Crafts to discover Philippines

In this workshop, local craftsmen combine different materials with tinagudan, a quality of local thread, to make beautiful blankets.

The weaving room of this school built in 1905 by Protestant missionaries, in the north of the city, is the best showcase of the handicrafts of the region. You can see the weaving as it has been practiced by the mountain people for centuries. EWRI is committed to promoting indigenous art, especially Igorot art and weaving. The company also offers other local handicrafts such as wooden sculptures and rattan baskets.

This pottery factory inherited the name Pagburnayan (steel jar) because the jars it produces are as hard as metal and sound the same when knocked. The manufacturing process is simple: a mixture of sand, clay and water is obtained after 4 hours of trampling with a carabao (buffalo); the mud is sculpted and then left to dry for a week in the fresh air. The pots are fired for 24 hours in a large kiln of 50 m length. You can visit the workshop, buy clay items and even try your hand at making them.

The Yakans, originally from the island of Basilan, are considered the finest weavers in the country. A week is the average time it takes to weave a square meter of fabric by hand. Here, you can meet them, learn more about their techniques and judge their ease at the task. This type of handicraft is very expensive in the rest of the country, so it's a good opportunity to shop around. Other traditional items for sale include bronze gongs and woven gadgets.