National Living Treasure and master weaver Magdalena Gamayo celebrated her 102nd birthday on Thursday, 13 August, in her hometown of Pinili, Ilocos Norte, as family members, local officials, fellow weavers and community members gathered to honor her lifelong contribution to preserving the province’s traditional weaving heritage.

Gamayo, a native of Barangay Lumbaan-Bicbica in Pinili, is widely recognized as a master of Inabel, the traditional handwoven textile of the Ilocos Region. She began learning the craft at age 15 and has spent decades practicing and passing on the knowledge and techniques of Ilocano weaving.

Among those who attended her birthday celebration was Congressman Angelo Marcos Barba, who has been pushing for greater recognition of Gamayo’s contribution to Ilocano culture and the preservation of traditional weaving.

In 2012, Gamayo was conferred the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, or National Living Treasure, by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in recognition of her mastery of traditional weaving and her contribution to keeping the cultural practice alive.

Even at 102, Gamayo continues to weave on her traditional wooden loom, remaining an inspiration to younger generations of weavers and a living link to the generations of Ilocanos who have preserved the craft.

Pinili Mayor Romel Labasan described Gamayo as an enduring symbol of the community’s cultural identity and resilience.

“Manang Magdalena is a living symbol of Ilocano resilience, skill, and culture. Her life inspires us to preserve our traditions and turn them into opportunities for our people,” Labasan said during the celebration.

Over the years, Gamayo has trained and inspired younger weavers, helping ensure that the knowledge and techniques behind Inabel are passed on to future generations.

Her work has also brought wider attention to Ilocano handwoven textiles, with her intricate designs featured in cultural exhibitions and fashion presentations that have showcased the artistry of traditional weaving.

Her 102nd birthday comes as Ilocos Norte awaits the possible enactment of a measure that would formally recognize 13 August as Magdalena Gamayo Day, a special non-working holiday in the province.

House Bill No. 982, principally authored by Barba, was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading on May 13, 2026. The measure seeks to establish August 13 as Magdalena Gamayo Day in recognition of her contribution to Ilocano culture and the preservation of Inabel weaving.

The proposed holiday remains subject to the completion of the legislative process before it can become law.

Barba has said the measure seeks to ensure that Gamayo’s contribution to Inabel, Ilocano culture and Philippine cultural heritage will continue to be remembered and celebrated.

For Pinili, however, 13 August was already a day to honor Gamayo and the tradition she has spent most of her life preserving.

Her story is not simply one of longevity but of cultural continuity—a craft learned at a young age, practiced for decades and passed from one generation to another.

At 102, Gamayo continues to sit before her wooden loom and weave, keeping alive a tradition that forms part of the identity of Ilocos Norte and the Ilocano people.

Her continued dedication shows that cultural heritage survives not only through recognition and legislation, but also through people who practice it, teach it and ensure that others have the opportunity to carry it forward.

As Pinili celebrated her 102nd birthday, the community also celebrated the enduring legacy of a woman whose hands have helped weave Inabel into the cultural history of Ilocos Norte and the Philippines.