As part of our Habi (weaving), Hilom (wellness), and Halal (cuisine) discovery tour of Panay Island organized by the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, we visited a small community in the province of Iloilo where, more than a century ago, a thriving weaving industry once existed and became forgotten but was then seeing signs of resurgence.
The Hablon Weaving Renaissance in Salngan, Oton | Iloilo
The Salngan Livelihood Cooperative
Upon arriving in Salngan in Oton, Iloilo, a group of mothers welcomed us with a morning snack comprised of several local sticky rice delicacies. It was here where we met the Chairman and Manager of the Salngan Livelihood Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Valerie Joyce Lozada and Elsie Balidiong.
Reviving a Century-Old Craft
During our conversation with the two ladies, I learned that "Hablon", which was derived from the Hiligaynon word "habol" meaning "to weave", was a hand-woven fabric made by the women of Panay for more than a century — particularly in the towns of Miag-ao, Oton, Duenas, Igbaras, and Badiangon. However, as the story goes, “In the town of Salngan in Oton, Iloilo, this weaving tradition skipped a few generations,” Lozada told us in Tagalog. It was in the late two thousands when hablon weaving made a renaissance in their community. This happened shortly after the LGU traced the problem of malnutrition among children to mothers spending more time trading farm produce in the market than at home caring for their kids.
To solve the problem of malnourishment among the town’s younger inhabitants, the local government plotted ways to keep the mothers at home while still being able to earn a living. An idea to re-introduce Hablon weaving was pitched.
The Original Weave-From-Home Model
Not long after, the Salngan Livelihood Multi-Purpose Cooperative was set up in two thousand five, which trained mothers in the art of hablon weaving right within the confines of their homes. Hitting two birds with one stone, the town of Salngan slowly curbed underfeeding among children as the mothers started having more time to take care of them; on the other hand, the program was also able to resurrect the Panay tradition of 'hablon' weaving in their community.
While most of the world’s workforce was introduced to the “work from home” concept during recent times, in Salngan, there had already been a 'weave from home' set-up in place for almost twenty years. Originally made from several materials like pineapple fiber (piña), banana fibers (jusi), and cotton, hablon weaving had included the use of rayon thread to meet wide commercial demand.
The Future of Salngan Weavers
Since then, the community became well-known for their hablon creations and started fielding orders from all over the country. They used to create and supply the 'sablay' used by the University of the Philippines during their graduation rites until it ceased during the pandemic. The lockdown really hit the community weavers hard as market demand went down. Today, the thirty-five women hablon weavers of the cooperative could only hope for a future as vibrant as their creations. After making a strong revival almost two decades ago, the Hablon weavers of Salngan were once again facing a long road to revitalization.
With the support of the public, their will would be done. So, if anyone was interested in seeing their creations—shawls, patadyongs, throw pillows, handkerchiefs, scarves, tablecloths and runners, barongs, sarongs, coin purses, bags, bedsheets, and even a laptop case—they could check out their Facebook page, Salngan Livelihood Multi-Purpose Cooperative, to order.
Read about another incredible piece of history in the province through our feature on the Meticulous Art of the Bobbin Lace Makers of Santa Barbara.
