Artisans, folk artists from regions – bastions of PH culture – gather at LIKHA 3

LIKHA, now in its third edition, has put together a magnificent display of Filipino arts and craftsmanship at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), inviting approximately 87 community artisans, local craftspeople, and folk artists – all revered in their respective communities.

The undeniable genius of Filipino craftspeople and artisans has found a proud home in the Metro in LIKHA – a gathering of sorts that brings together teachers of tradition in one grand showcase of Filipino arts. This showcase ranges from the intricate Abaca-Ikat textile patterns of the Mandaya weavers of Davao Oriental, thriving under the passionate tutelage of Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan awardee Samporonia Madanlo, to the delicately hand-woven silk binakol that is indigenous to communities in the Cordilleras and Ilocos region.

COMMUNITY ARTISANS: PRIDE OF THE REGIONS

A natural consequence of being a 7,641-island archipelago is being blessed by many multifaceted cultures, made unique by each region’s equally multifaceted cultural affordances and limitations. Geography, for example, shapes how a particular community designs what is appropriate to wear for every occasion.

Tradition and Mastery in Craftsmanship

Tausug weaver Abu Aida designs Saruk Kambigasans (fisherman’s hats) for the fisherfolk in her hometown in Maimbung, Sulu. Using shiny split stems of ‘nito,’ a fern commonly found in the forests of Sulu, Aida manually crafts these dome-shaped basketry hats that are used both as a functional headwear and an aesthetic embellishment by Tausug men.

Furthermore, 29-year-old Tausug weaver Ruhina Muhaimer, who hails from the town of Maimbung, dedicates more than eight hours a day to making Pis Siyabit, a laboriously hand-woven tapestry by the Tausug tribe of Sulu. She started when she was 9, learning from her own mother’s mastery of the Tausug’s iconic art of weaving that is heavily characterized by sacred geometries.

Innovative Livelihoods and Wood Carving

Eugenio Uyagon Bayninan, 74, is an Ifugao wood carver from the breathtaking town of Banaue, Ifugao who’s been perfecting his craft since he was 18. His ingenuity in wood carving is limitless, as he can make anything and everything his imagination affords him.

The story behind Mugna Leather Arts, Bukidnon’s leading community-based leather shop, is somehow different. Its masterminds, Japhet and Christopher Pagaling, brothers from Bukidnon, started in 2021 during pandemic time and have since provided livelihood to over 30 leather crafters and designers.

Artisanal Culinary Arts

The resources that are naturally abundant within each region also become its people’s go-to ingredient when making art. Such is the case for Lanao del Sur’s Salika Maguindanao, whose Kakaw Meranaw, a community-based livelihood project based in the town of Bayang, takes pride in its artisanal Palapa Chocolate. Palapa is a flavorful condiment made by the Maranao people of Lanao del Sur, produced using ginger, chili, white scallions, turmeric, and grated coconut.

Summary of Featured Artisans and Crafts