BAGUIO, Philippines – Known for its vibrant mix of cultures and creativity, Baguio City has become a de facto trading post for ikat weaving in the Northern Philippines.
Since Tuesday, December 3, the city has been hosting the 2024 World Ikat Textile Symposium (WITS), bringing together master weavers, historians, and enthusiasts to celebrate ikat’s rich heritage – a weaving tradition that blends art, culture, and storytelling – at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center (BCCC).
Ikat, derived from the Malay-Indonesian word meaning “to bind,” refers to a meticulous dyeing technique. Yarns are tightly bound to resist color during the dyeing process, resulting in intricate patterns. Beyond their visual appeal, these textiles carry cultural narratives, embodying the traditions and identities of the communities that craft them.
The World Ikat Textiles Symposium (WITS), initiated in 2016 by Society Atelier Sarawak, AHPADA, and the World Crafts Council Asia Pacific, under the leadership of Edric Ong, has traveled to India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia since its inaugural event in London. After the COVID-19 hiatus, the symposium has arrived in the Philippines, with Baguio City – a UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts – taking center stage.
Three “national living treasures,” icons of traditional craftsmanship, were honored on Wednesday:
- Samporonia Pagsac Madanto, a Mandaya Dagmay weaver, masterfully integrates traditional patterns and abaca techniques into her work, ensuring the continuity of Mandaya knowledge systems
- Barbara Kibed Ofong, a Tboli Tnalak master, is guided by Fu Dalu, the abaca guardian spirit. Her intricate weavings, created over five decades, reflect Tboli cosmology and a profound reverence for nature
- Rosie Godwino Sula, a Tboli epic chantress, is celebrated for her mastery of the Tudbulul, preserving oral traditions that capture the soul of Tboli heritage
The event features 30 experts and practitioners from countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Japan, India, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Venus Tan, co-chairperson of the Creative Baguio City Council, said the WITS has been sustaining the generational progression of ikat weaving while fostering global collaboration and innovation.
The World Ikat Exhibition, a key component of the event, features stunning works from international weavers, while the WITS Bazaar has transformed the BCCC grounds into a lively marketplace, offering textiles, crafts, and locally inspired goods.
Ties that bind
Baguio’s hosting of the WITS cements its reputation as a cultural and creative hub while reaffirming its role as a bridge between tradition and innovation.
The Cordillera region, home to kinuttiyan ikat weaving in Ifugao and vibrant ikat-inspired textiles in Kalinga, has long celebrated this intricate craft. The late Narda Capuyan, a pioneering weaver from Besao, Mountain Province, played an important role in elevating Cordilleran ikat to global recognition by blending traditional techniques with contemporary designs.
By uniting practitioners worldwide, organizers said they were showing the enduring ties that bind communities through this rich cultural tradition. – Rappler.com