A Tour of the Cordillera Weaving Communities, Day 1
By: Dave Leprozo, Jr.
Colorful ikat-woven fabrics are displayed at the gallery.
The Department of Tourism Cordillera Administrative Region invited a group of designers, travel agencies, and journalists on a tour of Cordillera Weaving Communities starting last 1 October 2025.
Marlon Martin explains the weaving process to visitors.
On the first day, a look at Ifugao’s rich weaving tapestries the group got a first-hand insight into Ifugao’s rich and intricate “Ikat “woven fabric.
Ikat weaving is unique to Ifugao.
The municipalities of Hingyon, Kiangan, and Banaue according to “Save the Ifugao Rice Terraces Movement” Marlon Martin are the Communities that are actively involved in preserving and keeping Ifugao’s weaving traditions alive.
On hand to showcase the rich design and tapestries were mother and daughter weavers from Banaue, Benita Balangtao, 72, a third generation weaver and Divine Balangtao, 37, and Amie Dumangeng, 43, who recently got interested in the art of weaving. Marlon expounded on Ifugao’s rich weaving traditions and practices in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples Education program in the Philippines IPED Center.
Among the traditional artisans in Ifugao are deeply ingrained cultural practices that include centuries old rice terraces farming, weaving, and carving.
The Ifugao communities are proud to be a UNESCO Heritage Site declared in 1995. This monumental landscape features hand-carved terraces located in several municipalities: Batad, Bangaan, Hapao, Hungduan, and Mayoyao, which form the five distinct clusters of the heritage site.
This is the first in the series of communities in the tour.
