Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTRODUCTION
Banig is a handwoven mat commonly used for sleeping particularly in the warm and
humid tropics. It is made from dried leaves which remain cool in the heat of the day and that
are porous enough to let ventilation through. These dried up leaves are cut into strips and
woven into mat. The most common type of these leaves in the country are buri, a palm tree
(Coryha elata Roxb), and tikog, a tall coarse Philippine sedge (Fimbristylis spp).
Throughout the Philippines, variety of indigenous making of banig are still present.
However, the most popular and most extensively used banig in country is the Samar mat.
This mat which has been traded to several parts of the country comes from the Municipality
of Basey, Samar. According to David D. Baradas on its article, In Focus: Banig: the Art of
Making Banig, “One could find the Samar mat in the markets in Mindanao as well as in
Luzon, not to mention the many islands of the Visayas. This popularity basically stems from
its attractive colors as well as its highly affordable prices.” Samar mat is made of tikog, a tall
coarse Philippine sedge (Fimbristylis spp) with tufted stems that are smooth and shiny in
appearance. Because of the tikog’s versatility, pliability, and smoothness various colorful
functional handcrafted products can be made out of it. Currently, Samart mat, or banig, has
been converted to several products like bags, suitcases, portrait mats, etc.
With the aforesaid pieces of information, this study is concerned with the
manufacturing industry of banig, especially the one that is produced in the Municipality of
The scope of this study will cover the registered banig manufacturers and the banig
weavers of the Municipality of Basey, Samar. Thus, the results of the study will not be
applicable to other banig manufacturers and weavers of other parts of the region nor of the
country.
In spite of this limitation, the researchers are convinced that the study will contribute
valuable information on small-scale industries and will supplement what is known about
Definition of Terms
To better understand the study, the terms used in the research shall be interpreted and
defined as follows:
tikog – tall coarse Philippine sedge (Fimbristylis spp) which grows profusely in
stalks
paglara – interlacing of tikog to form a banig which take three to seven days to weave
depending on size.
Visayas of the traditional hand-woven sleeping mat called banig. Labelled as the Banig
Capital of the Philippines by the Department of Tourism, the mat-weaving industry in this
locality is not yet likely to go out of business. However, despite of its current and potential
markets, it is an existing problem of the local mat-weavers on how they can be fairly
compensated by their crafts and make this livelihood sustainable. With this, the researchers
are to conduct a research on the history, industry and economic relevance of mat-making in
Basey, Samar. The researchers are to seek and provide answers for the following questions:
3. What is the current state of the banig industry in Basey, Samar in relation to its
4. How are the hand-woven sleeping mats priced and sold in the market and what are its
5. What was the state of the banig industry after the onslaught of the typhoon Yolanda
1. To identify the processes undergone by the local mat-weavers in crafting the banig
and determine the suitable place and condition where production can occur.
2. To gather specific data on how the local mat-weavers market their finished banig
products and how these products are distributed to the retailers and wholesalers.
3. To determine the profitability and sustainability of crafting banig products.
4. To identify and examine the economic relevance of crafting banig products.
5. To determine major problems faced by the local mat-weavers in their production of
As identified by the researchers, the outcome of the study on the Banig industry of
Basey, Samar will greatly benefit the local mat-weavers and contribute to the development of
this small-scale industry. Aside from digging into the history of banig and appreciating the
mat-weaving process as a traditional art in Basey, this study aims to identify the current
problems faced by the local mat-weavers and provide recommendations to such in order for
the banig industry to survive in the years to come and achieve sustainability. This study will
also help the local government of Basey to identify probable ways of providing support to
this small-scale industry in order to help boost its local economy. The significance of this
study will not solely be the above-mentioned statements. This study can also be utilized for
Chapter II
The Philippine business sector is largely comprised of micro, small, and medium
enterprises, which is a critical driver for the country’s economic growth. MSMEs help reduce
poverty by creating jobs to compensate the Philippines’ increasing work force. 1 Republic Act
No. 9501 or the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises defines MSMEs as
“any business activity or enterprise engaged in industry, agribusiness and/or services, whether
is done according to the value of the assets that the enterprise owns. Micro businesses are
enterprises that have assets not more than P3,000,000 and have one to nine employees; small
enterprises are those that have assets ranging from P3,000,001 to P15,000,000 and have 10 to
99 employees; and medium enterprises are those that have assets ranging from P15,000,001
According to the data gathered by the Department of Trade and Industry, provided by
the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are 900,914 establishments registered and operating
in the Philippines. Of these, 99.5% or 896,839 are micro, small, and medium enterprises and
the remaining 0.5% or 4,075 are registered large enterprises. MSMEs generated a total of
4,784,870 jobs in 2015 versus 2,981,819 for the large enterprises and contributed 35.7
percent of gross value-added in the economy. This strongly indicates that micro, small, and
medium enterprises, as top provider of jobs for Filipinos, contributed almost 61.6% of the
1 Senate of the Philippines. “The MSME at a Glance,” AG12-03 (March 2012); available from:
https://www.senate.gov.ph/publications/AG%202012-03%20-%20MSME.pdf.
2 R.A. 9501, , accessed November 28, 2017,
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2008/ra_9501_2008.html
3 Ibid.
4 Airiz Casta, "MSME Statistics,", http://www.dti.gov.ph/businesses/msmes/msme-resources/msme-statistics.
To bolster the economic potential of MSMEs, the SME Development Plan 2004-2010
was launched in 2004 to address the issues and challenges of the sector and had set forth
strategies of enhancing the operations of SMEs by providing support and developing business
improving the operational environment for SMEs by developing financing support programs,
and providing support through incentives.5 Over the course of its implementation, the
programs were able to achieve the following (1) generated 6.5 million direct and indirect
jobs; (2) encouraged the registration and formalization of MSMEs by helping improve the
business and investment enabling environment of MSMEs; (3) provided Php 367.39 billion in
loans to support more than 6.3 million requests from MSMEs around the country; (4)
generated Php 20.12 billion worth of domestic MSME sales and U.S. $1.8 billion of total
MSME exports; (5) provided capacity building programs to enhance the level of 115,604
MSMEs local and international competitiveness; and (6) empowered and built the capacity of
Although the programs produced remarkable and favorable results, there are still
critical issues hindering the potential growth of MSMEs that needs to be resolved. During the
Manufacturing Summit 2016 held at Manila on November 28-29, 2016 by the DTI and Board
of Investments, in cooperation with USAID and JICA, MSMEs are faced with issues and
challenges with regards of its accessibility to finance, connectivity to markets, and its
enabling business environment.7 These are (1) stringent requirements and long processing
time for loans and credit which limits them to access funds and the information on sources of
5 Ibid.
6 D. (n.d.). Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Plan for 2011-2016. Retrieved December 12,
2017, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ilL7KAK3i5MEozZWpHcHg2TlU/edit
7 Raneses, . (2016, November 28). SME DEVELOPMENT & INCLUSIVE BUSINESS. Retrieved December 12, 2017,
from http://industry.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Breakout_5-SME-Development-and-Inclusive-
Business.pdf
funds, (2) high cost of selling abroad; limited knowledge of overseas markets; limited
capacity to market and product development; low capacity to use modern technology
including ICT; and non-conformance to global standards and practices, (3) and fragmented
policy and implementation support to SMEs due to not fully enforced laws and policy
implementations to SMEs.8 Because of this, the DTI and BOI are generating programs and
policies that will resolve these issues to bolster the overall growth of the MSME sector in
terms of value added, employment, number of establishments and export volume. These are
support for the SME sector which develops quality system certification of SMEs through
accredited certifying bodies, (2) inclusive financing for SMEs through strengthening credit
guarantee funds, financial literacy capability building, and relaxing rules on financial
requirements for SMEs, and (3) accelerating connectivity to markets by integrating MSMEs
into the global value chain and developing marketing promotions and product developments
for SMEs.9
Various cultures around the world have arisen to make living more comfortable.
Filipinos, for instance, have established traditions primarily for this purpose. One example is
the mat weaving tradition where different materials are used to make better sleeping mats.
Eventually, mat weaving not only improved a way of life but served as a source of income
and as part of a culture handed down from one generation to the next.
Banig, local term of sleeping mat, is generally the product that this tradition created.
Banig is “a hand-woven mat usually used in East Asia and the Philippines for sleeping and
8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
sitting”.10 There are many types of banig and each type varies on their design and material.
These mats may be made up of buri (palm), pandan or sea grass leaves, depending on the
region of the Philippines.11 Throughout the country’s archipelago, Mindanao has the Tausug
mat, Maranao mat and Badjao/Samal mat; Luzon has the Palawan mat, Cordillera and
Maranao Mat
Maranao of Lanao and Maguindanaon of Cotabato. The ethnic group’s weaving is not only
shown in mats but also in textiles, basketry and other containers. Most hand-woven products
made for household are used for sleeping, and for drying palay and other grains. While, those
large ones are used to decorate the floor of the mosque. The Maranao mat is made from sesed
(Fimbristykis miliacea L.) which is “a rush plant that grows in swampy areas in both Lanao
and Cotabato”.12 Their banig details the colors of green, yellow, maroon, and blue. Most are
Badjao/Samal mat
The Badjao/Samal mat is commonly made from the pandanus plant which grows
wildly in the sandy shores of the province of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu. The pandan leaves are dyed
with green, orange, red, violet, blue, and yellow. Despite the two groups featuring the same
10 Alea Ramirez, "Banig: A Weave of Culture," Banig, February 11, 2013, , accessed December 26, 2017,
https://allaboutbanig.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/banig-a-weave-of-culture/.
11 Ibid.
12 David B. Baradas, "In Focus: Banig: the Art of Mat Making," National Commission for Culture and the Arts,
February 24, 2015, , accessed December 26, 2017, http://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/banig-
the-art-of-mat-making/#.
13 Ibid.
colors, their mats are distinguished by its hue and designs. 14 Samal mats have muted shades
while Badjao mats display stronger shades. Samal mats are finished with a glossy effect, a
technique that the Badjao have not yet achieved. Generally, Samal mats have stripes, multi-
colored square, checkered, or zigzag patterns. Meanwhile, as boat-dwellers, the Badjao group
has motifs inspired by their way of life: crabs, boat, waves, and marine life forms. Lastly,
Samal mats are softer to touch and more pliable because of the mixing of coconut oil in the
Tausug mat
Tausug mats have designs similar to Samal mats. Their mats are “characterized by
linearity and geometry”.16 The Tausug of Jolo has used their weaving skills for their silk
sashes, shoulder cloth or male headdress called pis siyabit. Tausug mats are produced in the
Woven mats of the Tboli group are used in the sleeping area of their houses. These
mats are made out of a “locally grown reed”. 17 The reed resembles that of a stripped bamboo
and has “a glossy outer covering which is generally resistant to dirt and fluid”. 18 Generally,
the mats are not dyed and produced in its natural color. These mats are also durable.
Palawan Mat
Palawan Island has a vast and abundant rainforest covering the rattan vines which are
the raw material of the Palawan mat. The Tagbanuas “align and piece together rattan strips to
14 Lauro R. Gacusana, "Proposed Modules in Banig Weaving," Scribd, , accessed December 27, 2017,
https://www.scribd.com/doc/109074463/Proposed-Modules-in-Banig-Weaving.
15 Ibid
16 Baradas, ibid.
17 Ibid.
18 Ibid.
form their mats”.19 This technique of making the Palawan mat makes it the most durable
Romblon Mat
Known for their exquisite lace-like edges, Romblon mats are used as liners during the
wedding dance of a couple. Romblon mats are used when an individual has important guests.
This type of mat is made from buri palm. Same material is used in Bolinao, Pangasinan. The
mats from Pangasinan are a double-layered kind with a plaid colored side and a plain side.
Meanwhile, a thicker variety of palm, karagamoy, is used by the Bicolonos for mat making.
Aside from its natural color, a deeper brown shade is brought about by soaking it in sea water.
Cordillera Mat
In the mountains of Cordillera, mats are made from the rono reed. Not only is it used
in weaving mats but also as roofing material, fencing material and basketry. Due to its
unevenness, most people find this sleeping material uncomfortable. Because of this, a softer
variety made of bark strips is prepared despite the fact that it takes a longer time to assemble
such.20
Samar Mat
It is said that mat weaving in Basey, Samar has been alive even before the Spaniards
came. Banig from Samar is claimed to be the most widely used in the Philippines. It can be
encountered in the markets of Luzon and Mindanao. Samar mats are also known for their
designs highlighted by its attractive colors. Its raw material, Tikog (Fimbbristylis milliacea)
which is a grass that grows in swampy places, are woven into patterns of flower, tourist
19 Ibid.
20 Gacusana, ibid.
attractions such as San Juanico bridge, birds, fishes, legends or folktales. 21 There are also
“portrait mats” that require highly specialized skills. Banig is produced in plain natural tikog
color or multicolored ones. Further, aside from its motifs it is also notable for its affordable
prices.22
Despite the differences in terms of color, material, layout and design the process in
The first method, locally known as pagsasa is the process where the long slender part
of the tikog is cut. It is followed by paghapnig and pagriras or “bundling”.23 In this step, the
leaves are stripped off of its edges, ridges and thorns. It is divided into two and each leaf is
separated. The piles are then separately bundled to prevent it from curling up upon drying.
The bundles are then sun-dried or air-dried in the method of pagbulad. This step gives its
The hammering phase or pagpalpag is done by beating the leaves on a flat stone until
it becomes soft and pliable. The next step retains the softness of the leaves. Paglikid requires
each leaf to be tightly rolled. Next, pagbuntay straightens these rolled leaves. The leaves are
Each strand is folded in half. Folded together in pairs, horizontally and vertically, it forms
four strands, the glossy brown color shown as the outer surface.24
21 Ibid.
22 Baradas, ibid.
23 "Banig: A Weave of Cultural Significance," Yahoo! News, May 07, 2012, , accessed December 27, 2017,
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/banig-weave-cultural-significance-100246252.html.
24 Ibid.
Pagtaytay structures the framework of the mat. It details the size, length and width
which is determined “by weaving at the sides forward, making the edge-line on both sides of
the mat known as sapay”.25 The remaining strands are folded on the sides to tightly lock it in
place. This process known as paghurip also means repairing the mat. The final stage,
Almost every family in the Philippines owns one or more handicraft products like
baskets, brooms, feather dusters, bamboo sofa set, cabinets and other furniture. Accessories
like earrings, bracelets, necklaces and other clothing apparel which young people today are
fond of wearing are also made from native products like beads, shells, seeds, and others. This
is a clear indication that our handicraft industry is enjoying the patronage of Filipinos
nationwide.
Today, many Filipinos are engaged in handicraft businesses. People acquired many
skills that enabled them to tinker with nature. They used the raw materials from trees, plants,
and other natural resources that are very abundant and turned them into simple, yet useful
tools. Over the years, Philippine handicrafts have evolved through innovative changes in
individual’s creativity and lofty imagination. There is, however still ample room for
information, capital, and technologies for value addition. After some time, handicraft-making
has become a means of livelihood for them, especially now that many handicraft owners are
exporting their products to Japan, United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore,
25 Ibid.
26 Ibid.
The handicraft industry has a long and rich tradition. The ethnicity is shown in the
handicraft which depicts the culture and norms of tribes and communities. Michelle Arts
explained that, “Many items now sold as handicrafts have traditionally been an important part
of the culture for some communities and tribes.” Aside from the artistry depicted on the
handicrafts, craftsmanship is the most important manifestation of the culture and ethnicity of
tribes. This is shown through the traditional process in producing the handicraft. UNESCO
intangible cultural heritage.” And this shows that craftsmanship is important in expressing
one’s culture because once the traditional handicraft making ends, the culture of one’s tribe
Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions , the export
promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, Manila FAME featured a
wide range of handcrafted products including home furniture and furnishings, as well as arts
and crafts products made by the skilled hands of local designers. Through the prestigious
with the Bureau of Domestic Trade, CITEM presented design-forward arts and crafts
products from selected towns in the country, including the Yolanda-ravaged towns of the
provinces of Leyte and Samar, under OTOP Marketplace. With its goals to give an insight
into cultural narrative of the country’s weaving heritage and encourage exporters to raise their
design standards for Philippine export products, Philippine handicraft industry positioned the
country’s economy in the tropical market segment and pushed the country’s designs and its
While government and big businesses both have an important role to play in the
economy’s growth and development, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) such as
the handicraft industry, are, undoubtedly, also crucial in driving the economy. After all,
according to DTI in 2015, they comprised 99.5 percent of all enterprises in the country. Based
The handicraft industry has been identified as a Micro Small-Medium Enterprise. Mat
weaving, handicrafts enterprises, producers of goods from recycled materials are considered
to be Micro Small-Medium Enterprise. The Thai News Service Group credited the Micro
Small-Medium Enterprises as “the lifeblood of the Philippine economy and are powerful
platforms for promotion of viable rural livelihood.” This means that the handicraft industry
has contributed in the Philippine economy thru exports and the promotion of livelihood
opportunities in rural areas of the country. In addition, among President Duterte’s directives
Pagbabago at Pag-asenso” (P3), which aims to rival the five-six lending scheme that
unscrupulous lenders use to prey on MSMEs by giving them an alternative source of funding.
Thus, it drives the growth of the handicrafts sector in creating real change in the lives of its
fellow Filipinos.
A country like the Philippines where labor is abundant has much to gain from
entrepreneurial activities. MSMEs are more likely to be labor intensive. Thus, they generate
jobs in the locality where they are stimulated. In this sense, they bring about a more balanced
economic growth and equity in income distribution. Most people employed in the labor-
intensive handicrafts are women and youth which has been a solution for unemployment.
In many developing countries, the contribution made to the economy and the
export market through artisanry is increasing as more new craftspeople,
especially youth and women, are introduced into the sector as a solution to
both rural and urban unemployment.
Women and the youth have been the target for employment in the handicrafts sector to
The income generated in handicraft businesses improved the quality of the lives of the
owners and their workers, their respective families, and contribute to our economy as well.
The Philippines, as the second largest world producer of handicrafts, continues to provide a
while many handicraft items are also sold on the local market. According to Louella D.
Desiderio:
The industry achieved its 10-percent growth target last year as buyers
continued to purchase handicraft from the Philippines. Total handicraft exports
in 2017 were valued at $240 million.
Altogether, the sector is providing livelihood to more than 1M Filipinos. Although the
industry has experienced some setbacks over the last ten years, it has kept the respect of the
The handicrafts sector plays a major role in the economic development to the nation.
country, region or people. Handicraft industry contributes immensely to the country’s foreign
exchequer through exports and employees millions of workers that helps in the great potential
Thus, the handicraft industry is one major contributor in the country’s economy. One
factor is the industry’s major contribution in the country’s export in which foreign countries
continue to purchase handicrafts in the country. This is because of the products’ uniqueness in
terms of artistry and of craftsmanship. And the last factor is the industry’s contributions in
employment which provides job opportunities to the people, especially women and youth,
because of an increasing demand of handicrafts in the global market. But the successes of the
industry are mainly due to the efforts and innovations of leaders in the business sector.
Handicrafts and Tourism
are one of many factors that influence tourism development and attraction that leads to the
significant role in tourism as many countries consider handicrafts as the main core of its
tourism development, showing originality by incorporating their national symbols into their
crafts.27 The Philippines is one of the world’s leading producers of handicrafts and locally
hand-made crafts are admired world-wide for their versatility, beauty and quality. Patronizing
local handicraft encourages tribal and cultural communities to produce more and it is in this
way that the Philippines preserves and promotes its cultural heritage.
and strengthening programs and policies that encourage the growth capability of tourism in
the country. The hospitality industry like hotels and lodging provides opportunities in the
construction industry. Restaurants create demands for farm products and agricultural produce
and retail establishments including souvenir shops in the area promote the handicraft
industry.28 This proves the correlation between tourism and tourism-related industries like
The government also plays an important role in sustaining the handicraft sector as key
to the country’s tourism. The Presidential Decree No. 279 entitled, “Creating the Design
27 The Role of Handicrafts in Tourism and Development. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2017, from
http://irandoostan.com/role-handicrafts-tourism-development/
28 Oscar Lagman, “The Philippine Tourism Industry: Adjustments and Upgrading,” De La Salle University-Angelo
King Institute Working Paper Series (2008): 4,
http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/research/centers/cberd/pdf/papers/2008/WorkingPaper-2008-08-RPUSFTA-
Lagman.pdf.
Center Philippines to develop, promote and enhance the product design of all Philippine
products and handicraft.”, has the objective to create, develop, enhance, and maintain creative
medium size industries products. The government’s intervention of the handicraft sector is to
promote and increase the export trade particularly of products which are made from
indigenous raw material to increase the foreign exchange earnings, broaden the base of
29
entrepreneurship, and boost tourism. Through the decree, the government is providing
subsidies and incentive programs to the handicraft sector to realize these goals.
Chapter III
METHODOLOGY
I. Research Design
the historical, cultural, and economic aspects of the Banig-weaving industry in Basey,
Samar. Information with regards to the present financial condition and imposing
the purpose of the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data gathering approaches
II. Locale
Region VIII. Being the most visited town of the weaving industry, the researchers
III. Respondents
In order to cover the data regarding the cultural impacts of the Banig-weaving
industry, manufacturers, together with local residents and members of the Local
Government Unit of Basey will be included in the research. However, data concerning
the business itself will be obtained from the business entities themselves.
sought through a set of questions covering the matters on the history and evolution of
the industry since its inception. The questions formulated should be adequate to also
include the importance of the industry in establishing the cultural identity from which
through qualitative approach with data gathered most likely in the same manner.
V. Procedural Design
Personal interviews were conducted by the researchers with the workers, store
owners and Local Government Unit officials selected based on a random sampling
The researchers will take use of all forms available in presenting the data
gathered and their analysis. Charts, graphs, tables, and images will be extensively
used throughout the research in order to present both textual and numerical data.