Philippine Handloom Festival creates learning space for weavers

 INSIDER SPOTLIGHT

• First PH Handloom Weaving Festival turned into a learning, cultural hub
• Over 120 community weavers gathered for knowledge exchange
• DOST-PTRI led push to merge tradition, innovation in textiles
  
  

The country’s weaving communities got a rare national platform to learn, collaborate, and celebrate culture as the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) launched the first Philippine Handloom Weaving Festival (PHWF) in Ilocos Norte. 

The four-day event brought together more than 120 weavers from over 40 communities, united by a shared goal of expanding knowledge and strengthening cultural identity.

Why it mattered

The PHWF positions handloom weaving not only as a cultural treasure but also as a knowledge-driven industry. By creating a learning-focused environment, the festival gave community weavers access to new textile technologies, research insights, and creative collaborations—resources typically out of reach for small weaving groups.

The big picture

As part of the 2025 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week, the festival connected traditions with science and technology. 

Organized with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and key partners, the event fostered a shared cultural space where artisans, researchers, designers, and experts explored the evolving landscape of Philippine handloom weaving.

What happened

The festival opened with a two-day Immersion and Heritage Tour across La Union and the Ilocos Region, giving weavers first-hand exposure to textile landmarks and cultural sites. Stops included the Sericulture Research and Development Institute, Bangar Weaving Village, Rowilda’s Loomweaving, and the Nagbacalan Loomweavers Cooperative, among others.

At Robinsons Ilocos—host of the Nov. 19 to 22 main program—the festival featured transformative learning segments designed to elevate community knowledge:

• Hinabi Textile Bazaar showcasing locally woven products
• Textile Exchange and Fora enabling dialogue among artisans and innovators
• Techno Demo Weaving Workshop with hands-on demonstrations
• Philippine Ikat Symposium tackling pressing issues of Ikat communities
• KatHABI Exhibit presenting textile innovations and collaborations

Between the lines

DOST-PTRI highlighted that weaving, while deeply rooted in heritage, was strengthened by research and technology. 

The festival underscored its mission to build human-resource capabilities for global competitiveness—starting with local weavers gaining access to modern tools and shared expertise.

The bottom line

By cultivating a learning-rich, culturally grounded environment, the first PHWF marked a pivotal step in empowering Filipino weavers—bridging generations of tradition with innovations that can carry the craft into a more sustainable, competitive future. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma