Paghaboe ku, Kabuhi ag Kinaadman: Aklan Piña Weaving & Schools of Living Traditions Showcased at PH Embassy in Paris

NCCA’s team of cultural experts led by Ms. Renee Talavera (center left) with H.E. Junever Mahilum- West (center), Embassy team and the Filipino community participants.

PARIS 16 October 2024 –– The Philippine Embassy in France, in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, conducted a lecture and demonstration on the Aklan Piña Handloom Weaving & Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) on 11 October 2024 at the Embassy’s conference room. The lecture, attended by Embassy personnel, students, and cultural advocates, is in line with the Philippines’ celebration of the Indigenous Peoples’ Month this October.

The learning engagement is a corollary activity to the UNESCO exhibit on 14 to 18 October 2024 that will celebrate the inscription in December 2023 of Aklan’s piña handloom weaving on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as well as the recognition of the Philippines’ SLTs in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices in December 2021.

NCCA’s Program Management Division Chief and Institutional Programs and Projects Section Head Ms. Renee Talavera led the delegation of cultural masters composed of local weaving experts and indigenous community leaders. Among them are Ms. Raquel Eliserio, cultural master and weaver of the Akeanon-Ati Malindog SLT, Ms. Ursulita Marte dela Cruz, weaver & resource person of the Municipal Government of Kalibo, Mr. Gauden Sireg, a Subanen cultural master, and Ms. Renefe Tremedal, SLT National Coordinator.

Established in 1995, SLTs are community-managed centers headed by cultural masters and specialists who teach knowledge and skills on indigenous art, craft and tradition to the youth. The conduct of teaching in SLTs is often non-formal, oral and with practical demonstrations to preserve living traditions of the indigenous peoples.

The lecture included a display of piña fibers, woven products, indigenous clothing and cultural items from the SLT communities. Participants were also able to learn the Subanen dances from the cultural master himself.

H.E. Junever M. Mahilum-West, Philippine Ambassador to France, expressed her appreciation to NCCA for the opportunity to showcase Philippine indigenous culture in Paris through a hands-on learning format. The Ambassador added that “culture cannot be confined to the four walls of museums; it must be lived, experienced, and shared to truly thrive across generations.” END

H.E. Junever Mahilum-West welcomed guests and participants to the lecture and demonstration.

 Cultural masters and weavers Ms. Raquel Eliserio and Ms. Ursulita Marte dela Cruz discussed about piña handloom’s traditional process.

Cultural master Gauden Sireg teaches participants about Subanen indigenous dances as part of SLT demo.

NCCA’s Program Management Division Chief Ms. Renee Talavera discussed SLT’s mandate to preserve living traditions of the indigenous peoples.

For more information, visit  https://www.parispe.dfa.gov.ph, http://www.facebook.com/PHinFrance, https://twitter.com/PHinFrance or https://www.instagram.com/phinfrance/.