Banig Handwoven by Bukidnon-Tagoloanen Weavers
Our artisan mats (or “banig”) are lovingly hand-woven by the Tagolwanen tribe women of Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Philippines. No two mats are alike, even if made by the same weaver (or “Manglala”), using the same color grass threads. Each mat is distinct and reflects the creative style of the weaver and the culture of the Bukidnon tribes.
Weaving has always been a part of an indigenous person (or “lumad”)’s life and identity. Woven items like the banig, baskets, nets and containers have always been used for work and the home since time immemorial. Weaving is part and parcel of the lumad history and identity.
For the banig, each crisscrossed grass strand in a mat reflects the Tagolwanen’s identity of creativity, patience and technical precision. The designs on each mat show a quick peek of their history and their relationship with nature. Most of these designs have been around for as long as the tribe has existed, and are mostly inspired from nature. For each Tagolwanen mat you will find, try to see if you can find which design elements are mountains, stars, land, flowers.
The tribes believe these mats do not belong to a museum to be looked at behind glass cases. The mats should be woven and the weaving skills should be developed. This is naturally achieved when the banig is used by people. As more and more people used and enjoyed the beautiful mats, it had also turned into an income source that helped the women weavers supplement their family income.
Tagolwanen Women Weavers Association, Inc. (TWWA, Inc.)
The Tagolwanen Women Weavers Association, Inc. (or TWWA) was formed to promote the Tagolwanen tradition of weaving, as well as the customs and traditions that surround it.
With modern living, the use of this traditional skill steadily declined. TWWA aimed to help lay out the context for traditional weaving to be easily included in daily life.
The association encourages the tribe women to recognize value in their own efforts working from home, that home chores and income-earning work such as weaving have considerable impact that benefit the family. TWWA also aims for its members to recognize their capability to create beautiful art and construct other items through weaving.
By recognizing the weavers’ contribution to the home, the Tagolwanen Women Weavers’ Association aims to empower the women’s self-determination and be equal partners in
- community building
- active preservation and passing on of traditional culture
- environmental preservation
The association also prioritizes that indigenous knowledge and the traditional weaving skills be passed to the young. When weaving is part of life, the next generation automatically picks up a traditional skill. The Tagolwanen Women Weavers’ Association actively teaches their youth to appreciate and continue the tradition of banig-making.
Objectives
To encourage and value indigenous women’s home-based traditional weaving
To transfer indigenous women’s weaving skill and knowledge to the younger generation
To build a wider market for indigenous home-based traditional mat products
To empower Tagolwanen women to be equal partners of men in their tribe.
TWWA, Inc.’s Vision
A society that promotes dignity, creativity and continuous mutual learning for Tagolwanen women weavers through their indigenous arts and crafts, that will lead to their economic independence as well as assertion to their right of self-determination.
TWWA, Inc.’s Mission
TWWA aspires to preserve and promote the Bukidnon-Tagoloanen tradition of weaving, as well as the customs and traditions that surround it. It recognizes banig-making, not as a historical artifact, but a daily activity that is part of the lumad identity and culture.