Rhythm and Cadence

 

Recent events attest that, indeed, there is revival of the awareness of the dyers through the renewed appreciation and intensified efforts in natural dyeing in Ifugao. The way was paved by Manang Mary’s pioneering linkage and adoption of the PTRI technology. This time it is with the Federation of Banaue Women’s Organization (FBWO).

 

The Federation resolved to pursue more intensely its members’ skills in natural dyeing. They have invited experts from PTRI to transfer the developed technology, the same technology transferred to Manang Mary and her weavers. Manang Imelda, an active member of the organization, said that she personally took pride in their craft that amid having a scientifically upgraded process of natural dyeing, their practice has never been forgotten. Mrs. Blandina Campos, Municipal Social Work Officer III of the LGU-Banaue, one of the advisers of the federation, said that the federation’s renewed interest was inspired by intense efforts of PTRI to promote the use of natural dyes.

 

A traditional dyer from Amganad, Manang Dudduli, attended the seminar. She has been using the Ifugao traditional technique since she was a small girl. Now in her 60s, she said that the PTRI procedure needs less time since it does not require days to be able to obtain a dyed yarn. She added that it has dramatically shortened their waiting time and eventually increased their output in a given period. She can now weave the dyed yarns and sell them sooner than what she was used to.

 

Mrs. Lily Luglug, the vice president of the federation and proprietor of a novelty shop, also shared her frustrations in the materials she had dyed before. The colors were either uneven or irreproducible. She is certain that the accuracy brought about by the standardized natural dyeing procedure answers her concerns. Upon using the technology, Manang Lily is able to reproduce her desired colors and attain a better quality of dyed materials because of the application of mordants. Manang Lily might be better off than her colleagues since she also owns and runs the Banaue Inn and maintains her own store. But her dedication in upgrading the natural dyeing capabilities of Banaue dyers is very inspiring both in the cultural and economic aspects. She has eight children and most of them are still studying; some are in Manila and the profit that is waiting from any naturally dyed product she could sell would certainly be a great help. If Manang Lily sees this opportunity, how much more help would it give to the other women, to Manang Dudduli and her daughter or Manang Imelda and her family who depend solely on farming and weaving?

 

Manang Lily added, “The market is waiting, we just lack an encounter with clients and we can’t cope with large volume of orders.” The difficulty to produce black or gray colors from synthetic colorings prompts them to still use natural dyes.  Indeed, the black color obtained from hawili and bulu-bulu is used to color the yarns, which oftentimes are woven together with synthetically colored ones. At present, a woven product might not be totally dyed naturally but it has yarns naturally dyed using what is abundant in Ifugao. The use of an upright loom has also been adopted, thus diversifying the width of their products and also the time devoted to weaving their dyed yarns, thanks to PTRI.

 

What was very moving was the effort of Banaue women organizations to federate, making them stronger in number. They have been aiming for the finishing of the basement of the building where the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) holds office and has converted it into both a weaving/dyeing center and showroom for their products. It has now started. Hope floats!  It really does!

 

More than the skills, consolidating the women of Banaue and making them productive through natural dyeing is the heart of these pursuits. Tapping them and directing their skills toward their own economic advantage, as well as for cultural preservation, are undeniably the genius of this renaissance. Their ability to deliver bulk orders might be the challenge but their coming together as a federation unifies their enthusiasm toward one direction. Equipped with the skills, the facility, and the manpower, Mrs. Hilda Licyag, the president of the federation, expects that the rhythm and cadence will soon be felt.

 

The efforts of PTRI, the Local Government Unit, and the financial assistance through Rep. Solomon Chungalao, coupled with the oozing enthusiasm of the members of the federation, send a very optimistic signal to Manang Mary. She is about to witness new light cast over the technology she was once instrumental in ushering in to Banaue. Her experience was vital in carving a better path for the sustainable and holistic entry of the technology.