Indigenous Arts and Crafts

by Kheem Caparas on January 06, 2014

Photo by Don McCullough of flickr.com

Cloth weaving

One of the most precious living traditions that are still kept until today is weaving.
Originating in the precolonial times, the art of weaving of the Cordillera tribal groups in
the North is still existing despite the threat of the more practical mass production of
cloth. The natives use backstrap loom to produce blankets and articles of clothing.

Photo by Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap

Pia 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. Having its organic and airy textile, it is becoming more popular now around the
world.

Abaca fiber come from the abaca plant that is endemic and grown in the country. It is
woven chiefly to make sinamay fabric. Abaca is popular in making a rope, specialty
papers like vacuum bags, currency, and tea bags. There are also handcrafts like bags,
furniture, carpets and clothing made of abaca.

Basket weaving

Baskets are mainly used by the Cordilleras for their occupation. They use them as a
storage for their food when they need to go to mountain terraces to cultivate their
lands.

Photo by mwanasimba of flickr.com

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

Since the early 16th century, jewelry making in the country has been in existence. It is
believed that the skill of our early Flipino in making jewelry are adopted from their
Asian neighbors like the Chinese.

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 first one is the precious metal jewelry, which are made of gold and silver. It can
be in the form of rings, earrings, bracelets, brooches, pendants, necklaces, tie pins,
and cuff links (with or without gemstones). Decorative items like spoons and forks, and
office items such as pen and pen holders are also included in this category.

Another production in the jewelry industry are 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.

Photo by Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap

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.
Photo by ~MVI~ of flickr.com

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".
Photo by Raine Medina of flickr.com

In the Philippines, tattoos were seen as a source of accomplishment and rank. Men
bore ink on their chests and heads as signs of their strength as warriors. Women wore
detailed lines on their arms and wrists (Visays and Mindanao tribes) or full chest and
arm tattoos (Luzon mountain tribes) and they were seen as marks of beauty. Most
tattoos were earned through the passage of rites ceremonies, or for accomplishing
tasks. The styles varied depending on the region and tribe that the people came from