KAYAPA, Nueva Vizcaya—Loom weaving in the province is being revived with the help of local as well as from national government agencies.
The artistic creation and subsequent mass production through loom weaving in this town is part of the cultural and traditional practices among the Igorot natives. Weaving was done by their ancestors and elders to produce blankets and their traditional clothing.
The blankets were used for rituals, specifically for wrapping their dead kin and for the bones of their previously deceased loved ones.
Woven blankets were also used as warmers during the cold season, especially for their young, head gears and even a shawl or a wrap-around skirt.
“Our present-day Igorots have long forgotten the art and skill of loom weaving, but for the aggressive efforts and support given by our local government unit, along with the national government agencies,” said Jessie Ayadi, president of the Kayapa Loom Weavers Association.
Likewise, through women’s group Abot Palad Foundation, trainings, financial assistance and equipment have been given to provide source of livelihood among APF members.
In the past years, several members of the ATF such as the Igorot (people of the mountain) settlers’—composed of the Kalanguya, Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Ikalahan, Iwak and Bontoc considered loom weaving as a vanishing art and industry, leaving the skills of the elders not handed down to the younger generation.
“After the loom weaving industry waned in several barangays in our town after the death of our skilled elders, our fellow villagers have been forced to buy their traditional attire from Baguio City which costs higher, compared to what we were producing then here,” Ayadi said.
In 2009, a festival in the town called Owag Shi brought the staff of the Department of Trade and Industry in the municipality and offered their assistance on the revival of the loom weaving industry among Igorot women.
“Because of the positive attitude and the enthusiastic support of local officials, a project concept was later prepared by our agency staff in collaboration with the existing women’s organization in the town,” said Ellerie Ramel, DTI information officer.
Through a cost sharing scheme with the LGU of Kayapa, and the DTI, training was pursued which consists of the following phases: weaving, advanced weaving and application of designs and trends incorporating the raw materials available in the community.
Ramel also said experts from the Philippine Textile Research Institute were tapped to conduct the proposed trainings which was hosted by the municipality.
Due to the lengthy distance between the barangays, some of the loom weaving equipment were already handed out to the villages where there are loom weaving members.
“This scheme will enable them to weave after finishing their farming and other household chores,” Ramel said.
The venture also resulted in the registration of 13 new entrepreneurs now actively engaged in the loom weaving industry.
“The products are selling like hotcakes already and we are glad that it is growing. Eventually, it can expand into other market clients,” Ramel added.