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The Next Generation of Filipino Weavers Is Keeping Tradition Alive

Person wearing a colorful woven shawl draped over the shoulder examines fabric rolls in a textile showroom, with hanging patterns behind them.

A display of entries from Habi’s 2026 weaving competitions. Courtesy of Habi

A display of entries from Habi’s 2026 weaving competitions. Courtesy of Habi

Through Habi’s annual weaving competitions, artisans are finding new ways to push the possibilities of piña and abaca while preserving generations-old techniques.

When Habi: The Philippine Textile Council was founded in 2009, it gave a new generation of artisans the opportunity to pick up the shuttle and continue the work that the country’s master handloom weavers had been doing for centuries.

The council celebrates two of the Philippines’ most important textile traditions: the Lourdes Montinola Piña Weaving Competition, which began in 2018, and the Eloisa Hizon Gomez Abaca Weaving Competition, which began in 2022. This year, 40 entries across six categories have been given a platform to demonstrate their skills and traditional techniques while experimenting with fibers, dyes, patterns, and contemporary designs. The categories are Liniwan, Pure Piña, and Natural Fiber Blends with Piña under Lourdes, and Abaca Nipis, Resist Dye on Abaca, and Abaca Craft under Eloisa.

Close-up of woven textile with alternating wide beige bands and dark blue/black stripes accented by thin pink lines
“Abaca Fino with 4 Harness Stripe,” under Resist Dye on Abaca, showcasing multi-harness stripes interwoven in deep hues. Courtesy of Habi
Vertical stripes of diamond motifs in teal, yellow, blue, green, peach, and gray on a light woven rug.
“Hiyas,” under the Natural Fiber Blends with Piña category, features multicolored diamond patterns created through the traditional Pili Suksok technique. Courtesy of Habi

Trickie Lopa, Vogue Philippines’ editor-in-chief, was one of the judges of the competitions. Among the abaca entries, two pieces in particular caught her eye: Abaca Fino with Square Dot, a subtle square-and-dot motif that highlights a grid woven through traditional sinuksok inlay, and Famukan na Pigsugawan, a piece featuring anthropomorphic figures that revives ancient Tagakaolo tritik designs.

For piña, she singled out Hinabing Bulaklak, a Piña Seda Sok-sok textile featuring a delicate floral motif intricately woven into the fabric, and Piña Liniwan, a sheer piña liniwan with wave-like sinuksok patterns floating over a thin grid.

Beyond the cash prizes awarded for each category, Habi also recognizes outstanding weavers through major overall distinctions, including the Nadres Young Weaver Award for weavers under 30 years old and the Filip + Inna Innovation Award for modern design.

The winners will be announced at the Likhang Habi Market Fair on October 9-11, 2026 at Space at One Ayala, Makati City.

  • Four older adults closely examine a striped woven textile on a loom in a workshop setting, discussing its pattern.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Two women smiling and holding folders at a textile exhibition, with fabric samples on display behind them.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Woman in a cream blouse and black wide-leg pants with red shoes stands at a display of hanging fabrics in a showroom/galleriespace.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Three women pose in a gallery holding a light textile with birds among green plants.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Three women sit closely together at a table, smiling for the camera at an indoor event.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Two people discuss fabric samples at a textile exhibition, with racks of fabrics around them.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Three women with notebooks and pencils review documents at an indoor exhibition or workshop.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Five women posing together at a formal indoor event, wearing varied light to dark outfits; a projection screen is in the background.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Two women at an exhibition talk: one in a cream dress with glasses holding folders, the other smiling with a colorful patchwork bag next to her.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Group of people standing in a textile exhibition, posing behind fabric swatches on display stands in a large hall, smiling at the camera.
    The 9th Lourdes Montinola Piña Weaving Competition Judges. From left: Maria Isabel Ongpin, Patis Tesoro, Adrienne Charuel, Len Cabili, Gianna Montinola, Adelaida Lim, Mia Villanueva, Carmina Sanchez-Jacob, Timothy Daniels, Vicky Sales, Elma Laguinia, Mitzi Reyes, Felicidad Nadres, and Wilma Huang. Courtesy of Habi
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  • Group of diverse adults posing for a photo in a textile showroom, with woven fabric samples and a projector screen in the background.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Cream-colored fabric featuring embroidered green stems and small red blossoms scattered across the pattern.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Close-up of striped fabric (black and white) with scattered frayed white yarns and knotted strands.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Red patterned woven rug with white geometric motifs and black decorative borders along both edges.
    Courtesy of Habi
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  • Light-colored fabric with a subtle tropical floral print, including green leaves, pink flowers, and palm trees against a pale background.
    Courtesy of Habi
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Hyacinth Aranda

Digital Content Writer
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