HANDICRAFTS IN THE PHILIPPINES BY REGION

Research Portfolio by Elna Engcong

Traditional arts like weaving, metal smith, pottery, woodcarving and gold
smith are famous all over the country and are valued both by the locals and tourists.

Handicrafts are important in several significant ways. First, items like rugs,

jewellery, hand-carved wood and ceramics all tell a story. They represent the

identity of the people who made them and give a window into their lives and

lifestyles. They are a source of pride, of character and of rich traditions.

It also promotes our cultural heritage through the use of indigenous

materials. Handicraft products show an individual's creativity and lofty imagination.

Producers of raw materials will be encouraged to produce more. Employment is

generated especially for the undergraduates.

REGION I – Ilocos Region
Ilocos Region, officially designated as Region I, is an administrative region in

the Philippines occupying the northwestern section of Luzon. It covers 4 provinces,

namely, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. The regional center is

the City of San Fernando.It's known for its historic sites, beaches and the

well-preserved Spanish colonial city of Vigan.

1. BURNAY POTTERY FROM VIGAN

Burnay is unglazed earthen jars, an industry that

dates back to pre-colonial times when immigrants from

China came and settled in Vigan. The making of burnay

is done with just the use of the potter's skillful hands and

use of pottery wheel and kiln.

2. BOLINAO MATS FROM PANGASINAN

It was a tradition of a man weaving a mat for courtship

from buri or raffia leaves in Bolinao, Philippines.

Nowadays they are woven by women too for

commercial purposes. in Bolinao,Pangasinan, the

same buri material is used for mat-making; a

double-layered matwith one side using a tartan- or

gingham-like coloured design while the reverse is kept plain.

REGION II – Cagayan Valley
Cagayan Valley, officially designated as Region II, is an administrative region

in the Philippines occupying the northeastern section of Luzon. It covers 5

provinces, namely, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. The

regional center is the City of Tuguegarao.Cagayan region is known for its

breathtaking rolling hills, high mountains, great beaches, and amazing caves.

1.BAKKWAT

Gaddang weavers are known for their bakwat, a

belt used by mothers after giving birth. this cloth, unlike

of the ikat of the ifugaos, is usually made of white with

beads as accents and patterns of rivers and mountains

with bead works on the centralportion of the cloth

2.IGUIG POTTERY

Iguig, officially the Municipality of Iguig, is a 4th class

municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. Aside

from its historical sights, Iguig is also the renowned “Pottery

Center of Cagayan”. A visit to the Barangay Atulu, a

nondescript village populated by indigenous Itawis people,

reveals that the heritage handicraft of pottery and brick-making very much lives on to

this day.
REGION III – Central Luzon
Central Luzon, officially designated as Region III, is an administrative region

in the Philippines occupying the central section of Luzon. It covers 7 provinces,

namely, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, as

well as 2 highly urbanized cities. The regional center is the City of San Fernando.

Central Luzon is rich in timber and mineral resources (both metallic and

non-metallic).

1.PAMPANGA’S PAROL

The parol of star lantern is perhaps the

paramount Filipino Christmas symbol colorful,

crafted with love and aglow with the spirit of

the season. The Christmas lantern or Parul

Sampernandu in Kapampangan can never be

distanced from the town which created it, the

City of San Fernando.

2.SINGKABAN

“Singkaban,” Filipino word for decorated bamboo arch,

is used as a welcome signage of a town, city or village

in the country. It is widely used as decoration during

town fiestas in Bulacan. Singkaban is abundantly

known to the Bulacan province especially in Malolos

and Hagonoy where Singkaban Art originated.

REGION IV‑A – CALABARZON
CALABARZON, officially designated as Region IV‑A, is an administrative

region in the Philippines occupying the central section of Luzon. It covers 5

provinces, namely, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal, as well as 1 highly

urbanized city. The regional center is the City of Calamba.

1.PANDAN SAMBALILO WEAVING

Sambalilo is the municipality's term for a

straw hat made from pandan leaves through the

process of weaving (“paglalala”). The leaves are

dried, flattened and stripped into pieces and will

start weaving with a wooden mold as guide. Town

folks doing a live demonstration / contest of the fastest weaver.

2.HIGANTES IN ANGONO RIZAL

The Municipality of Angono considers the higantes

meaning as the symbol of the people's aspiration to

be great in their respective field and contribute to the

development and pride of this town which is home to

two National Artists namely Carlos 'Botong'

Francisco (Painting) and Maestro Lucio San Pedro

(Music).The higantes are made of paper-mache. In Mexico , paper- mache is called

piñata while our native town in Paete, Laguna calls it taka. Higantes measures four

to five feet in diameter and ten to twelve feet in height.

MIMAROPA REGION
MIMAROPA Region is an administrative region in the Philippines grouped

under the Luzon island group. It covers 5 provinces, namely, Marinduque, Occidental

Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Romblon, as well as 1 highly urbanized

city. The regional center is the City of Calapan.

1.NITO BASKET

Weaving baskets has always been a traditional

craft for the Iraya-Mangyans of Puerto Galera, Oriental

Mindoro. Raw materials like nito grass and thick, dried

forest vines are laced in a circular motion that results to

an intricate pattern solely distinct to the tribe.

2.MARBLE POTTERY

The island province of Romblon in the MIMAROPA

region is emerging as a premium alternative tourist

destination after Boracay closed down for

rehabilitation. More popularly known as the “Marble

Capital of the Philippines,” marble handicrafts items

are crafted by skilled craftsmen using simple tools by hand carvings.

REGION V – Bicol Region
Bicol Region, officially designated as Region V, is an administrative region in

the Philippines grouped under the Luzon island group. It covers 6 provinces, namely,

Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

The regional center is the City of Legazpi.

1.ABACA HANDICRAFTS

Abaca (Musa textiles nee),

internationally known as Manila hemp,

is one of the indigenous crops found in

the Bicol region and has been part of

its traditional planting system. The

fibers of the self-sustaining abaca are

used in the production of handicraft

products such as

handbags,hats,shoes and etc.

REGION VI – Western Visayas
Western Visayas, officially designated as Region VI, is an administrative

region in the Philippines occupying the western section of the Visayas. It covers 6

provinces, namely, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental,

as well as 2 highly urbanized cities. The regional center is the City of Iloilo.

1.PATADYONG

The patadyong is a textile woven most

prominently in the provinces of Antique and Iloilo both in

the island of Panay. Its name is derived from the

Visayan words “pa” and “tadlong,” literally meaning “to

be left straight,” alluding perhaps to its silhouette as a

skirt that is narrow and straight with no pleats.

2.PINA WEAVING

Piña is a handwoven Philippine textile produced

mostly by the Aklanon in the province of Aklan in

Western Visayas, Philippines. ... Only long and fine

but tenacious inner fibres are used to produce the

delicate piña textile. The extracted fibres go

through a process of degumming.

REGION VII – Central Visayas
Central Visayas, officially designated as Region VII, is an administrative

region in the Philippines occupying the central section of the Visayas. It covers 4

provinces, namely, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, as well as 3 highly

urbanized cities. The regional center is the City of Cebu.

1.BAKAT

Cebuanos have their own

version of weaved baskets, locally

known as bakat. Made of bamboo

strips, the native craft is put together by

hand, forming lattice patterns. Uniquely

designed, it boasts of a hexagonal

shape.

REGION VIII – Eastern Visayas

Eastern Visayas, officially designated as Region VIII, is an administrative

region in the Philippines occupying the eastern section of the Visayas. It covers 6

provinces, namely, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and

Southern Leyte, as well as 1 highly urbanized city. The regional center is the City of

Tacloban.

1.BANIG

A baníg is a traditional handwoven mat of

the Philippines predominantly used as a sleeping

mat or a floor mat.A place in the Philippines widely

known for its complex designs formats is Basey,

Samar.
REGION IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
Zamboanga Peninsula, officially designated as Region IX, is an administrative

region in the Philippines occupying the western section of Mindanao. It covers 3

provinces, namely, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga

Sibugay, as well as 1 highly urbanized city (Zamboanga City) and the component city

of Isabela. The regional center is the City of Pagadian.

1.YAKAN WEAVING

Yakan hand loomed fabrics are know for

their use of bold colors and geometric patterns. The

traditional Yakan art of weaving originated from the

island of Basilan, and there is no better place to

witness this living art than in the Yakan Homeland

of Lamitan, Basilan.

2.SEMMEK

Yakan women traditionally made textiles for their

cultural dress (known as semmek). They also

made accessories and interiors from abaca,

pineapple, and bamboo fibers grown on the

island.
REGION X – Northern Mindanao
Northern Mindanao, officially designated as Region X, is an administrative

region in the Philippines occupying the northern-central section of Mindanao. It

covers 5 provinces, namely, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis

Occidental, and Misamis Oriental, as well as 2 highly urbanized cities. The regional

center is the City of Cagayan de Oro.(PS:my hometown!:D)

1.MAT WEAVING

The tradition of mat weaving is a

sacred and persisting practice for the

Tagolwanen.By the head water of Tagoloan

River in Malaybalay, Philippines, live the

female weavers of the

Bukidnon-Tagolwanen tribe. For many

communities in the Philippines, especially

in Mindanao, weaving is an essential part

of culture and daily life. Each weaver spends her day going through the intricate

process of weaving the circular and colorfully decorated mats, each with a design

unique to the weaver. Unlike most rectangular textiles that can be woven using a

loom, the ikam is woven spiraling outward from the center and therefore must be

done completely by hand.

REGION XI – Davao Region
Davao Region, officially designated as Region XI, is an administrative region

in the Philippines occupying the southeastern section of Mindanao. It covers 5

provinces, namely, Davao de Oro (Compostela Valley), Davao del Norte, Davao del

Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental, as well as 1 highly urbanized city. The

regional center is the City of Davao.

1. MALONG

The malong is a large, wrap-around

tubular garment, measuring at least 165 x

165 cm. They are used by the Maranao

and Maguindanao from southern

Philippines. It can be worn by women as a

dress and by men over trousers as a

formal wear.

REGION XII – SOCCSKSARGEN

SOCCSKSARGEN, officially designated as Region XII, is an administrative

region in the Philippines occupying the southern-central section of Mindanao. It

covers 4 provinces, namely, Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan

Kudarat, as well as 1 highly urbanized city (General Santos) and the independent

component city of Cotabato. The regional center is the City of Koronadal.

1.T’NALAK

T’nalak is a sacred cloth woven by the

T'boli people in communities around Lake

Sebu, Mindanao island.

REGION XIII – Caraga
Caraga, officially designated as Region XIII, is an administrative region in the

Philippines occupying the northeastern section of Mindanao. It covers 5 provinces,

namely, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and

Surigao del Sur, as well as 1 highly urbanized city. The regional center is the City of

Butuan.

1.MAMADYANG

a tapestry usually hung around the Maranaos living or

dining room.

2.BAUR

wooden box with intricate patterns and designs.

NCR – National Capital Region

The National Capital Region, officially designated as NCR, is an administrative region

in the Philippines occupying the central section of Luzon. It covers 1 municipality, as

well as 16 highly urbanized cities. The regional center is the City of Manila.

Based on my research,there isn’t that much information about specific handicrafts in

NCR but there are a lot of handicraft stores on every city in NCR!!!
CAR– Cordillera Administrative Region
Cordillera Administrative Region, officially designated as CAR, is an

administrative region in the Philippines occupying the northern-central section of

Luzon. It covers 6 provinces, namely, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and

Mountain Province, as well as 1 highly urbanized city. The regional center is the City

of Baguio.

1.CORDILLERA SCULPTURES

The depiction of the human form is a

singular characteristic of traditional sculpture in the

Cordillera, Northern Philippines. Anthropomorphic

figures often embellish handcarved implements

and utensils such as food bowls, spoons, mortals

and pestles, even awls used in basket weaving.

2.IFUGAO IKAT WEAVING

Ifugao Ikat weaving is a style of weaving that uses a

resist dyeing process on either the warp or weft

before the threads are woven to create a pattern or

design. The result of this process is a motif which is

fuzzy in appearance.
BARMM – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, officially designated
as BARMM, is an administrative region in the Philippines grouped under the
Mindanao island group. It covers 5 provinces, namely, Basilan, Lanao del Sur,
Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi‑Tawi. The regional center is the City of Cotabato.

1.INAUL
Inaul, literally meaning woven, is a handmade fabric with
designs handed down from generation to generation.

2.PIS SIYABIT
Pis Siyabit is a Tausug woven head-cloth made
from cotton or silk (or with gold threads)
characterized with intricate geometric patterns of
colors segmented into the smallest squares,
triangles and diamonds.