Lesson 2: Arts and Crafts of Ilocos

Region and Cordillera Autonomous

Region (CAR)
 Ilocos are the largest ethno-linguistic
groups in the country. Majority of them
are living in La Union, Abra, Isabela,
Pangasinan, Cordillera Autonomous
Region or CAR ( Benguet, Kalinga,
Ifugaw, and Mountain Province). They
are highly in uenced by Christianity as it
is shown with several old Spanish
churched found across the region as
well as old houses built during colonial
times.
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 Ilocanos are know for their Ilocos or Inabel
fabric. This is made from cotton which
undergo a process. The threads are dyed
from the sap black plum called sagut that are
abundant in Pangasinan. Arti cial dyes are
also introduced but only for commercial
production. The products from this fabric
are blankets, bags, camiso-tsino, bed linens,
and many more. Weaving tradition of Ilocos
is called Panagabel, this is the oldest tradition
of Ilocanos that they inherited from their
ancestors. The main ingredients of this loom
weaving are tilar, sinulit, and pasensya.
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 Pangasinan
Pangasinan is known as the salt capital of the
region during the pre-hispanic times. There
were stories before says that it is the Muslim
kingdom trading with Arabs and Chinese. The
land was ruled by Urduja, a warrior princess who
fought and won many battles during her time.
Pangasinan is the second province of Dr. Jose P.
Rizal, where his childhood love blossomed when
he fell in love with Leonora River, his cousin
from Pangasinan. The Arts and cra s of this
province Include the smoothly-weaved Bolinao
mats of San Carlos, bagoong, and tapang
bangus.

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Cordillera Autonomous
Region
 A. Benguet
Is located in Cordillera Autonomous Region
(CAR). It is the home for the Cordilleran
which is the correct term for Igorots. Aside
from them, there were Tagalog, Ibalois,
Ilocanos, Kankanaey, and Ikalahan living in
Benguet. Igorots are hillside dwellers, this is
why most of them are farmers and their artistic
expressions are related to farming such as
Tinalak baskets made from rattan and they are
famous of their farming on terraces carved out
of the mountains.

 B. Kalinga
The people of Kalinga are great
weavers. Their cloth weaving and
basketry are among the ne products
in the region. Kalinga textiles are
characterized by dominant red stripes
and motif of geometric patterns as
well as nature symbols interlaced with
other colors such as white,yellow, and
black bers.
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 C. Ifugao
The term Ifugao means people from the
hills that is why non- Cordilleras called them
Igorots, but they prefer to call them Ifugao.
Their arts and culture revolves around the
rice as a prestigious crop.The Ifugaos weave
a loin cloth which is called ikat an
Indonesian term, meaning to bind together.
Their motif is characterized by a diamond
stripes with a dominant color blue.
Weaving in Ifugao is exclusive task for
women. At least two women are needed to
make the long and tedious preparation for
weaving

 D. Mountain Province
Mountain province is located in
the Cordillera central mountain
and best known for its hanging
co ns and mummi ed bodies.
Aside fro. That this province is
also known for their Kadangyan, a
burial cloth for rich people. Only
the grandmother are allowed to
weave it during the olden times.
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 The people of Bondoc are also great weavers. Their

fabrics are used for blanket And clothing called
siniwsiwan . These fabrics are also used for wanes or
men's G-string, the women use the fabric as wrap
around called getup or lu d. The motif of Bondocs
include geometric shapes of things around them such as
man, lizard, mountain, rains, and owers. Married
women of Bontoc and Kankanay in Northern Cordillera
wears a type of belt called zinagpala wanes with inawin
design composed of continuos pattern woven in double
faced with braided warp that ends as tassels.
For generation, Bontoc people are wearing abaca bers
that they call as ikat cloth that is very important part of
dowry in many cultures. Ikat cloth is made from abaca
ber a er a process of dying.
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 E. Abra
The original settlers of
Abra are the ancestors of
Bondocs and Ifugao. They
are still practicing loom
weaving and they embellish
the woven fabric cloth of
embroideries in their fabric
with the use of natural dyes.

 Checking Your Learning

A. Matching Type: Match the arts and cra in COLUMN A with the Province in
COLUMN B

COLUMN B
COLUMN A

_____1. Ikat
A. Ilocos
_____2. Bolinao mats
B. Ifugao
_____3. Loom weaving
C. Benguet
_____4. Tinalak basket
D. Abra
_____5. Inabel
E. Pangasinan

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B. True or False: Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct
and FALSE if it is incorrect. Write your answer on the blank.
_____1. Pangasinan is known for their loom weaving.
_____2. Kalinga textiles are dominated by red tripes and motif of
geometric pattern.
_____3. The term Ifugao means people from the hills.
_____4. Benguet is known for their hanging co ns and
mummi ed bodies.
_____5. The Bondoc people weaved fabric called siniwsiwan.
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Activity

I. Activity: Paper Weaving

II. Materials:
1. Construction paper or any colored paper
2. Glue
3. Scissors
4. Cra scissors (optional)
5. Glitter glue, pu y paint, stickers, beads or other decorative materials
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III. Procedure:
1. Cut a piece of construction paper or any
colored paper into a square.
2. Fold the square in half.
3. Cut evenly-spaced slits starting from the folded
edge and continuing up to about a half inch from
the opposite edge. It may be helpful to draw
vertical lines to use as guides while you cut.
4. Open up the paper.
5. Cut colored paper strips. The strips should be
longer than the length of your square's side.
6. Take one paper strip and weave it horizontally
across the slits, going over and under the slits.

7. Push the woven strip to the top and start

with another one. The second strip should
be woven in an opposite pattern as the rst.
If your rst paper strip goes over and under
across the slits, the second strip should go
under and over the slits.
8. Weave more paper strips in an alternating
pattern until your paper weave is full.
9. Flip the whole square weave. Apply glue at
the ends of each paper strip.
10. Fold the excess length of each strip
inwards and press to glue them in place.
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 11. Flip the square weave again so that the folded
ends are concealed at the bottom.
12. Cut a larger piece of construction paper or
cra foam to frame your paper weave. You can
use a pair of cra scissors to create a more
interesting border.
13. Glue your paper weave on top of the
frame.Decorate the frame with any or a
combination of these materials: glitter glue,
pu y paint, sequins, beads, small cra foam
shapes, stickers, buttons or other decorative
materials.
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