Lesson 2: Arts and Crafts of

Ilocos Region and Cordillera

Autonomous Region (CAR)
 Ilocos are the largest ethno-
linguistic groups in the country.
Majority of them are living in La
Union, Abra, Isabela,
Pangasinan, Cordillera
Autonomous Region or CAR
( Benguet, Kalinga, Ifugaw, and
Mountain Province). They are
highly influenced by Christianity
as it is shown with several old
Spanish churched found across
the region as well as old houses
built during colonial times.
 Ilocanos are know for their Ilocos or
Inabel fabric. This is made from
cotton which undergo a process. The
threads are dyed from the sap black
plum called sagut that are abundant in
Pangasinan. Artificial dyes are also
introduced but only for commercial
production. The products from this
fabric are blankets, bags, camiso-
tsino, bed linens, and many more.
Weaving tradition of Ilocos is called
Panagabel, this is the oldest tradition
of Ilocanos that they inherited from
their ancestors. The main ingredients
of this loom weaving are tilar, sinulit,
and pasensya.
 Pangasinan
Pangasinan is known as the salt capital
of the region during the pre-hispanic
times. There were stories before says
that it is the Muslim kingdom trading
with Arabs and Chinese. The land was
ruled by Urduja, a warrior princess who
fought and won many battles during her
time.
Pangasinan is the second province of
Dr. Jose P. Rizal, where his childhood
love blossomed when he fell in love
with Leonora River, his cousin from
Pangasinan. The Arts and crafts of this
province Include the smoothly-weaved
Bolinao mats of San Carlos, bagoong,
and tapang bangus.
Cordillera Autonomous
Region
 A. Benguet
Is located in Cordillera Autonomous
Region (CAR). It is the home for the
Cordilleran which is the correct term
for Igorots. Aside from them, there
were Tagalog, Ibalois, Ilocanos,
Kankanaey, and Ikalahan living in
Benguet. Igorots are hillside dwellers,
this is why most of them are farmers
and their artistic expressions are
related to farming such as Tinalak
baskets made from rattan and they are
famous of their farming on terraces
carved out of the mountains.
 B. Kalinga
The people of Kalinga are
great weavers. Their cloth
weaving and basketry are
among the fine products in the
region. Kalinga textiles are
characterized by dominant red
stripes and motif of geometric
patterns as well as nature
symbols interlaced with other
colors such as white,yellow,
and black fibers.
 C. Ifugao
The term Ifugao means people
from the hills that is why non-
Cordilleras called them Igorots, but
they prefer to call them Ifugao.
Their arts and culture revolves
around the rice as a prestigious
crop.The Ifugaos weave a loin
cloth which is called ikat an
Indonesian term, meaning to bind
together. Their motif is
characterized by a diamond stripes
with a dominant color blue.
Weaving in Ifugao is exclusive task
for women. At least two women are
needed to make the long and
tedious preparation for weaving
 D. Mountain Province
Mountain province is
located in the Cordillera
central mountain and best
known for its hanging
coffins and mummified
bodies. Aside fro. That this
province is also known for
their Kadangyan, a burial
cloth for rich people. Only
the grandmother are allowed
to weave it during the olden
times.
 The people of Bondoc are also great weavers.
Their fabrics are used for blanket And clothing
called siniwsiwan . These fabrics are also used
for wanes or men's G-string, the women use the
fabric as wrap around called getup or lufid. The
motif of Bondocs include geometric shapes of
things around them such as man, lizard,
mountain, rains, and flowers. Married women
of Bontoc and Kankanay in Northern Cordillera
wears a type of belt called zinagpala wanes
with inawin design composed of continuos
pattern woven in double faced with braided
warp that ends as tassels.
For generation, Bontoc people are wearing
abaca fibers that they call as ikat cloth that is
very important part of dowry in many cultures.
Ikat cloth is made from abaca fiber after a
process of dying.
 E. Abra
The original settlers of
Abra are the ancestors
of Bondocs and Ifugao.
They are still practicing
loom weaving and they
embellish the woven
fabric cloth of
embroideries in their
fabric with the use of
natural dyes.
 Checking Your Learning
A. Matching Type: Match the arts and craft in
COLUMN A with the Province in COLUMN B

COLUMN B

COLUMN A _____1. Ikat _____2. Bolinao mats _____3. Loom A. Ilocos

B. Ifugao
weaving _____4. Tinalak basket _____5. Inabel
C. Benguet

D. Abra

E. Pangasinan
B. True or False: Write the word TRUE if the
statement is correct and FALSE if it is incorrect. Write
your answer on the blank.
_____1. Pangasinan is known for their loom weaving.
_____2. Kalinga textiles are dominated by red tripes
and motif of geometric pattern.
_____3. The term Ifugao means people from the hills.
_____4. Benguet is known for their hanging coffins
and mummified bodies.
_____5. The Bondoc people weaved fabric called
siniwsiwan.
Activity
I. Activity: Paper Weaving
II. Materials:
1. Construction paper or any colored paper
2. Glue
3. Scissors
4. Craft scissors (optional)
5. Glitter glue, puffy paint, stickers, beads or
other decorative materials
III. Procedure:
1. Cut a piece of construction paper or
any colored paper into a square.
2. Fold the square in half.
3. Cut evenly-spaced slits starting from
the folded edge and continuing up to
about a half inch from the opposite
edge. It may be helpful to draw vertical
lines to use as guides while you cut.
4. Open up the paper.
5. Cut colored paper strips. The strips
should be longer than the length of
your square's side.
6. Take one paper strip and weave it
horizontally across the slits, going over
and under the slits.
7. Push the woven strip to the top and
start with another one. The second
strip should be woven in an opposite
pattern as the first. If your first paper
strip goes over and under across the
slits, the second strip should go under
and over the slits.
8. Weave more paper strips in an
alternating pattern until your paper
weave is full.
9. Flip the whole square weave. Apply
glue at the ends of each paper strip.
10. Fold the excess length of each
strip inwards and press to glue them in
place.
11. Flip the square weave again so that
the folded ends are concealed at the
bottom.
12. Cut a larger piece of construction
paper or craft foam to frame your paper
weave. You can use a pair of craft
scissors to create a more interesting
border.
13. Glue your paper weave on top of
the frame.Decorate the frame with any
or a combination of these materials:
glitter glue, puffy paint, sequins, beads,
small craft foam shapes, stickers,
buttons or other decorative materials.