Arts & Crafts of Ilocos and Cordillera Administrative Regions

I. INTRODUCTORY CONCEPT
Ilocos and Cordillera are among the regions found in the Northern part of Luzon. Ilocos is known for
its Calle Crisologo where we can find the beauty of old Spanish Houses; it is also known for pottery
and other arts & crafts that reflect the identity of its people. Cordillera Region is the home for the
Cordillerans or the Igorots and is known for the famous rice terraces. In this lesson, you will learn
about the different characteristics of arts and crafts of Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative
Region. You will find out how all of these add to the uniqueness of each tribe/ local group in terms of
painting, sculpture and weaving.
II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES
• Identify characteristics of arts and crafts in specific areas in Luzon (e.g., papier-mâché
[taka] from Paete, Ifugao wood sculptures [bul’ul], Cordillera jewelry and pottery, tattoo, and Ilocos
weaving and pottery [burnay], etc.) (A7EL-Ia-2)
• Appreciate the artifacts and art objects in terms of their uses and their distinct use of art elements
and principles. A7PL-Ih-2

 ILOCOS REGION
The Ilocanos are among the largest ethno-linguistic groups in the country. Majority of them are
living in LA Union, Abra, Isabela and in other parts of the country. The Ilocanos are highly influenced
by Christianity. It is evident with several old Spanish churches found across the region and the old
houses built during the colonial times. The Paoay Church and the old houses of Vigan are
reminders of the distant past that continue to lull visitors from local and international tourists.
Their arts and culture are so diverse. They are known for their Iloco or Inabel fabric. This special
fabric is made from cotton which undergo the pain-staking binatbatan or beating of the cotton balls
using bamboo sticks to separate the seeds during the initial stage. The traditional threads are dyed
from the sap of black plum called sagut that are abundant in Mangaldan in Pangasinan, but artificial
dyes are already introduced for commercial production. Products from this fabric includes blankets,
bags, camisa-chino, bed linens, and more. This weaving tradition is called Panagabel – the oldest
Ilocano tradition that they have inherited from their ancestors. The main ingredients of this loom
weaving are tilar, sinulid and pasensya (patience).

ARCHITECTURE
Vigan, considered as the “Intramuros of the North”, retains the Spanish colonial architecture
along its narrow and cobble-stoned streets known as Calle Crisologo. These old Spanish-type
houses have huge, high-pitched roofs, large and rectangular living rooms that are made of adobe,
bricks, lime, terracota, hardwood floors and windows of capiz shells framed in wooden window
panels.

TEXTILE
Inabel is a hand weaving technique of the Ilocanos that is produced using traditional wooden
looms. The different designs represent different meanings: the dizzying “Binakol” weave represents
the waves of the sea. They believe that this design protects them from bad spirits.
The Inabel designs are inspired by natural elements: patterns that depict different landforms,
the colors of flowers and vegetation, plaid, zigzags, animal patterns, the ocean waves, or the glittering
night sky.
POTTERY
Burnay is an unglazed earthen jar with small opening. It is used for storage for water and rice
grains and as container for salt, brown sugar, basi (local wine) and bagoong (fermented fish). The
potters mix fine gravel, sand and ashes and fire the clay to make the Burnay heavy and sturdy. The
designs are simple, sometimes Burnay curved patterns can be found around the shoulders of the jar.
They also prick the jar with a stick while it is still soft to make the surface more interesting.

1. PANGASINAN
Pangasinan is known as the Salt Capital of the region during the pre-Hispanic times. Popular
stories say itis a Muslim kingdom trading with Arabs and Chinese and the land was once ruled by
Urduja, a warrior princess who fought and won many battles during her time. During our country’s
quest for freedom from Spain, it is the venue of Polaris Revolt. It was believed that on its lush green
vegetation along its seacoasts was where the pirate Limahong retreated and gained force after his
unsuccessful campaign in Manila. The natives helped him escape from the pursuing Spaniards
towards the open sea back to his own country. The province of Pangasinan is back to his own
country. The province of Pangasinan is the second province of our national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal
where his childhood love blossomed when he fell in love with his cousin, Leonor Rivera from
Pangasinan.

WEAVING
Arts and crafts include the smoothly woven Bolinao mats made from buri or raffia leaves, the
bamboo crafts of San Carlos, bagoong and tasty tapang bangus.

 CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (CAR)

1. BENGUET
It is located in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR). It is the home for the Cordilleran (the
politically correct term for Igorots). Aside from them, there were Tagalogs, Ibalois, Ilocanos,
Kankanaey, and Ikalahan living in Benguet.
The Igorots are hillside dwellers. This condition explains why most of them are farmers and
their artistic expressions are related to farming such as the Tinalik baskets made from rattan. They
are also famous because of their farming on terraces carved out of the mountains.

2. KALINGA
The people of Kalinga are also great weavers. Their cloth weaving and basketry are among
the finest products in the region. Kalinga textiles are characterized by dominant red stripes and motifs
of geometric patterns as well as nature symbols interlaced with white, yellow, and black fibers.

TEXTILE
The southern Kalinga women wear the wraparound skirt or tapis called Kain, which reaches
below the knee. It is worn below the abdomen, and when they walk, one of the thighs is exposed. The
northern Kalinga wears Saya, an ordinary woman’s skirt covering the body from waist to feet. The
colors used in their textile have cultural meanings; red signifies bravery; black is for soil or land; white
is for the flowers of the coffee trees; yellow for the sand; and green for the mountains.
BASKETRY
The basketry of the Kalinga shows their fine craftsmanship. The Labba is a bowl-shaped
basket made from rattan, with sizes that vary from 20 to 150 cm in diameter.

TATTOOING
Tattooing is another form of art of the Kalinga. Because it usually covers the chest and the arms, it
may be considered as clothing and decoration. It also signifies a rite of passage from youth to
adulthood, a mark of heroism, and bravery and one’s status in the community. The design consists of
geometric patterns and lines. Wang-od is the last “Mambabatok” or traditional Kalinga tattoo artist.
She uses a mixture of charcoal and water that is tapped onto the skin through a thorn end. The
painful tattoo technique is said to be a thousand years old and can only be passed on through
lineage. It is believed that if someone outside of the bloodline does the tattoo, it will get infected. In
order to preserve the art form, she is now training some of her relatives to follow her work.

3. IFUGAO
The term Ifugao means “natives of the Cordillera” or “people from the hills” that is why non-
Cordillerans called them Igorots but they prefer the first name. Their arts and culture revolve around
rice as a prestigious crop. Their legends tell that the first grains of rice are given to men by the gods.
The Ifugaos weave a loincloth called Ikat which is actually an Indonesian term, meaning to bind
together. Their motif is characterized by diamond stripes of white and red stripes. The dominant color
is blue. Compared to Kalinga clothe, Ifugao loincloth are less colorful and darker in color as opposed
to bright color sand bead accented clothes of the Kalinga. Weaving in Ifugao is an exclusive task for
women. At least two women are needed to make the long and tedious preparation for weaving. The
Ifugaos are also great basket weavers. They have different types of baskets depending on their use
and in their size. They are also known for amulets called lingling or dinumug. These are made from
jade, gold, copper, bronze, stone and other materials. These are fertility symbols and worn around the
neck.

SCULPTURE
The bul’ul is a wooden sculpture that represents the rice granary spirits. It is used in rituals that are
performed to call the ancestors to protect their rice fields from pestilence and to ask for an abundant
harvest. It is a carved-wooden human figure with simplified forms. These are dipped in the blood of
pigs during a ritual called tunod, which means “planting the seedlings in the soil”. The bul’ul is usually
made of narra which signifies wealth, happiness, and wellbeing to the Ifugao.

4. MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
It is located in the Cordillera central mountain and known for its hanging coffins and mummified
bodies. They employed special burial techniques that could equal the techniques of mummification in
ancient Egypt. The humid air and atmosphere in Mountain Province caves helped preserved the
bodies. These mummies are called fire mummies, Benguet mummies, Kabayan mummies and many
more names. The province is home to Ibalois. Close examination of the fire mummies reveals body
tattoos – a form of body art practiced by most of the cultural communities in the Philippines from
Luzon to Visayas and some parts of Mindanao.

TEXTILES
 The province is also known for their burial cloth, Kadangyan, woven by female elders. The
people of Bontoc are also skilled weavers. They weave different textiles from blankets to clothing.
Their cloth fabrics are used for blanket and clothing called siniwsiwan. These fabrics are used for
wanes or men’s g-string. The men’s traditional attire is called Wanes. The women use a short and
narrow wrap around skirt called Lufid, which extends from the navel to the knees and has a side
opening. This fabric is also displayed at home in a form of blankets.
Married women of Bontoc and Kankanay in the Northern Cordillera wear a type of belt called
ginaspala wanes. These are adorned with inawin designs composed of continuous zigzag patterns
woven in double faced with braided warps that end as tassels. The natives of Bontoc create their
textile patterns through the Ikat, a weaving method. It is a process of tying and dyeing the threads to
prepare the patterns before they are woven into textile. The Ikat cloth is an important part of dowry in
many cultures. The motifs of the Bontocs include geometric shapes of humans, lizards, mountains,
rains and flower, and other forms of plants, animals, and land forms found in their everyday
surroundings.

BASKETRY
In terms of basketry, the Bontocs are knownfor their different types of baskets such as the Bobo and
Suklang. Bobo is a type of basket used to catch fish in the river. Suklang is an everyday hat used by
men for their matches, tobacco and beetle nut for chewing. Married men usually wear simple suklang
while the decorated ones are for unmarried men.

5. ABRA
The original settlers of Abra are the ancestors of Bontocs and Ifugaos. When they left Abra and
settled in the Ifugao and Mountain Province, the Tinguians and Itnegs dominated the province until
the coming of the Ilocos for trade but later they were driven up to the mountains.
The Tinguians weave textiles for clothes and blankets. They are noted for their white textiles
with horizontal stripes found in the edges (like those in the bankudo or wrap-around skirt) or vertical
stripes in the center like those found in the balwasi or female blouse. The people of Abra used natural
dye and still practicing loom weaving and they embellish the woven fabric cloth of embroideries in
their fabrics.

Activity 1
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Identify the differences and the common characteristics of the following textiles based
on the designs, purposes and materials used. Write your answer in the Venn Diagram in a
separate sheet.

ILOCOS KALINGA IFUGAO

Textile from Ilocos

Activity 2
Write at least three characteristics for each picture on the space provided.

1.

2.

3.

Activity 3
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Encircle the letter of the correct answer
1. The _________ designs are inspired by natural elements: patterns that depict different
landforms, the colors of flowers and vegetation, plaid, zigzags, animal patterns, the ocean
waves, or the glittering night sky.
a. Burnay b. Inabel c. Buri d. Inawin
2. _________is a weaving method. It is a process of tying and dyeing the threadsto prepare
the patterns before they are woven into the textile.
a. Inawin b. Inabel c. Ikat d. Tunod
3. _________is an everyday hat used by men for their matches, tobacco, and beetle nut for
chewing. Married men usually wear simple this while the decorated ones are for the
unmarried men.
a. Bobo b. Lingling c. Ikat d. Suklang
4. _________is an unglazed earthen jar with small opening. It is used for storage for water and
rice grains and as container for salt, brown sugar, basi (local wine) and bagoong
 (fermented fish).
a. Burnay b. Inabel c. Buri d. Inawin
5. The Northern Kalinga wears _________, an ordinary woman’s skirt covering the body from
waist to feet.
a. Saya b. Kain c. Labba d. Dinumog
Activity 4
Essay Type: Explain what is being ask.
1. How can the elements and principles of arts and crafts be a symbol of pride to one’s place?