PH Consulate General in Toronto Hosts Seminar on Hablon, Other PH Handwoven Fabrics

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and its attached agencies officers and personnel, together with fashion designer Jaki Peñalosa, pose for a souvenir photo at the Sentro Rizal Toronto. (Toronto PCG photo)

TORONTO 19 October 2018 – Under the auspices of Sentro-Rizal Toronto, the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto organized a seminar entitled “The Hablon and other Philippine Fabrics: A Talk by Jaki Peñalosa” on 12 October 2018.

The seminar featured Filipino designer Jacqueline “Jaki” Alcantara Peñalosa as resource person.  She is known for her modern Filipiniana creations utilizing hablon and other indigenous materials such as jusi (banana fiber), piña (pineapple fiber) and abaca.

In her talk, Ms. Peñalosa explained the origins of the hablon and its weaving industry in Iloilo. She also related how her interest in fashion began and how she was inspired to promote hablon.

“Hablon weaving was a dying industry and yet a lot of families depend on it as source of livelihood,” she said.

Hailing from Iloilo, the Filipina designer teamed up with a group of friends who were similarly committed to reviving the hablon industry and formed a group called the Designers Guild of Iloilo.

“We felt the need to revive the hablon weaving industry and help local artisans in the community, especially women,” Ms. Peñalosa added.

She also encouraged Consulate General personnel to utilize and promote hablon and other Philippine fabrics, because it does not only provide decent jobs to communities in the Philippines, but also promotes a one-of-a kind product that embodies our rich cultural heritage.

The term ‘hablon’ is from the root word ‘habol’ which means ‘to weave’.

The handweaving of hablon dates back to pre-colonial Philippines. During the Spanish times, almost every household in Iloilo had a loom in the lower part of the house. However, the demand for handwoven hablon steadily decreased when the inexpensive cotton and commercial looms were introduced in Panay island. Efforts to revive the industry emerged in the late 1990s.

Today, there is a revival in the use of hablon that is largely attributed to the initiatives of the local government in Miagao, Arevalo and Oton, Iloilo and advocates from the fashion industry.

Ms. Peñalosa was in Toronto recently to showcase her unique creations in a one-night fashion show organized by Imperial World Inc. at the Hotel Novotel Mississauga on 13 October 2018. END

Ms. Jaki Peñalosa explains how she interfuses hablon with other Philippine hand-woven fabric such as piña (pineapple fiber) to come up with modernized Filipiniana creations. (Toronto PCG photo)

One of Jaki’s creations-a Barong Tagalog made from piña (pineapple fiber) with a sinuksok design using a technique that incorporates the design while the cloth is being woven. (Toronto PCG photo)

Pina cloth with intricate hand-embroidery and bead work. (Toronto PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.torontopcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.philcongen-toronto.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinToronto.