Cordillera Region Indigenous Weaving

Cordillera Administrative Region Indigenous Weaving

• The patterns, colors, and figures in indigenous weavings reflect the people's thoughts and lives
• These weavings embody culture, traditions, values, and beliefs
• Weaving integrates lifestyle, culture, and livelihood, becoming an integral part of identity over time
• Heritage includes cultural and traditional elements passed down from ancestors
• Weaving is an artistic expression depicting daily experiences and nature
• Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow evoke happiness
• Cool colors like blue, green, and violet give a calming effect
• Color combos make optical illusions and adds depth

Recognition and Preservation

• Weaving is recognized locally, nationally, and internationally as a craft needing patience and dedication
• Preserving weaving tradition aligns with the Philippine Constitution, Article XIV, Section 14
  • Mandates state promotion of preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of Filipino national culture
• Senator Loren Legarda has spearheaded initiatives such as the Hibla Pavilion of Textiles and Weavers
  • This addresses the growing threat of indigenous artistry fading due to lack of interest
  • Showcases processes passed down through generations and highlights dedication of master weavers and cultural custodians
• Senator Legarda authored the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law of 2004
  • Requires use of indigenous fibers in government employees' uniforms to strengthen the local textile industry

Educational Applications

• Weaving designs have educational applications, especially in teaching geometry
• Geometric patterns offer tangible examples of mathematical concepts
• Integrating traditional weaving into education gives students a deeper appreciation of mathematics and cultural heritage
• Promoting craft in schools makes sure artistry, precision, and work ethic of indigenous textile materials continues to be recognized and preserved

Abra Woven Materials: Designs and Symbols

• Abra is situated in the mountain ranges of Cordillera
• Ilocanos live in its valleys, while Tinguians live in the highlands
• Abra river flows down in most parts
• Abra river served as the only way for people to reach Abra during Spanish era for barter and trade
• Most stitch designs are symbols of mountains representing province and the river which farmers use for irrigating rice crops
• The rice plants is accompanied by the symbol "kuko", a human nail, a symbol for the hardworking attitude of the Abrenios
• Symbols of the frog, spider, lizards, scare crow, and rice stalks have certain practices and beliefs
• Frog displays fertility
• Spider symbolizes diligence
• Scarecrow wards off enemies or unwanted conditions
• Bundled rice stalks signify frugality
• Lizards embody good luck

Culture and identity

• Lowland Tinguians in Penarrubia, Abra, have kept their culture and practices
• Tinguians use folk dance “tadek” in all occasions
  • To celebrate or remove undesirable feeling, like sickness, or death of family
• The symbol of a star signifies light of one's path
• Tinulbek (key of life) is embroidered on their piningitan

Ethnic Color Descriptions

• Designs appear in the kinamayan tapis, a ritual skirt for requesting protection from heavy typhoon, foreseen overflow of the river or asking for rains to start the planting season
• Pinapa cloth is used as ritual cloth placed on top of a cadaver
  • To let others ID the person belonging to a particular tribe according to color used
  • Helps ancestor spirit know which tribe to let dead person's spirit join
• Piningitan, the white cloth tapis (skirt wrap around waist) is a white cloth with the "anigtan" belt
  • Worn by female Tinguians in all occasions

Tribal Colors

• Colors used in loom woven clothes signify which tribe
• White and blue are the dominant colors
• Tayum, which grew tayum tayum plants, became popular in dyeing industry
  • Tayum is known as the indigo plants, producing blue-violet color when applied as dye
• The corn field areas between Tayum and Lapaz had many cotton trees, used to produce fine thread for weaving
• Lowland Tinguians are peace loving people who associate blue and white to be their symbol
• Conversion will destroy their ancestral culture (Diocese of Bangued, 2005) reflects a strong tribe and its pure culture
• The Spanish friars and the Ilocanos penetrated the province, Penarrubia inhabitants are the only Tinguian group who were not displaced by the foreign visitors
• High land Tinguians use stronger combination of colors because manifest strong personality
  • Red head dress is a symbol they are ready for tribal war

Symbolic Meaning of Figures in Bontoc

• Matmata (eyes)
  • Corresponds to the shape of an eye in a diamond figure
  • Represents Lumawig watching over all His children
  • Symbolizes awareness and vigilance
• Tiktiko (zigzag)
  • Zigzag line representing the mountainous place of the Tribe
  • Represents paths of life and constant change in the terrain
  • Symbolizes the challenges the tribe faces
• Tagtakho (man)
  • Corresponds to a human shape representing the people
  • Represents ancestor warriors
  • Signifies unity and strength, cooperation plus shared identity
• Kalasag, tufay, pinang (shield, spear, bolo)
  • Corresponds to the shape of these materials
  • Materials for warriors to protect the tribe from enemies and used as hunting materials
  • Represents the tribe's resilience, their protection from elements, hardships, and external threats
• U-uweg (snake), Faniyas (lizard)
  • Represents other creatures
  • Snake represents the good and the bad sign when warriors going to war
    • Warriors see it go ahead of way: good sign
    • Snake crosses their way: bad sign which means they need to go back
  • Lizard means agility, and long life
• Fatawer
  • X-shape designed based from traditional material used to carry and transport materials
• Sokyong
  • V-shaped design which was to hold the blood of the sons of Lumawig
• Sabsafong (flower)
  • From the shape of a flower
  • Denotes layad, love, between fafalo and balasang
• Talaw (star)
  • Star-like design
  • Guides the people of Bontoc for hunting, war and agricultural purposes
• Pigpiki (corn)
  • New shape based from corn plant and commonly planted by farmers
• Wide Stripes
  • Stripes in the middle of the tapis represents Chico river dividing the east and west

Symbolic Meaning of Figures in Kalinga

• SILUGWID: Connected Trianlgles (Zig-zag), horizontal lines
• Cultural implication: represents Mountainous landscape for trees/ plants, sowing palay/ perform rituals etc
• SILAMBITOWON: Star, Diamond, horizontal and vertical lines
  • Depicts fertility symbols
  • Vertical lines symbolizes sunrise cast
• LILUWALUWANG: Carabao figure, Horizontal and vertical lines
  • Symbolizes wealth and support
• KILULUKULUP: Kuup (owl) figure, Diamond, horizontal lines to protect the dead
• LILUSULUSSUNG: uses Connected Triangles on vertex representing material culture of the Ikalinga use to pound palay to be served to family
• KILAWAKAWA: Kawa figure = spider, which shows patience

Symbols of Ifugao

• SIILAKASAKAW: Connected diamonds represent weaving origin
• KAYAW shield design w/ woman, spear and vertical lines to carry cooking food/water and early battling traditions

Ifugao Weaving Symbols

• Lamma is for women to protect from the sun
• Materials for garments are raw cotton
• The designs are stitches or patterns
• Ampuyo or Tolge (tapis) is a wraparound skirt
• Wanga"woanga/ "bayyaung” are to cover upper bodies
• Pongot head dress tells status
• Butong (hip bags)
  • Men put their betel nut leaves and knife in here

More Ifugao Textile Symbols

• Tiniktiku
  • Lightning Bolt symbol that represent Munkontad dieties for speed and travel
• Inambayung
  • Hip Bag that represents Halupe/charmers dieties for safety
• Ginlot
  • Beheaded symbol for Manahaut
• Tinaggu
  • Ancestral elevation to demi-gods
• Kinattibanglan
  • Diamond represents the ancestors/time + plant kingdom origin
• Hinikkitan
  • Weaver gods

More textile and figures in Ifugao

• Hinulgi
  • Diamond pattern found in gamong blankets to go to afterlife
• Hinappiyo
  • Shield represent Maknongan to protect ancient pantheon
• Binittuwon
  • Star designs for childrens/moon revered in sacrifce to be fertile
• Binanniya
  • Wealth of lizards guiding terrace building/irrigation
• Linuhhung
  • Good harvest

Textile symbology in Benguet

• “PINAGPAGAN” status blanket for animals butchered on special days
• "CHINDI” OR “SHENDI" for prestige, eyes in cañao performance
• "Sarong" women must dance using blanket
• "BINAJEK” AND “KONSHIMAN” red and pure is for ceremony by men
• "SAFEY" OR "BAYAONG" basic common blanket
• "KOLEBAW” OR “BANDALA" blanket paired w bandala or saley to be thin or stripped