Indigenous

Arts and Crafts

Cloth weaving
Piña cloth is also produced in looms
throughout the province of Antique. It is a
delicate and exquisite handwoven cloth
that is made from the fibers which you can
get in the leaves of pineapple plants. It is
popularly used in Barong Tagalog, our
traditional clothes.
Abaca fiber come from the abaca plant that
is endemic and grown in the country. It is
woven chiefly to make sinamay fabric.
Basket weaving
A basket is needed for carrying
grains, hunting animals, and
fishing in the streams. Baskets
made of bamboo become their
fish traps; the shape and size of
baskets are according to the kind
of fish they want to catch.
Jewelry making
Jewelry-making is a source of livelihood for the
family, and it is traditionally a home-based
industry. The government give their support and
attention in this industry. By this support, the
country became the top producer of gold.
These are the two major product categories that
the fine jewelry industry in the Philippines are
engaged for production:
• The precious metal jewelry, which are made of
gold and silver.
• The pearls, precious stones, and semi-precious
stones. These are unworked or worked pearls.
Colored gemstones like emerald, rubies, and
sapphires are also in this group.
Pottery
Pots in the Philippines have different sizes, shapes, and designs.
Their designs are usually geometric with stylized nature motifs.
Pottery became more functional as the time pass by.
An example of this is palayok, which is used for cooking. Banga
and tapayan are used for storing liquids. There is also the clay-
made stove or "kalan". The making of burnay pottery in Ilocos
Sur is still a lively tradition that continues up to the present.
Woodcarving
Philippine sculpture is the most
familiar art form among Filipinos.
The most popular woodcarving in
the Philippines are carvings of the
anitos (nature gods), santos
(saints), and statues of Christ and
the Blessed Mother.

Philippine sculpture have

undergone changes in terms of
shape, size, and the medium used.
Tattoos
Filipino tattoos have a rich history,
dating back to before the Philippine
Islands were colonized by
Spaniards. When Spanish ships first
arrived there, they were greeted by
the heavily-tattooed Visayas tribe
and they called the islands "La Isla
De Los Pintados" which meant "The
Island of the Painted Ones".
Where to buy arts and
crafts in the Philippines?

There are many markets throughout the Philippines where

you can find local handicrafts and souvenirs. One of the best
is at Quiapo in Manila where you can buy items such as capiz
lampshades, bamboo wind chimes and a range of traditional
crafts from the provinces at great prices. Even at smaller
markets, such as the Sunday market at Legazpi in Manila, it’s
worth keeping an eye out for handmade crafts.
South Sea Pearls

For something, a little more exclusive, the

luxury jewelry brand Jewelmer, founded in
1979 by a French pearl farmer and a Filipino
entrepreneur, specializes in South Sea pearls.
Jewelmer now has several shops across the
Philippines, and you can also purchase items
online.
Escolta Street Flea Market
For something quirkier, visit Escolta Street Flea Market in Manila to see upcycled
antiques creatively given a new lease of life.
Traditional art inspires contemporary fashion
Agsam Fern
One such example is the range of beautiful accessories by
Agsam Fern. When artist Gina Nebrida Ty stumbled across the
art of weaving agsam, a local type of fern, during a visit to her
husband’s hometown in Surigao del Sur, in the Philippines she
was soon convinced that the craft was not reaching its full
potential.
Lenora Cabili

Together with similar artisans from across the Philippines, their

work is a source of inspiration for fashion designer Lenora Cabili.
By incorporating ancient techniques of weaving and embroidery
by these indigenous Filipino artisans into her contemporary
fashion designs, Cabili is giving a new lease of life to their ancient
traditions.
Traditional arts
and crafts in the
Philippines
Abaca (Musa textiles) is a tree-like herb
resembling the banana plant. Its fiber is more
widely known in the export trade as Manila
hemp. It is durable and resistant and can be
easily dyed in different colors.
It is also used in the handicraft business as pulp
material for handmade paper, cordage or as
fibers to be woven into ropes and braids.
Bamboo (Bambusa spinosa) is mostly
used for the furniture industry because of
its strength and durability. It is also a
valuable material for basket and hat
making. It is a grass species found
throughout the Philippines.
Buri (Corypha elata) is the largest palm found
in the Philippines. It is one of the most
important palms, next to the coconut, in terms
of economic and industrial importance. The
buri leaf is the most versatile material used in
handicraft industry. It is used for making hats,
boxes and other novelty items. It can be easily
dyed and woven into many shapes.
Sea grass (Rhynchospora corymbosa) is
coarse sedge, about 1 meter in height. The
stems are distinctly triangular, and the leaves
are broad and long. It abounds in the
marshlands and rice paddies of southern.
Kalas is a derivative of the buri palm.
Locally, the term "kalas" means "to loosen"
and refers to the loosened strands of a buri
rope. When woven, kalas creates an
interesting, rustic pattern with distinct
characteristics from its original material.
• The variety of arts and crafts in the Philippines is not only a result of
its rich cultural melting pot, it also owes thanks to the wealth of
natural materials readily available including bamboo, rattan, and
coconut shells.
The Dream Weavers of Lake Sebu
While some crafts are fairly universal throughout the
Philippines, others are unique to specific ethnic
groups. Most notably, there’s a wonderful range of
textiles and local costumes.
Baguio UNESCO Creative City of Crafts
and Folk Art
In 2017 Baguio, a vibrant, multicultural
city in the mountains of Northern Luzon
with local artisans specialising in
woodcarving, silver craft, weaving and
tattooing, was named a UNESCO Creative
City of Crafts and Folk Art.
Meet the artist – Willy Tadeo Layug
The sunlight streams through an open
doorway in a quiet street in the barangay of
Sta. Ursula, the artistic centre of the Betis in
Guagua in the Filipino province of
Pampanga.
Over the years Layug has introduced new
techniques to the woodcarvers of Betis and his
sculptures can be found in many magnificent
churches around the Philippines as well as
overseas. With a reputation of being the finest
ecclesiastical artist in the country, Layug is the
recipient of many awards, including the highest
merit of the Catholic Church, the Pro Ecclesia
et Pontifice.
Local Markets
There are many markets throughout the
Philippines where you can find local handicrafts
and souvenirs. One of the best is at Quiapo in
Manila where you can buy items such as capiz
lampshades, bamboo wind chimes and a range of
traditional crafts from the provinces at great prices.
Even at smaller markets, such as the Sunday
market at Legazpi in Manila, it’s worth keeping an
eye out for handmade crafts.
Thank you!