Rustan’s Filipiniana Festival: ‘Handwoven from the heart’

Text and photos by C. Mendez Legaspi, Contributor

The month of June is the best time to tap into anyone’s sense of nationalism, as the anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence falls on June 12. Flag-raising takes more significance and wearing the terno or the barong Tagalog doesn’t seem so constricting.

Shopping emporiums, such as Rustan’s, know how to appeal to your patriotic side as well. Via your pocket. At the fifth floor of the upscale store’s flagship branch in Makati City is an exhibit/sale of native goods called “Celebrating the Finest of the Philippines,” which runs until June 22.

One of the featured — and the most famous — indigenous products on sale are from Narda’s Original Ikat Creations. The brand was originated by the late Narda Capuyan, a Bontoc native who revived the weaving traditions of the peoples of Mountain Province.

Narda’s range includes scarves, bags, table runners and shawls. With the ikat (an age-old tradition of tying and dyeing segments of threads before actual weaving) as the dominant technique, the products also have maguey, abaca, buri and raffia woven into them.

“Handwoven from the Heart,” Narda’s tagline, can also be applied to all the products on display. The offerings from Ifugao include metal sculptures, handwoven women’s skirts (tolque) and bronze gongs.

From Abra comes a collection of ponchos, polo shirts, scarves and pinigitan shawls, all woven by hand. Nearby Baguio bears neckties and kamagong mortars and pestles.

Annika top handle bags (Abel Indigo Sinan Agatul), made of canvas with handwoven accents from Santiago, Ilocos Sur, use the pinilian technique unique to the home-based women weavers of the coastal areas of Ilocandia.

If you fancy native jewelry, there’s Silnag Collections from Quezon City. The items are made of raw materials from Philippine water buffalo horns, cow bones, shells, scrap woods and seeds. The brand emphasized that the “materials are byproducts of food and farm trade, so no animals are harmed nor included in the Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species list.”

Antique, represented by the Bagtason Loom Weavers Association and ADF Arts and Crafts from San Jose de Buenavista, carry bayongs made of abaca tops with wooden handles, wallets and wide-brimmed hats.

From martial-law Mindanao are Etniko Pilipino shoulder bags, with the body made from bamboo skin pattern created by the Teduray ethnic group of Maguindanao while the handwoven Yakan cloth strap comes from the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Bukidnon baskets are quite covetable. Crafted by the Tagolwanen Women Weavers Association Inc. from Malaybalay, the baskets/bags can be brandished as part of your streetwear ensemble, and Balenciaga would be none the wiser.

There wouldn’t be an ethnic extravaganza without the distinct t’nalak. Oftentimes controversial for its sexualized use as national costumes for beauty pageants, the t’nalak is woven by the Tboli women, popularly regarded as “dream weavers.” At the exhibit/sale are authentic clothing, accessories and home decor.

When it comes to ingenuity, the Filipino craftsman creates the finest products out of indigenous materials. And when we wear them, we won’t be accused of cultural appropriation.