The simple elegance and importance in Philippine cultural heritage of the piña, the handwoven textile made of pineapple leaf fibers from the province of Aklan, were spotlighted in an exhibit in Paris, France, which also focused on the School of Living Traditions (SLT) program of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Aklan Piña Handloom Weaving and the School of Living Traditions of the Philippines was mounted at the Pas Perdu Hall of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Headquarters, from 14 to 18 October 2024, celebrating the inscription of piña weaving on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the inclusion of NCCA SLT in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

Curated by the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), the piña exhibit highlighted the history and cultural significance of the textile and explained the process its production and the techniques used. On display were tools used in producing the textile including a wooden foot loom, and vintage and new garments made from piña.

For the duration of the exhibit, a series of talks on the textile and SLT were held, featuring local government heads — Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores, Kalibo Mayor Juris Sucro and Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor Yu — as well as practitioners and cultural bearers, Anna India C. Legaspi, Ursulita Marte dela Cruz and Raquel Eliserio, as speakers.

The exhibit’s opening ceremony was attended by Junever M. Mahilum-West, Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France; Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture and Director; Fumiko Ohinata, Secretary of the 2003 Convention; NCCA executive director Eric B. Zerrudo; NCCA deputy executive director for Operations Bernan Joseph Corpuz; UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines secretary general and NCCA Subcommission on Cultural Heritage commissioner Ivan Henares; NMP director general Jeremy Barns; NMP deputy director-general for Museums Jorell Legaspi; and NCCA Secretariat’s Program Management Division chief and Institutional Programs and Projects Section head Renee Talavera.

As a gesture of gratitude for UNESCO’s support and recognition, NCCA presented to the organization framed pieces of piña fabric, symbolizing the enduring tradition of piña handloom weaving. Additionally, desk calendars featuring the heritage textile, conceptualized and designed by journalist, cultural researcher and print designer Roel Hoang Manipon, were given to guests.

Before the exhibit opening, a corollary event was held on 11 October at the Philippine Embassy in France on 4 Hameau de Boulainvilliers in Paris, which was also the embassy’s own celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Month.

Attended by embassy personnel, students, and cultural advocates and organized by the embassy in collaboration with NCCA and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, “Paghaboe ku Kabuhi ag Kinaadman: A Lecture and Demonstration on the Aklan Piña Handloom Weaving and the NCCA School of Living Traditions” featured Eliserio, piña weaver who is also part of the Akeanon and Ati Malindog SLT; Dela Cruz; Subanen practitioner Gauden Sireg; Renefe Tremedal, SLT national coordinator; and Talavera, who introduced the SLT and its mandates.

Aside from the lectures, the event included a display of piña fibers and products, indigenous attire and other items from the SLTs, and a demo of Subanen dances.

The piña is one of the Philippines’ iconic textiles, produced by a few communities in Aklan in Central Philippines and used for formal attire and finery. The practice of its production was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 5 December 2023.

The SLT program was established in 1995, working with different communities to enable mechanisms for the transmission of indigenous skills and knowledge among younger generations led by culture bearers and cultural masters. It was included in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices on 16 December 2021.

The exhibit and other activities were organized and supported by the NCCA, NMP, Office of Senator Loren Legarda, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Embassy in France, Permanent Delegation of the Philippines to UNESCO, UNESCO-Philippine National Commission, and local governments of the province of Aklan, and the municipality of Kalibo in Aklan in collaboration with cultural practitioners and bearers.