LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – As upland Cordillera province of Ifugao continues to promote its cultural heritage, the Ifugao Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) is pushing for the conduct of a weaving training project aimed at encouraging the young to engage in traditional weaving practices.
ICHO head Nora Luglug told the ZigZag Weekly that the provincial government wants to pass on the lessons of traditional Ifugao weaving to young folks by way of a training activity scheduled July 20 to 24 and July 28 to 30 of this year. The venue is a weaving center at Barangay Amganad in Banaue.
The interactive activity shall enhance public understanding of the role and impact of skillful weavers in both the public and private sphere.
“Our hardworking weavers continue to produce high-quality items because they are creative,” she said.
However, many are no longer interested in the traditional weaving practice because of a number of reasons.
“That’s what we are worried about so, we’re really pushing for this activity,” Luglug said.
With the support and assistance of Governor Jerry Dalipog, educating the younger generation on the importance of weaving is possible.
The eight-day activity entails teaching of the fundamentals of back-strap weaving and use of natural dyes.
The provincial government will provide operational funding worth Php 117,250. The amount includes compensation packages that would be given to “trainers” in the project. Trainers are tasked to handle concerns on dyeing, warping and “binodbodan.” Culture bearers are serving as resource speakers, chanters and demonstrators. Php52,000 has been earmarked for food during the activity.
The ICHO undeniably wants the best use of the provincial government’s resources for a project aimed at touching the hearts of the youths and opening their minds to the endeavor’s rewards that are not quantifiable. No other office could claim more importance than this.
As Ifugao would want to rekindle the spirit of ethnic weaving, Luglug said discussions on the weaving industry on how the government and private sectors could help develop the market for weaving products are essential. Likewise, by focusing on the marketing aspect the provincial government shall be able to provide a glimpse of local weaving products tourists can bring home for their families and friends for special occasions such as Christmas.
“We want young people to know (about) the importance of the weaving industry while they are still young, so that when they become adults, they will be able to pass these lessons to many others,” Luglug said.
“As we look forward to the future, we are focused with increasing optimism because we have strengthened the foundation of our cultural heritage,” she added.
Nobody will understand and appreciate the thoughts of the School of Living Traditions in the distant future if projects of the ICHO as this one are underfunded.
Crucial to promoting cultural heritage in this part of the country is increased budgetary allocation for ICHO by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. It has 16 personnel, all of them on job-order status for an unbelievable period of three months. The last thing cultural minorities need is underfunding and under-manning of vital entities such as the ICHO. This is exactly what the practice of “contractualization” would offer.
ICHO is oriented toward the future and creating the pathways for the young to promote cultural heritage.
For his part, Governor Dalipog believes that indigenous peoples (IP) can work and build a greater future together. He remains hopeful that through these vital instruments like School of Living Traditions, young ethnic weavers would see the bigger picture that knowing how the craft is learned can help immensely the country’s economy.
Surely, the governor’s immediate approval of the project is recognition of the rightful timing for conduct of the activity.
This is a pre-Christmas gift of Governor Dalipog to young Ifugao folks, now reeling from the effects of the watered-down Gotad (Ifugao Day) foundation rites last June 18.
With Governor Dalipog’s support, ICHO adds a strong partner to the task of delivering services to the IP community the way people want it. It can rely on a partner that understands how the weaving industry should scale efficiently at a faster pace.
It is certain that the forthcoming experience of the young in the scenic village of Amganad is a memorable adventure for them. It will impact on their lives, give them opportunities to earn and encourage them to stay in the province.
Today, aged Ifugao women weavers are hard-pressed to earn just enough to feed their loved ones from their products. Young people become disenchanted with weaving and choose to earn their living through other means. Thus, there is indeed a potential threat to the province’s weaving industry should this trend continue.
Nonetheless, observers also said the weaving industry in the province remains positive despite the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
To recall, Ifugao, which still has vast opportunities for loom weaving, has 108 weavers. Most of them are based in Kiangan.
Alongside the well-being of weavers, Ms. Luglug gives premium to the utilitarian values of weaving products and implements. It is a trademark of her illustrious career as public servant. Previously, Luglug served as president of the Ifugao chapter of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) and ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan where she demonstrated professional competence of a highest degree.
What exactly is the plan of ICHO? ICHO is ready and willing to take the responsibility of molding the minds of youngsters, help them become better persons and make their lives meaningful.
ICHO wants to pass on to young people of Ifugao- to begin with those in Banaue and Hingyon, the joy in discovery and the excitement of learning weaving. Rather than learning it by way of lectures in a classroom or online teaching, ICHO encourages the young to learn Weaving by doing Weaving. It is much, much better than what e-learning platforms have to offer.** By Anthony A. Araos
