For
National Women's Week, we celebrate women who do exemplary work in promoting
our local culture. From a long list, this writer has selected six women from a
pool of countless equally impressive individuals who have contributed - and
continue to contribute - to our society’s rich cultural heritage. Here are some
of them.
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| Celebrating these women and their contributions to Philippine culture |
Magdalena
Gamayo
It
is a rare privilege to encounter a national living treasure, and few personify
that distinction like Lola Magdalena Gamayo. When I met her, she was 99 years
old; she became a centenarian in 2024. Even at that age, she continues to weave
inabel, the traditional handwoven textile of Ilocos Norte, while mentoring a
new generation of artisans.
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| 101-year old and still weaving tradition. That's lola Magdalena Gamayo |
A recipient of the prestigious Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) award in 2012, Lola Magdalena is one of fewer than 30 Filipino artisans honored with this recognition. She actively participates in workshops at the Pinili Inabel Center in Nueva Era, sharing her mastery of patterns, techniques, and the cultural stories embedded in every thread.
During
my visit, I watched her complete a piece featuring the Kusikok or Kusikos
pattern, a swirling motif believed to ward off evil spirits. Even after nearly
a century of life, her hands move with precision, weaving not just cloth, but
the living legacy of her people.
Rowena
Gonnay and Lola Kum-as
In
the highland town of Pasil, Kalinga, the Philippines’ first Indigenous Slow
Food Community, I met two more female cultural bearers. Rowena Gonnay has
rallied her neighbors to cultivate organic produce in backyard gardens,
preserving heirloom recipes and serving healthy dishes to locals and visitors
alike. “From seed to plate, it’s all labor and legacy,” she says, a philosophy
evident in every harvest.
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| Lola Kum-as |
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| Rowena Gonnay |
Nearby,
Lola Kum-as, the village’s oldest living potter, reminds the community that
even cookware carries history. Pasil’s earthen pots are shaped entirely by
hand, without wheels or machines; a practice passed down through generations.
During a brief demonstration, Lola Kum-as showed us the meticulous craft behind
the pottery, as her smile radiates the warmth of a doting grandmother.
Gloria
Aduana Cocson
Bearers
of Filipino culture also include those from the culinary world. Travelers often
do not leave Batac without stopping by the famous row of empanada stalls in
front of the church. The oldest stall still frying up empanadas is Glory’s
Empanada, founded by Gloria Aduana Cocson, now 83, who began making empanadas
at 15.
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| Aling Gloria Cocson showing off some of her delicious empanadas |
Over
the years, she perfected her ingredients and technique, turning her empanadas
into Batac’s most beloved snack. Becoming a single mother at a young age, Lola
Gloria persevered, eventually supporting her seven children through her
business. Her dedication has earned her recognition among Ilocos Norte’s most
celebrated culinary figures, including the Kalipi Award and the Gameng Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Erlyn
Alunan
Those
who have visited Iloilo and perhaps all of Panay Island and hired a tour guide
would know Erlyn Alunan: a woman who carries the history of the island like a
walking book. She is filled with endless tales from each town’s traditions,
backstories, characters, epic legends, and beliefs ranging from the religious
to the superstitious - as well as her experiences as a young tour guide in the
1980s, showing around the likes of Aga Muhlach and Richard Gomez.
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| Veteran Iloilo tour guide Erlyn Alunan |
Tour
guides like her are why I always recommend hiring a local guide to gain a
deeper understanding of a place. People like Erlyn Alunan not only preserve
local culture but also retell stories worth sharing about our country.
Jhomaica
Panangon
The
youngest person on this list, Jhomaica is a recent college graduate now working
as a staff member of Mayoyao's Tourism Office. Despite her youth, she is
already capable of serving as her town’s cultural ambassador, as she is
knowledgeable in singing the Ifugao Hudhud chant.
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| Jhomaica Panangon |
The
Hudhud, listed on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is
composed of narrative chants that the Ifugao people have traditionally sung
since as early as the 7th century. It consists of hundreds of chants recounting
traditional practices, ancestors’ religious beliefs, epic tales of warriors,
customary law, and history. In the past, these chants were usually sung or
recited by elders holding significant positions in the community, such as
historians or preachers, and completing a full recitation could take several
days.
