaves and how technology can help the industry. Marlon Martin of the Kiyangan Weavers Association gave the audience a glimpse of how they are trying to preserve the community’s weaving traditions.
Weavers’ Bazaar
One of the highlights of the event is the Weavers’ Bazaar, where 14 weaving communities from all over the region traveled all the way to Baguio City and joined in the 5-day long bazaar. Booths were specially constructed around the DOT-CAR compound, completing the outdoor component of this event.
Each booth featured different products made of handwoven cloth from the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mt. Province. Weaving demonstrations were also on display mainly by the Can-eo Weavers Association and the Kiyangan Weavers Association. Weavers were not only able to sell their products, they were also able to showcase what they can do to the larger market.
Through these two events, DOT-CAR achieved its objectives by opening the eyes of the public to the state of the weaving industry in the region, and telling the stories behind each hand woven masterpiece, which is always tied to culture and community.