#ShareIloilo: The endangered art of hablon weaving

ILOILO, Philippines – Weaving was pre-colonial Iloilo’s economy’s driver. Centuries later, the province struggles to preserve the rich tradition.

Nikki Luna reports.

Weaving was the economy’s driver in pre-Spanish Iloilo.

Towards the end of the 18th century, large-scale weaving made the province the textile capital with hand-loomed products exported to Manila and abroad.

Modern day Iloilo is struggling to preserve that rich tradition.

Aling Corazon, 79 years old, passed on the skill she learned at a young age to her children.

CORAZON MONTAGOT: Nagsimula ako maghabi 15 years old ako, kasi tumutulong ako sa nanay ko sa pagtrabaho kasi ito ang pinagkukunan namin ng kabuhayan namin. 

(I started weaving when I was 15 years old because I was helping my mother. Weaving was how we made a living.)

She says less and less young women are taking up weaving.

CORAZON MONTAGOT: Halos lahat ng bahay noon dito sa amin may apat na loom sa ilalim ng bahay namin. Ngayon nagkonti na, may mga loom na bakante yung iba hindi naman makatrabaho ng buong araw dahil may mga gawain sila sa bahay nila.

(Almost all the houses here before had four looms under their houses. Now there are less. There are looms without weavers, while some weavers can’t work the whole day because they have things to do in their homes.) – Rappler.com