Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology City of

Naga
College of Education

CHAPTER 6: HANDICRAFTS

What is handicraft?
Handicrafts are unique expressions of a particular culture or community through local
craftsmanship and materials.

Cultural Importance
The culture and tradition of our country have also been preserved through the love of
handicraft. History gives concrete evidence of our rich traditional art, skills and
talents as well as the Filipino way of life

Economic Importance
Handicraft is a great contributor to the economic development of the Philippines
through job creation and employment A huge number of artisans and employees are hired by
handicraft industries. Even with low capital investments, handicraft
products are now part of the international market which bring additional income to the
country.

Handicraft in the Philippines: A Brief History

Handicraft in the Philippines is almost 5000 years old. In the Philippines, some evidence
of early Filipinos craftsmanship have been discovered in caves and in the burial places of
ancient Philippine tribes before the Spanish Colonial period
(Galvante, Udan, & Salvador, 1958). Some of these relics were the 29 earthenware
secondary burial pots called the Maitum jars, named after Ayub Cave in Maitum,
Saranggani Province where these jars were found. The report said that these jars were
"anthropomorphic", meaning human-shaped. The jars have head-shaped covers which depict
varied facial expressions.

Handicrafts from Selected Regions

1. Loom Weaving - Cordillera Adminstrative Region
Some of the tribes in the Cordillera have their unique weaving techniques.
Pinilian
Binakol
Tiniri

2. Calado-Lumban, Laguna, and Taal, Batangas

Calado is a type of embroidery using a process of pulling threads from certain areas of a
cloth, usually pinya or jusi, then sewing the drawn threads using various stitches to form
clean holes on the cloth.

3. Marble Craft-Romblon
Romblon marble is known to have qualities with commercial value that can rival those of
other countries like Italy. The famous mortar and pestle which are used in the kitchen are
the earliest products carved out of marble. Other products are the ash trays, nameplates for
offices and tombstones used as grave markers.
Three basic elements of handicrafts
1. Design. This refers to an idea or an arrangement scheme that is shown or
exhibited into a configuration, drawing, model, mold, pattern, plan or
specification to work out the form of an object.
2. Material. This is the most important element of handicraft which is used as input to a
production process for subsequent transformation into the finished product.
3. Technique. This refers to the method and process on how the material is to be
handled.
Types of Philippine Handicrafts Industry
Rattan Craft - the flexibility and durability characteristics of rattan made the finished
products popular.
Bamboo Craft - the art of making usable products out of bamboos is called
bamboo craft.
Leather Craft - articles made out of leather are called leather craft. Coconut
Shell Craft - coconut shells are made into useful articles through coconut shell
craft industry.
Basket Weaving - this is also called basketry, basket making, which is the process of
weaving unspun vegetable fibers into a basket.
Weaving - this is a fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are
interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth.
Tatting - this is a technique for handcrafting a durable lace through constructing a series
of knots and loops.
Macrame - this is a form of textile-making using knotting instead of weaving of knitting.
Crochet - the process of creating fabric from yarn, thread, or other material strands
using a crochet hook is called crochet

Basic Principles of Handicraft

1. Handicraft always serves a purpose or a need.

2. Knowledge of handicraft always requires the understanding of its essentials or basic
elements which are materials, techniques, and design (product).
3. Economy of materials and techniques must be practiced.
4. Handicraft activity requires attention in mind.
5. Handicraft should be learned from simple to complex.
6. Good craftsmanship is influenced by the materials, techniques, tools, equipment, the
working environment, and the skill of the craftsman.
7. Form follows function.
8. There is always the best technique for accomplishing a design.

Prepared by:
Caringal, Sheena Mae Casin,
Mauline Jazmin Cordero,
Venus
Encila, Kathleen Kate
Galvan, Christine Mae