Mindanaoan Textiles Featured in Exhibit in San Francisco

Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. welcome colleagues from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Non-Forest Timber Products (NTFP), and partner The Hinabi Project for the exhibition on Mindanao textiles.

03 October 2017 SAN FRANCISCO - The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco partnered with The Hinabi Project (THP) for the second art exhibit in a multi-year project showcasing the textiles of the Philippines, with a launch that took place at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on September 23. 

The group worked with master weavers from Mindanao for the past two (2) years to come up with a collection of 35 antique and new textiles that are now displayed at the lobby of the historic Mills Building at the Financial District in downtown San Francisco from September 18 to November 24.

For the launch of the textiles, THP partnered with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), who gave THP a grant allowing resident designer, Mr. Anthony Cruz Legarda, to visit the master weavers of the Mandaya, Bagobo, Yakan, Maranao, Maguindanao and Tausug communities in Mindanao.  Along with a Researcher/Prof. Kitty Caragay, Mr. Legarda worked with the master weavers to come up with six “peace cloths” that incorporate more modern designs and colors with the traditional weaving styles of the six communities. The peace cloths are made more significant in that some weavers had to flee and seek shelter amidst the insurgency in their cities, but still strove to finish the pieces in their desire to show off their culture in the US.

These efforts resulted in a multimedia exhibit of textiles, photographs of the indigenous tribes, a panel discussion on the weaving industry in the Philippines, which culminated in a docent-led tour of the exhibit at the Mills Buidling. Through NCCA, cultural performances of the Maguindanao, T’boli and Mandaya were performed, to the delight of the guests and media who came to the launch.

Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. congratulated The Hinabi Project and thanked the NCCA for sharing the Consulate’s movement to Spark*Connect*Empower* the Filipino-American Community and sharing Filipino culture and heritage in the international stage and for providing a “narrative of Philippine story through our art and culture”.  He encouraged the Community to visit the exhibit “to appreciate the stories imbued in the very fibers of these textiles. As you look through the collection, think about how we are all connected somehow, much like how the fibers in these textiles are interwoven and inextricably linked. Think about how we can help one another work towards a safe, peaceful, strong and united Community.” 

The Maranao, T’boli and Mandaya communities performed indigenous songs and dances before a delighted Filipino-American Community. END

For more information, visit www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/

A makeshift loom was set up to demonstrate how the Maranos weave the langkit.

Our indigenous peoples with Consul General Bensurto and Madame Mariza Bensurto,

and The Hinabi Project team.