Deadline set for entries to piña and abaca weaving competitions

HABI President Mia Villanueva and Heritage advocate and author Felice Prudente Sta. Maria

Habi: The Philippine Textile Council invites piña and abaca weavers to showcase their skills in its two flagship competitions—the 7th Lourdes Montinola Piña Weaving Competition and the 3rd Eloisa Hizon-Gomez Abaca Weaving Competition.

“Piña Ina” by Raquel Eliserio, last year’s 1st -runner up in the Lourdes Montinola Piña Weaving Competition

The competitions, which are part of Habi’s mission to preserve, promote, celebrate and develop Philippine textiles and the country’s weaving culture, are among the highlights of the council’s annual Likhang Habi Fair, which will be held Oct. 18 to Oct. 20 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati.

Last year’s winning entry in the Applied Abaca Category by Anna India Legazpi

Last year’s jurors were (seated) HABI Philippine Textile Council chairman emeritus Maribel Ongpin, Felicidad Nadres, Lourdes Montinola, Vicky Amalingan Sales, and HABI Council President Emeritus Adelaida Lim; (standing) Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, Patis Tesoro, HABI president Mia Villanueva, Corazon Alvina, Erlie Gomez-Manaloto, Nolie Hans, Lulu Tan Gan, Barge Ramos, and Lenora Cabili

Artisans from all over the Philippines are welcome to join.

This is the seventh edition of the Lourdes Montinola Piña Weaving Competition, the Philippines’ premier piña weaving contest, named after the chair emeritus of the Far Eastern University and author who is a champion of indigenous textiles.

Last year’s Abaca Competition (Ikat Category) winning creation by Agustin Tawi Sudaw

Artists and artisans who want to join the competition may work on their own or collaborate in creating extraordinary piña cloth.

The judges will be looking for freshness and excellence in the way they handle piña as a material. Blending with other natural fibers is allowed, as long as piña makes up more than 50 percent of the body of the cloth.

A scene from last year’s judging with fashion designers Barge Ramos and Noli Hans (hidden), and Erlie Gomez-Manaloto

Participants are encouraged to explore new possibilities for couture and experiment with new procedures in the making of pineapple fiber cloth. Submissions need to be at least 2 meters long. There is no regulation on the width.

Three winners will be chosen. “There will be special awards for young weavers under 30 years old and for outstanding innovation,” said Adelaida Lim, president emeritus of Habi.

“Beyond The Horizon” by Edgardo Cornito, last year’s Pure Abaca Category winning entry

For the 3rd Eloisa Hizon-Gomez Abaca Weaving Competition, participants may also work on their own or collaborate with other artists in creating extraordinary abaca cloth.  Submissions must be at least 3 m long and woven exclusively using abaca fiber. The width is up to the contestants.

“Argyle Pattern on Piña Seda” by Anna India Legazpi, last year’s 2nd runner up in the Piña Weaving Competition

Three winners will be chosen. Entries must be packed with care and submitted to the Habi office at No. 962 May St., Mandaluyong City.

“Insecta” by 26-year-old Zairel Rebusta won the Young Piña Weaver award last year.

Include a signed application form with the following details: title of work, name of weaver, age of weaver, Indigenous group, mentor, address, weaving experience, how long it took to make the piece, description of the process and date. The deadline for submissions is on Sept. 16.

Visit habiphilippinetextilecouncil.com for more details.