Weaving is an ancient art form that continue in the Philippines today, with each ethnic group having The
The Philippines has numerous indigenous scripts collectively called as suyat, each of which has their
their distinct weaving techniques. The weaving arts are composed of basket weaving, back-strap loom
weaving, headgear weaving, fishnet weaving, and other forms of weaving.
Cloth and mat Weaving. Expensive textiles are made through indicate and difficult process called
back-strap looming. Fibers such as Cotton, abaca, banana, fiber, grass, and palm fiber are used in the
Filipino weaving arts.
 Weaving is the making of fabric by interlacing threads.
 The machine used for weaving is called a loom.
 Warp threads are stretched on a frame, and an instrument called a shuffle carries weft threads
under and over the warp.
 Tribal communities in the Philippines known for their woven textiles.
 Ifugao - known for their binulan and wanno which are used as shawls to keep their
body warm.
 T’boli - they used bids, frogs and man as their design for their woven cloths.
 Maguindanao - the malong is famous male underpants. It is a piece of cloth that tied
at the waist and looks like a skirt.
 Tausug - the kandit is the official costume of the Tausug Tribe.
Basketry. The fine art of basket weaving in the Philippines has developed intricate designs and forms
directed for specific purposes such as harvesting, rice storage, travel package, sword case, and so on.
The art is believed to have arrived in the archipelago due to human migration, where those at the north
were the first to learn the art form.
Carving. The art of carving in the Philippines focuses on woodcarving and folk non-clay sculptures.
Woodcarving. Indigenous woodcarving is one of the most notable traditional arts in the Philippines,
with some crafts in various ethnic groups date back prior to Hispanic arrival with perhaps the oldest
surviving today are fragments of a wooden boat dating to 320 AD.
The art of putting design on pieces of wood.
 In the North, Cordillera carves the bulol, a pagan statue of their Gods or Anitos.
 They also carve bowls and utensils.
 Figures of man and animals are also carved.
Folk graphic and plastic arts
The field under folk graphic and plastic arts are tattooing, folk writing, and folk drawing and painting.
Folk writing (calligraphy)
own forms and styles of calligraphy. Various ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines prior to
Spanish colonization in the 16th century up to the independence era in the 21st century have used the
scripts with various mediums. By the end of colonialism, only four of the suyat scripts survived and
continue to be used by certain communities in everyday life.
Folk painting
Folk paintings, like folk drawings, are works of art that usually include depictions of folk culture.
Evidences suggest that the people of the archipelago have been painting and glazing their potteries for
thousands of years. Pigments used in paintings range from gold, yellow, reddish purple, green, white,
blue-green, to blue.
Ornament, textile, or fiber art
Ornament, textile, or fiber art includes a variety of fields, ranging from hat making, mask-making,
accessory- making, to ornamental metal crafts, and many others.
Hat-making, mask-making, and related arts
Hat-making is a fine art in many communities throughout the country, with the gourd- based tabungaw
of Abra and Ilocos being one of the most prized. Indigenous Filipino hats were widely used in the daily
lives of the people until the 20th century when they were replaced by Western-style hats. They are
currently worn during certain communities have mask-making practices prior to colonization, while
some mask-making traditions were introduced through trade from parts of Asia and the West. Today,
these masks are worn during festivals, Mariones Festival, and Masskara Festival.
Accessory-making
Accessories in the Philippines are almost always won with their respective combination of garments,
with some being used as accessories for houses, altars, and other objects.
Pottery
The art of pottery, categorized into ceramic making,clay pot-making, and folk clay sculpture,has a long
been part of various cultures in the Philippines, with evidence pointing to a pottery culture dating
around 3,500 years ago. Important pottery artefacts from the Philippines include the Manunggul Jar
(890- 710 BCE) and the Maitum anthropomorphic pottery (5 BC-225 AD).
COCONUT SHELL CRAFT
Also known as "The Tree of life"
Why a COCONUT TREE is called "THE TREE OF LIFE"
The coconut palm is known as the tree of life because it provides some of the basic necessities
for humans and its endless uses. The palm not only provides a source of food and water but is also
used for shelter, fuel and raw materials.
 The Coconut constitutes a plant that belongs to Palmae family and is widely grown in
tropical regions as it needs proper living environment for its growth and production. Even, for that part
of the plant that could be considered as waste, such as its fiber which is utilized among other uses as
"active charcoal"; while the shell is often processed to create "remarkable art work".
PARTS OF THE COCONUT TREE AND ITS BENEFITS
1. The Husk
This is the rough exterior of the coconut which is made up of the coir (tough fibers). Back in the days
fiber of coconut is used to make mats, and in some country’s coconut husk is used as floor polisher and
brushes when there wasn’t any scouring pad to wash the dishes, the locals used the coir with sand to
clean their pots. It gave quite a shine to the utensil. For families who could not afford mattresses, the
fiber was used as stuffing to make homemade mattresses. The whole husk is also great as packaging
materials for plant, fuel fires and make toys.
2. The Shell
Before reaching the delicious flesh inside the coconut one has to get through the hard shell. Today this
is mostly thrown away after extracting the flesh. The shell which is quite strong is also used by artisans
to create long-lasting handicrafts. It also produces fashion accessories like: shell necklace bags.
Decorative items like: lamp shade, fruit and ash trays, guitars, placemats, coffee pots, cups. Most
important use of coconut shell is activated carbon produced from its charcoal; it makes a great charcoal
replacement.
3. The Flesh
This is the edible part of the nut. The vitamin-rich coconut kernel (the flesh) can be eaten raw or
cooked, or processed to manufacture other products like coco flour and etc.
When matured, oil can be extracted from the kernel. The oil can be used for cooking, prevent hair
damage and moisturize the skin. It’s a great sunscreen too. Copra is dried coconut meat that has 64%
coconut oil content.
4. The Water
Fresh coconut water commonly called as "liquid endosperm" its function is to provide nourishment
for the developing embryo. It is also high in B vitamins, proteins and ascorbic acid. A quick drink
when feeling drained and depleted will help you get right back up on your feet. It9s also a great
treatment for sunstroke, stomach ache and urinary problems.
5. The Leaves
These are used to weave hats, baskets and mats. It9s a time-consuming practice which takes a bit of
skill. Skilled craftsmen use the midribs, the central veins that hold the leaves together to make brooms.
These are also used to make barbecue skewer, decorations and traditional toys. In the past, the leaves
were sometimes used for thatching traditional Creole houses.
6. The Heart
Edible and known as “palmis”, "palm-cabbage", and "heart of plam" it is found right underneath the
leaves of the coconut tree. In the Philippines it is known as ubod and considered as one of the finest
vegetables. It is a delicacy that is on high demand by both locals and visitors.
7. Spathe and Inflorescence
The coconut spathe is the scope-like structure that encloses the inflorescences (the flowers) of the tree.
It can be polished and varnished to make containers. When dried, the inflorescence are used as a
broom, especially on the beach when making a space for a lovely picnic. When the spathe and
inflorescences are still closed, locals tap it to release a sap, which is collected and fermented to make
8kalou9 (coconut tree toddy). The principal uses of toddy are as fresh beverage, alcoholic beverages,
for producing vinegar, for making sugar and as a source of yeast for making bread,
8. The Trunk
It is hardy and durable wood is used for building small bridges. It is also used to make benches, tables,
carvings, picture frames, tables, tool boxes, and pulp paper. In the past, the trunks were turned into
planks, used to board and partition houses. They make great pillars as well and construction materials.
9. Roots
This part of the tree holds medicinal properties. It can be used to treat gall bladder, urinary infections,
kidney-related diseases, heartburn and eczema. “Kalou” can also be made from the sap found in the
root. It is said that this 8kalou9 is stronger.
COCONUT SHELL CRAFT
Shell is a hard-protective covering of a cavity or tissue. Shells come from fruits of plants especially
nuts. A palm nut is covered by a glossy skin, fiber and pulps known as the husk, then the shell. Inside
the shell are the meat and water. A young shell is whitest or cream in color, while matured shells are
hard and brittle. Working with shells requires skill and dexterity. Sharp tools easily get dull while
working on shells.
Cutting shells. Straight cuts are made with a backsaw. Saws for wood dull easily when used on shells.
Tools for metal is appropriate on shells. Cutting with sharp edges like a bolo or knife is very common.
The pressure exerted by edge-cutting tools have more chances to break or crack shells since itis hard
and brittle, shaping with edge-cutting tools is done with utmost care and controlled pressure. Curve
cuts are done with narrow blades such as coping saw, turnings saw, or keyhole saw.
Scraping. Edge cutting tools such as spokeshave, bolo or knife are good Scraping tools. A scraper may
be used for this purpose. Only the remains of the husk from the outside and those of the meat from the
inside are scraped.
Assembling shells. Shells are attached to each other with the use of glue or by tying with rattan, wire
or nylon cord. Small holes may be drilled for the tie to pass.
Finishing shells. Shells lose its natural beauty when covered with opaque finish. Natural fish is best
for shells such as the use of varnish, shellac, or lacquer.
The term "coconut" dates back to the 16th century. It derives from the Spanish and
Portuguese word coco, meaning "a grin", "a monkey face" respectively, since there is a slight
resemblance to a human face or a monkey head because of the three tiny indents on the hairy shell of
the fruit. Cocos nucifera is a scientific term for the coconut tree, or coconut palm. Tropics and
subtropics are the natural habitats of the plant. The coconut is a plant, which favorably grows on the
shorelines, it prospers on sandy soils. The fruit prefers rainy and sunny weather, it cannot resist low
temperatures. For a propitious growth coconut also require an area of high humidity.
Coconut is abundant in the coconut-producing areas like Laguna, Batangas, Quezon,
Marinduque, Mindoro, and Bicol provinces. Coconut shells as handicraft materials are used to make
cups, kitchen utensils, wall vases, children's bags, toys, pins, buttons, and plant hangers among others.
Coconut shells have distinct characteristics. They easily crack, so care should be taken when handling
them. Shells of young coconuts are white but not brittle.
FIBER CRAFT
WHAT IS FIBER? Fibers are strong, elongated materials, or substances composed of thread-like
tissues capable of being spun or woven. Fiber is the material which consist of fibrous structure and
length is thousand times higher than its width. Fibers may be taken from coconut husk, buri and abaca
petioles, and maguey, sisal, or pineapple leaves.
Fibers are woven into cloth or made into twines, ropes, and thread. From these materials, several
handcrafted products are made. These include-bags, slippers, baskets, bed sheets, handkerchiefs, table
napkins, table runners, and macramé products.
They are of two types:
 Natural fibers
Natural fibers may be obtained from plant, animal, and mineral sources. Those from plant
sources include cotton, flax, hemp, sisal, jute, and coconut. Fibers from animal sources
include silk, wool, and mohair. Those from mineral sources include asbestos and metal fibers.
 Man-made or synthetic fibers
Man-made fibers are not naturally present in nature and are made artificially by man. Man-
made fibers have high strength, strong when wet low moisture absorption characteristics.
Examples of man-made fibers are viscose rayon, acetate rayon, nylon, polyester etc.
SOURCES OF NATURAL FIBERS
Natural fibers can be classified according to their sources.
VEGETABLE FIBERS (cellulose)
Cellulose is the main component of vegetable fibers, several of which serve in the manufacture of
paper and cloth. Examples include cotton, jute, flax, ramie, sisal, and hemp.
Vegetable fibers can be further categorized into the following types:
 Seed fiber: These are fibers collected from seeds or seed cases. Examples include cotton and
kapok.
 Leaf fiber: These are fibers collected from leaves. Examples include sisal and agave.
 Bast fiber or skin fiber: These fibers are collected from the skin or bast surrounding the stem
of the plant source. They have higher tensile strength than other fibers. Therefore, these fibers
are used for durable yarn, fabric, packaging, and paper. Some examples are flax, jute,
industrial hemp, ramie, rattan, soybean fiber, and even vine fibers and banana fibers.
 Fruit fiber: These fibers are collected from the fruit of the plant, such as coconut (coir) fiber.
 Stalk fiber: These fibers are actually the stalks of the plant. Examples are straws of wheat,
rice, barley, and other crops including bamboo and grass. Tree wood is also such a fiber.
The most used natural fibers are cotton, flax and hemp, although sisal, jute, and coconut are also
widely used.
ANIMAL FIBERS (also called protein fibers)
Animal fibers are generally made up of proteins. Examples include silk, wool, angora, mohair, and
alpaca.
 Animal hair (wool or hairs): Fiber or wool taken from animals or hairy mammals. For
example, sheep's wool, goat hair (cashmere, mohair), alpaca hair, horse hair, and so on.
 Silk fiber: Fiber collected from dried saliva of bugs or insects during the preparation of
cocoons. Examples include silk from silk worms.
 Avian fiber: Fibers from birds, for example, feathers and feather fiber.
MINERAL FIBERS
Fibers obtained from mineral sources may be used in their naturally occurring form or after slight
modifications. They can be placed in the following categories:
 Asbestos: This is a mineral that occurs naturally in fibrous form. Variations are serpentine
(chrysotile) and amphiboles (amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite).
 Ceramic fibers: Glass fibers (glass wool and quartz), aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, and
boron carbide.
 Metal fibers: Aluminum fibers
OTHER USEFUL PLANT FIBRES
There are other important plant fibers as well.
1. COIR, is the fiber obtained from the outer covering or the husk of the coconut. Usually coconuts are
left in water for a few months. The husk is then separated from the nut and beaten with wooden mallets
to get the fiber. The fiber thus obtained is spun and dyed and is ready for weaving. Coir is used to
make several household products like rope and floor covering and also as a stuffing in mattresses and
pillows.
The coconut husk contains three useful parts:
 Bristle the longer fibers, stiff, and course. These are the fine fibers that are manufactured into
yarns, ropes, twines and matting.
 Pith the loose and spongy tissues which bind the smaller fibers. These are the course and
thick fibers that are made into brushes, and brooms.
 Coir the smaller fiber extracted from the husk. These are short fibers used for upholstery,
mattresses, and in coco foam.
Fibers taken from the coconut husk are very useful. They are made into twine, rope, doormats, carpets,
mattresses, brushes, mops, and brushes of all kinds.
Extracting coconut fiber and coir
There are several methods of extracting coir and fiber from coconut husks. Some are given here:
 1. Soaking method- the husk is soaked in the water for two weeks or until the pulp weakens
its hold on the fibers.
 2. Mechanical method- the husks are crushed through a series of iron rollers of a machine
known as a "husk crusher". The husk is then soaked in water for seventy- two hours or more.
Soaking softens the hold of the pulp on the fibers and coir. The husks are then fed into a
revolving drum which is provided with spikes that tear out the woody parts, leaving the coarse
fiber behind.
OTHER USES OF COIR
The newspaper in manila reported new discovery of the use of coconut husk. According to the
report, coconut husk when properly treated with certain chemicals and subjected to some technical
processes can be a good material for house construction. It can be utilized for roofing, walling,
flooring, as well as wall boards. This processed coconut husk is commercially called bonotex. One
excellent property of bonotex is its resistance to heat. According to scientific tests, it can be burned. It
does not swell when soaked in water, nor does not warp or shrink. It is also pliant. These physical
properties may make it an excellent building material.
COIR PRODUCTS
Making of coir and its products is one of the main village industries of Kerala. Coir is
extracted from the "protective husk" of the coconut. Coir is used to make a range of floor coverings,
door mats, floor mattings and rugs, crushproof pile carpets etc. the mats comes in a range of colors
and intricate designs. Besides the rubberized coir, a blend of coir and latex, is also used to make
mattresses and cushioning. The husk separated from the nuts, are retted in lagoons up to ten months.
The retted husks are then beaten with wooden mallets manually to produce the golden fiber. The fiber
is later spun into yarn on traditional spinning wheels called "Ratts", ready for dyeing and weaving into
myriad shades of floor.
Uses of abaca
Abaca has many uses, the most important of which is for making ropes. The ropes used by ships and
another merchant’s marine are all made of abaca. Some of the ropes which you can see in the local
stores are also made of abaca. Twines and threads are also some industrial materials made out of
abaca. Fine abaca called sinamay is used for weaving cloth of various grades. Many handbags used by
women are made of abaca twines.
 PINA FIBER, one of such inventions is Pina, a textile fiber obtained from pineapple leaves
for making fabric and is commonly used in the Philippines. It is sometimes combined with the
silk and polyester to create a textile fabric. Pina9s name comes from the Spanish word pina
which literally means pineapple. Pina fiber is hand loomed by only a few weavers, it is very
precious and scarce, which also makes it expensive. Kalibo, Aklan is the main and the oldest
manufacturer/weaver of pina cloth in the Philippines which are being exported to various
parts of the world most particularly, North America and Europe.
 4. BRISTLE FIBERS are extracted in good quantity from buri petioles, which grow to as
long as three to four meters. The fibers are good materials for ropes and soft brooms.
Buri fibers may be extracted using the following procedure:
 1. Pounding- the petiole is cut into the desired lengths and then placed over a pounding board
where it is repeatedly pounded with a mallet until the tissues surrounding the fibers are
loosened.
 2. Soaking- the shiny outer skin of the petiole is removed. The remaining portion is then
subjected to heavy point to allow maximum water penetration into the innermost parts. This is
then soaked in water for fifteen days or more or until the woody tissues no longer bind the
fibers. The soaked petioles are shaken vigorously to let the tissues fall of the fibers.
OTHER FIBERS
 SILK: Silk cotton is another plant fiber that is commonly used as a stuffing in pillow,
sleeping bag, and life jacket. This fiber is obtained from the silk cotton tree, also called
kapok. The fruits of the kapok tree contain fibers that are light and fluffy (like cotton). When
the fruit ripens, it bursts open, releasing the fibers.
 COTTON- The cotton plant is a shrub. It grows well in black soil and warm climate. It needs
moderate rainfall. Cotton is a soft fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. A
variety of textile products are made from cotton.
 JUTE is a fiber obtained from the bark of the jute plant. It can be grown in different soil
types, ranging from clayey to sandy soil. It grows best in loamy soil (mixture of sand, silt, and
clay), sandy soil, and clayey soil. It grows well in regions where it rains a lot.
  FLAX: Fibers obtained from the stem of the flax plant are woven to make a fabric called decorated with pieces of paper cut in decorative shapes then wrapped with cloth dipped in different
linen. Flax fibers are also used in the production of rope and high-quality paper. dyes. These are then rolled in banana leaves, tied, and boiled in water. When the wraps are removed
the resulting colorful tubes are polished with a piece of glass. If not for the recent revival efforts of the
SEASHELL CRAFT National Commission of Culture and the Arts, lakub were hardly being made due to their
The 10,850 statute miles coastline of the Philippines is a breeding place of various seashells unprofitability given cheaper substitutes.
of different species. The edible meat rich in calcium commands a very good price but the greatest bulk
of shell is gathered by diver for commercial sale to shell manufacturing factories. The factory itself has
a crew of divers who migrate from one island to another where seashell beds are discovered. Seashell
products such as lampshades, chandeliers, vases, trays, decors and others have found profitable outlets
abroad and have turned out to be dollar earners.
Shellcraft, also known as shell craft, is the craft of making decorative objects, or of
decorating surfaces, using seashells. The craft includes the design and creation of small items such
as shell jewelry and figurines made from shells; middle-sized objects such as boxes and mirror frames
covered in shells; sailor's valentines;[1] and larger constructions including mosaics and shell grottos.
Shellcraft is sometimes simply a folk art which is carried out by amateurs, however, in some parts of
the world, including the Philippines, it is a business.

BAMBOO CRAFTS

Traditional Craft
Bamboo is very versatile and widely used for every day materials and products in rural areas
of the countries of origin. Bamboos are fast growing, with most species being harvested in 3-5 years,
and some species reaching maturity in a year. It is therefore a low-cost material that is strong and
durable and can be used for Just about anything from house building to functional and decorative
objects such as bamboo pots!
Among some of the artefacts in daily use that are crafted from this material are bamboo rice
steamer chairs, stools, fountains, hats, baskets, mats and rugs, beds, cups, bowls, pots, eating utensils,
chopsticks, fishing traps and rods, boats, carts, musical instruments such as flutes, and toys. Bamboo
crafts permeate all aspects of Philippine life. Bamboo is used for house construction, for fishing and
farming implements, for musical instruments and much more. Bamboo items may still be found in the
handicraft section of most public markets.
The poles can be used as containers for water or for gathering wine. The young shoots are
fermented and eaten. Bamboo skin can be woven into mats or baskets. Bamboo is used for the crafts of
the everyday but also for festive occasions. This pervasiveness of bamboo as a material has to do with
the fact that it is found almost everywhere in the country. About 60 or so different species have been
identified in the archipelago. Of this number, about twenty are endemic.
One significant bamboo craft is the making of lakub which is associated with the
Maranao ethno-linguistic group of the large southern island of Mindanao. Lakub are multi-hued
containers made from bamboo poles often used for carrying and storing tobacco. To make lakub,
the bamboo poles are cut at the beginning of the lunar cycle. This ensures that the sugar content of the
sap is at its lowest reducing insect infestation. The poles are skinned and sun-dried for weeks. They are