The Art of
Weaving
Alolor, Darille Gherome AET - 3A
Antas, Christian Oliver
Concepcion, Victor
Solatre, Don Davies
Tionloc, Don Juanito
PASSED DOWN History of
Weaving
THROUGH GENERATIONS
The weaving culture in the Philippines dates back
to the 13th century. The tradition makes use of
raw materials like local cotton, abaca, fibers, and
pineapples. Many Filipinos are very spiritual
people; in fact, our traditions are rooted in beliefs
that were passed on by our ancestors.
MODERN
TIMES
Evolution of Weaving
COLONIAL
PERIOD
PRE-COLONIAL
PERIOD
Pre-colonial
Weaving in the Philippines began long
before the arrival of colonizers.
Indigenous communities used natural
fibers like abaca (Manila hemp) and
cotton to create textiles for clothing,
trade, and rituals.
Pinilian
It originated in the Ilocos Region, where the
primary material used for production is
cotton. A pedal loom or pangablan is used,
along with various weaving techniques such
as basic plain weave, double-toned basket
weave, and multi-heddle weave.
Bagobo Inabal
Bagobo Inabal symbolizes wealth, offerings to
deities, and gifts to those who officiate rituals. It
originated in Davao del Sur using abaca fiber.
They use back-strap looms to weave inabal
textiles, which feature tie-dyed designs of
crocodile figures. Bagobo textiles are primarily
crafted into native tubular skirts, such as the
sinukla and bandira types.
T’nalak
T'nalak originated in South Cotabato and represents
birth, union in marriage, and death. It is often used
as blankets and clothing for royal wedding
ceremonies on rare occasions. T'nalak is made from
abaca fiber, which is combed to remove the sap.
Traditionally, T'nalak features three colors: black,
red, and white.
Hablon
Originating from the Hiligaynon word habol which means
"to weave,” Hablon is traditionally made with natural
fibers like abaca, piña, and cotton, polyester and other
fibers. Hablon has been around since before the Spanish
arrived, then the Spanish government opened the Iloilo
Port to international trade in the 1800s, which made
hablon globally prominent. Common uses of hablon are:
Apparel, bags, caps, crafts, homewares, neckties,
scarves, and uniforms.
Colonial
During the Spanish colonial period,
new weaving techniques and
materials, such as silk and the pedal
loom, were introduced.
Piña
Piña fabric originated in Aklan using Red Bisaya
pineapple leaves. The extracted leaves are classified into
two types: bastos (rough) and liniwan (fine). Piña is a
popular dress material for barong. It is the material for
the women’s terno—a one piece dress with fan-shaped
sleeves or an ensemble made up a long skirt and blouse
with ample bell shaped sleeves. The President of the
Philippines takes his oath of office always in barong of
piña.
Introduction of Barong
Tagalog and Baro't Saya
During the Colonization of Spaniards. The
introduction of synthetic dyes and modern looms
influenced traditional handwoven fabrics. The
Spanish introduced the barong tagalog, a formal shirt
made from piña or silk and baro’t saya, a filipino
traditional dress.
Piña fabric, made from pineapple fibers, became
associated with Filipino elegance.
Modern Times
The advent of industrialization and
mass production posed significant
challenges to traditional weaving,
leading to a decline in its practice.
However, efforts to revive and
sustain weaving traditions have
gained momentum in recent decades.
Modern Times
Weaving has modernized with digital
looms, eco-friendly dyes, and online
markets, yet it still preserves Filipino
culture. Companies collaborate with
indigenous artisans, blending tradition with
innovation to promote craftsmanship
globally.
Weaving in 20th
Century
By the late 20th century, Philippine designers
incorporated woven textiles into modern fashion,
corporate wear, and haute couture.
The use of indigenous weaves in national events,
beauty pageants, and international fashion shows
helped revive appreciation for traditional textiles.
REFERENCES:
Aguilar, J. (2019, September 23). The untold sacred weaving of ifugaos. Tatler Asia.
https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/arts/the-untold-sacred-weaving-of-ifugaos
Espiritu, S. (2023, April 19). Of Braiding Tradition & Modernity: Giving Philippine Indigenous weaves a
new life. Cambio & Co. https://www.shopcambio.co/blogs/news/of-braiding-tradition-and-modernity-
giving-philippine-indigenous-weaves-a-new-life
Ifugao Community Heritage Galleries. (n.d.). Inabol. https://ifugaoheritagegalleries.ss.ucla.edu/inabol/
Panublix Innovations. (2023, June 14). Hablon weaving in Iloilo: Traditional weaves and textiles of the
Philippines. https://www.panublix.com/blogs/stories/hablon-weaving-in-iloilo
Sorilla, F. IV. (2017, May 10). Weaving the threads of Filipino heritage. Tatler Asia.
http://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/arts/weaving-the-threads-of-filipino-heritage
Thank You
Celebrating Tradition and Craftsmanship Together
