The vice chairperson of the House committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples on Thursday urged more schools to become active partners in preserving indigenous knowledge in the country by integrating it into the senior high school (SHS) curriculum.
Peñarrubia town in Abra recently announced that the Peñarrubia Integrated School now offers weaving as a subject for SHS students, including lessons on natural dyeing, weaving, and embroidery featuring designs that reflect the culture of the Tingguian (Itneg) people.
In support of the curriculum, the Peñarrubia local government has allocated funds for the purchase of tilar (a type of foot loom), threads and other materials needed by students as they learn the indigenous craft.
“I would like to laud the efforts of my own kailian (province mates) in Abra to preserve our weaving tradition by integrating it into the senior high school (SHS) curriculum. Such a move will help ensure the transfer of knowledge on a pillar of our heritage,” Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos said in a news release.
“I hope that other towns and schools across the country will follow suit in becoming active partners in the preservation of indigenous knowledge and practices.”
The lawmaker pointed out that with this curriculum integration, the next generation will be inspired to do their part in ensuring that Philippine indigenous traditions continue to flourish in the future.
Bernos underlined the need to integrate the products and knowledge of indigenous peoples to help them survive in the modern world.
The lawmaker also called on Congress to begin deliberations on her pending bill that, if passed, would require the use of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles in the academic regalia of all state universities and colleges and local universities and colleges in the country.
Neo-ethnic textiles refer to textiles made of or containing natural or indigenous materials, sourced and/or produced in the Philippines using updated, relevant, and green scientific and technological approaches and innovations, while integrating and/or retaining traditional patterns, designs, icons, motifs and/or approaches.
“House Bill No. 3111, or the Philippine Neo-Ethnic Textile Development bill, could help both in preserving the deep-rooted culture of handloom weaving and in providing opportunities for weaving communities to engage and benefit from neo-ethnic textile production,” Bernos said.
The lawmaker added that her proposal pushes for the recognition of weaving as intangible cultural heritage and aims to provide sustained government support for skills transmission, production, innovation, and marketing; empower weavers – especially women – with access to livelihood, training, infrastructure, and social protection. (PNA)