Philippine Handicraft Materials

• Abaca fiber from the abaca plant is grown in some regions in the country.
• It is woven mainly to make “sinamay” fabric, abaca rope, vacuum nags currency and tea bags.
• There are also handicrafts like bags, carpets, and clothing made of abaca.

Common Handicraft Materials in the Philippines

• Abaca (Musa textilis) is a plant that looks like a banana tree.
  • It's long-lasting and comes in a variety of hues.
• Bamboo (Bambusa Spinosa) is used in the furniture sector because of its resilience.
  • It is also used for crafting baskets and hats.
• Buri (Corypha elata) is a palm from which three different kinds of fibers can be harvested: buri, raffia, and till.
  • It can be colored and woven into a variety of different shapes.
  • Buri leaves are the most adaptable material for hats, boxes, and other unique things.
• Caragumoy (Pandanus Simplex) turns a greenish-grey color when dried.
  • It's traditionally been used to make bags, baskets, caps, and mats.
• Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is the most often used palm in the Philippines.
  • Cocomidrib is mostly utilized as a handicraft material in baskets and brooms (tingting).
  • Buttons, coin banks, lampshades, pins, and other items are made from coco shells.
• Kalas: Buri’s palm produces this as a by-product.
  • The loosened strands of the buri rope are known locally as Kalas.
  • When creatively weaved, it creates a distinctive, rustic design with specific qualities from the original material.
• Leather is a substance made from the skins of animals like carabaos, horses, snakes, alligators, goats, and lizards.
• Pandan-Dagat (Pandanus tectorius) is a screw pine type found in abundance near sandy beaches and coastal scrub.
• Rattan (Calamus Maximus) is one of the most versatile material in the manufacturing business with a length of hundreds of meters.
• Seagrass (Rhynchospora corymbosa) is grass in shallow salty and brackish seas.
  • The leaves are broad and long, and the stems are triangular.

Traditional Craftsmanship in the Philippines

• Jewelry (Central and Southern Luzon and Mindanao regions) is primarily found in Central Luzon, particularly in Bulacan.
  • It's also found in Mindanao, especially in the southern area, where powerful brass amulets and other accessories are made.
• Metal Crafts (Southern Luzon and Mindanao Regions) are located in the provinces of Batangas and Southern Luzon.
  • Balisong's portable knife is made from a popular metal craft both locally and internationally.
  • In Mindanao, traditional brass, bronze, and gold weapons exist.
• Pots and Jars (Ilocos region): The best burnay potteries are manufactured in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.
  • These designs are created from Grade A clay, which the natives have used since pre-colonial times.
• Woven Fabrics (Mindanao and Cordilleras of Northern Luzon regions) are traditionally woven by interlacing threads on a loom.
  • Malong is a common cloth and used as a skirt or blanket.
• Wood Carving (Cordillera and Southern Luzon regions): The Ifugao carve magnificent wood carvings.
  • The indigenous gods are frequently depicted in these woodcarvings.
  • These areas have unique kitchenware such as hardwood bowls and utensils.

Precolonial Famous Indigenous Dances

• Banog-banog is a dance depicting hunters protecting their chickens from swooping hawks.
• Blit B’laan is a Davao del Sur wooing dance that imitates birds during mating season.
  • The females scurry to safety, tucking their heads beneath their wings, but the violent males pursue them.
• Cañao is a Luzon cordillera ritual dance done during native feasts/festivals, symbolizing prosperity and plentiful crops.
• Inamong is an indigenous dance by the Tigawahon Manobos in Bukidnon during harvest season.
  • This dance depicts a couple with their body and arms slightly bent forward as if they were monkeys flirting with each other.
• Kadal iwas is a dance done by the T'boli and Tausug that imitates monkeys picking nits and lice from each other.
• Kinabua is a Mandaya traditional dance in Northern Mindanao.
  • Depicts the hawks using sweet songs to lure out the hen and chicks to be eaten..
• Mamakar is a Bontoc war dance performed during the planting season and a bountiful harvest.
• Man-manok in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, is based on fowls, with the tribal blanket representing the brilliant feathers of wild cocks hoping to attract the maiden hen's attention.
• Mayvanuvanua refers to a sacrificial rite performed by mataw fishermen.
  • It is performed on Batanes Island at the commencement of the fishing season as a sign of successfully capturing the dorado fish.
• Ngilin: a Kalinga ethnic dance done during marriage rituals and other celebrations such as budong.
  • It represents the loving or tranquil relationship between a rooster and a hen.
• Pangalay, also known as the sea gypsies, is a Tausug native dance performed at weddings/social events.
  • It emphasizes upper-body agility, with the essential movement being a rhythmic bounce of the shoulder with a synchronized alternating waving of arms.
• Sampak: The Mandaya perform it as a war dance, requiring mastery of the shield, spear, and sword.
• Saut is a Talaandig ritual dance in which a male Talaandig displays his mastery in style and arts while fighting an opponent.
  • The dance also serves as a gift to their magbabaya (God).
• Talip is a traditional Ifugao courtship dance performed during the intaneg ceremony (wedding).
  • The male traps the woman with an appealing blanket and places her on her shapely shoulders.

Famous Prayers and Rituals

• Mumbaki is what the Ifugaos in Northern Luzon use to describe the person who says prayers.
  • These prayers are said at funerals, marriages, Thanksgiving dinners, and other occasions.
  • Maknongan, the highest deity, receives it.
• Kashawing is a Marana harvest ceremony that is conducted to ensure a good harvest.
• Pagtatawas is a divination ritual attempting to diagnose an infliction or psychological disorder.
  • Diagnose by interpreting shapes produced in water by heated molten wax dripping from a burning candle.
• Palina is a cleansing ritual locally known as tu-ob on the island of Negros and Panay.
  • It's performed to purify a person of disease/illness and to cleanse oneself after visiting a cemetery and promote short and smooth childbirth.
• Pangalap is a ritual in which believers crawl through the Catilaran cave as they chant various prayers.
  • This ritual gives devotees supernatural powers that help protect against evil spirits.
• Pagdiwata refers to the ethnic group in northern and central Palawan that performs a traditional ceremony.
  • It's observed on various occasions, including abundant harvests and marriages.

Famous Indigenous Musical Instruments in the Philippines

• Aerophones refer to any musical instrument that produces sound without strings/membrane.
  • Baliing- nose flute of the Apayao
  • Bansik - bamboo flute of the Negrito
  • Kaleleng - long bamboo tube of the Bontoc
  • Bulungudyong - B'laan's vertical and long flute
  • Kaleleng - bamboo nose flute of the Tingian
  • Lanto nose flute of the Mangyan
  • Palandag (Palendag) - the Bagobo's lip-valley flute
  • Paldong and Tongali - Kalinga's lip-valley flutes
  • Pulalo lip-valley flute of the Mansaka
  • Sahunay - Tausug's pipe with a reed (clarinet)
• Chordophones refer to any musical instrument with strings strung between two places that produces sound.
  • Faglong - the B'laan's two-stringed lute-like instrument
  • Kolitong - bamboo guitar of the Kalinga
  • Kudlong - two-stringed boat lute of the Bagobo
  • Kudyapi - two-stringed boat lute of the Maranao
  • Kulit-en - guitar of the Tinguian
  • Pas - guitar of the Apayao
  • Serongangandi - a Maranao bamboo tube with decorations
  • Saludoy - bamboo guitar of the T’boli
• Idiophone refers to any musical instrument which produces sound primarily through the instrument's vibrating, without using strings/membranes.
  • Afiw - jaw harp of the Bontoc
  • Agung - bossed gong of the Maranao
  • Balingbing - bamboo buzzer of the Kalinga
  • Bangibag - percussion bar of the Ifugao
  • Gabbang - bamboo xylophone of the Tausug
  • Kinaba - jaw harp of the Hanunoo Mangyan
  • Kubing or kumbing - the Ata and Maranao jaw harps
  • Kulintang - metal xylophone of the Maranao
  • Kumbing - jaw harp of the Manobo
  • Palipal - bamboo clapper of the Ifugao\
  • Tagutok - decorated bamboo scraper of the Maranao
  • Tanggugg Kalagan, B'laan, Manobo, and Bagobo gong chimes
  • Tongkaling - B'laan pellet bells, also known as crotal bells
• Membranophone refers to any musical instrument that produces sound through a vibrating stretched membrane. Most membranophones are drums.
  • Dabakan - glass shaped drum of the Maranao
  • Gandang - double-headed cylindrical drum of the Maranao
  • Libbit conical drum of the Ifugao
  • Sulibao - the Ibaloy's conical drum