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| Competition jurors, HABI board and advocates pose for posterity after the closed-door judging and deliberation of piña and abaca competition entries. Shown in their seats (L-R) are HABI Philippine Textile Council Chairman Emeritus Maribel Ongpin, Felicidad Nadres, Lourdes Montinola, Vicky Amalingan Sales, and HABI Council President Emeritus Adelaida Lim. Standing behind them are (L-R) 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. (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/HABI Philippine Textile Council) |
Celebrating innovation and creativity among today’s young weavers, HABI: The Philippine Textile Council announced the winners of its two prestigious weaving competitions for piña and abaca, which were chosen by some of the top names in Philippine textile and fashion, and showcased at the highly attended Likhang Habi Fair in Makati City on October 13-15, 2023.
Topping the Lourdes Montinola Piña Competition among over 30 entries participated was Marilyn Almero of La Herminia Piña Weaving for her “Peacock” piece which also won her the special Filip + Inna Innovation Award and Php50,000. First runner-up was Raquel Eliserio, who took home Php30,000, for her “Piña Ina” creation while second runner-up was Anna India Legazpi of Heritage Arts and Culture, who also took home Php20,000, for her “Argyle Pattern on Piña Seda.” The Nadres Outstanding Young Weaver Award, with Php20,000 cash prize, went to 26-year-old Zairel Rebusta, a weaver at La Herminia Piña Weaving from Aklan and one of HABI’s regular exhibitors. “The outstanding feature [Rebusta’s] piece is that it’s full ringgue — a gauze-like open weave. This is seldom done and resulted in a very light and soft textile. The insects laid in with the suksuk method are random, which is not easy to do,” said HABI President Emeritus Adelaida Lim.
Now on its 6th year, the Lourdes Montinola Piña Competition is the country’s premier piña weaving contest. Named after local textile champion and Far Eastern University (FEU) chairperson emeritus Lourdes Reyes-Montinola, the competition invites local artisans from all over the Philippines to join and proudly exhibit their talents in weaving, dyeing, embroidering, and embellishing piña. The competition aims to keep this traditional craft alive as well as to further promote appreciation and use of Philippine textiles. Training the spotlight on the use of abaca, HABI also held the 2nd Eloisa Hizon Gomez Abaca Weaving competition which celebrates the well-loved and versatile abaca fiber as well as its namesake – a prominent Kapampangan who actively encouraged the use of Filipino textiles, and is mother to popular haute couture ‘70s fashion designer-turned-monk Gang Gomez who is now known as Dom Martin Gomez, OSB.
Winners of the abaca weaving competition include Anna India Legazpi under the Applied Abaca Category Agustin Tawi Sudaw for the Abaca Ikat Category and Edgar Cornito’s “Beyond the Horizon” piece under the Pure Abaca Category. All of these winners took home Php50,000 each as part of their prize. “The innovation really stood out – it’s something different all the way, and what’s beautiful is that you see the innovation coming from the young,” said competition judge Vicky Vizcarra Amalingan–Sales, chairwoman of S.C. Vizcarra, Inc., a major brand synonymous with fine, handcrafted bags and home items made of wicker. For the Piña Weaving competition, Sales was joined on the juror panel by no less than Lourdes Montinola herself; Felicidad Nadres, founder of EN Barong Filipino, Inc.; textile designer, heritage conservationist, and social activist Patis Tesoro; and author and heritage advocate Felice Sta. Maria. Meanwhile, on the juror panel for the abaca competition were Erlie Gomez Manaloto, daughter of Eloisa Hizon Gomez; top designers Ditta Sandico, Noli Hans, and Barge Ramos; and Filip + Inna creative director Len Cabili.
All competitors have eventually showcased their works at the recently concluded Likhang Habi Market Fair, the annual three-day exhibit, bazaar, and educational event highlighting the country’s weaving culture. Started as a 12-booth event back in 2009, Likhang Habi now has over 100 participants, drawing huge crowds year after year. “The idea of our fair is to really go out to the weaving communities and encourage them to come. Most are now self-sufficient, and we now have a waiting list," said HABI chairperson emeritus Maribel Ongpin.
