Lesson

Mindoro, Marinduqe, and

1 Romblon Folk Arts

Learning Target

In the end the lesson, you will be able to identify characteristics of arts and crafts in specific areas in
MIMAROPA.

Exploration

 What are the provinces in region IV-B?

 What do you know about these places?
 Are you familiar with their arts and culture?

Go and Learn

Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon are three of the four provinces which make up Region IV-B or the MIMAROPA.
All of these provinces have a rich culture and folk art tradition.
Mindoro

Mindoro is home to the Mangyans. Mangyans are made up of eight indigenous tribes related by language,
culture, and religion. Aside from buri palm baskets decorated with black Nito vines, they also make traditional
beadworks that include necklaces, bracelets, and other items. The Mangyans are noted for weaving cotton for
clothing and blankets. Women weave baskets while men forge bolos, axes, and knives.

At present, Mangyan culture is preserved and documented by the Mangyan Heritage Center which is
located in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. The handicrafts they feature are handmade and sourced from the following:
1. Woven textiles by Hanunuo Mangyan mothers of Mansalay and Bulalacao like the ramit textiles woven
on back strap looms called harablon featuring intricate geometric patterns
2. Rattan baskets by the Alangan Mangyans of Naujan Nito baskets by the Iraya Mangyans of Puerto
Galera and San Teodoro
3. Nito baskets by the Iraya Mangyans of Puerto Galera and San Teodoro
4. Beaded items by the Alangan and Hanunuo Mangyans
What are the art elements of basket woven by the Mangyans?

Made by Shape Size Materials

Irayan Mangyan Six sides or hexagonal Small (18-20 centimeters Narrow strips of buri pal
in diameters) leaf
Hanunuo Mangyan Base is square but mouth Small Split nito or red-dyed buri
is round

Mindoro also celebrates the Malasimbo Festival that features visual and concert artists both local and
international. The festival is held at the foothills of Mt. Malasimbo. This festival aims to promote and sustain the
development and preservation of the indigenous culture and heritage of the Mangyan tribes by offering their different
artistic handicrafts for sale.
Marinduque

The heart-shaped island of Marinduque is known as the

smallest province in the Southern Tagalog region. Marinduque has no
indigenous groups except Tagalogs. Their products include potteries,
ceramics, and mats woven from the buri or raffia plants.

Marinduque is also known for the Moriones

Festival, one of the most colorful festivals annually held on
Holy Week. Moriones are men and women wearing
costumes and masks like Roman soldiers.
Moriones costumes and masks are made of
materials like capiz, hardwood, metal, and cloth, which are
sewn, carved, and stitched together laboriously.

Romblon

Romblon is known for its traditional weaving

and basketry. Handicrafts are a major home industry
where women are engaged in but it is for marble
where the island is best known for. Marble is very
popular as a construction material for flooring tiles
and can also be made into decorative items such as
ashtrays, statuettes, miniature mortars and pestles,
jars, and flower vases.
 Romblon baskets are unique in materials and weaving technique. They use an important material called the
kokolongkoy vine in a technique called roping.

Another popular basket material is the nito vine, used for covered market baskets and bowls of various sizes.
The usual design would be dark nito vine woven against a light-colored vine.
Romblon is also the name of a variety of a pandan plant used in weaving different products like the following:
a. sleeping mats
b. small bags
c. backpacks and market totes
d. boxes and other containers
e place mats
f. trays
 Romblon weavers also use a combination of buri strips
overlaid with split nito by means of plaiting. They also use other kinds
of vines like the malipali, ungali, and sagagap which are usually made
into baskets, coin purses, salakot, sets of small boxes, covered jars,
open bowls, and covered trays.

Some variations of the Romblon basket are the following:

Materials Technique Used Characteristics, Shapes, and

Sizes
Kokolongkoy vine Roping (used only in Romblon) Strong and shiny
Nito vine Weaving of dark nito against a light- Strong and durable market baskets;
colored vine. native bowls and containers of
various sizes.
Buri strips and split nito Plaiting (buri strips overlaid with split Export baskets, coiled baskets,
nito) covered trays, or open bowls

What are the art elements and principles of the artwork of the people in Romblon?

Rombloanons’ Folk Art Lines Color Design

Interlocking Subdued earth Alternation of

horizontal and colors repeated geometrical
vertical lines shapes.