September 5, 2026 — Weaving communities from Mindanao, BARMM, Luzon, and Visayas recently gathered at SM City Zamboanga for Habi Kalinaw: Weaving Peace, Weaving Prosperity, the opening gallery leg of the Amazing Weaves Distinction Awards (AWDA) 2026, a national initiative positioning indigenous weaving as both cultural heritage and an economic driver under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship.
AWDA recognize weaving communities on five standards: authenticity, craft excellence, livelihood Impact, market readiness, and ecosystem support with deadline of application on September 30, 2026, Regional Selection on October 9 and announcement of the National Selection and Distinction Awards on October 15.
CLOSING DISTANCES
“Our dream is to make our weavers and local entrepreneurs global,” stated Rosemarie P. Rafael, Commissioner for Labor, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and WomenBizPH Board of Trustees, highlighting AWDA’s core purpose on connecting artisans in remote communities to international buyers.
Commissioner Rafael noted that government agencies, private-sector partners, and financial institutions are aligning to provide financing, market access, policy support, and logistics.
SM City Zamboanga Mall Manager Aileen Ann Enriquez underscored the mall space as the ideal venue to bring to life the vision of connecting the weaving communities to the market place and celebrating the weavers’ rich local heritage.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan T. Olaso welcomed the initiative as proof that culture and commerce can grow together, pledging to bring the city’s Yakan weavers to AWDA 2026 and eventually to New York, USA.
ANCESTRAL HERITAGE
Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Dulce Ann Kintanar Hofer-Santos traced her province’s 18-year effort to revive Subanen weaving from a 2008 land donation to the 2022 revival of the craft and the recent groundbreaking of a Subanen Weaving Center, developed with Senator Loren Legarda, DOST-PTRI, and NCCA. Fifty Subanen artisans have since been trained, and the province’s participation in Habi Kalinaw marked its first public exhibition.
Assistant Secretary Susana Guadalupe H. Marcaida of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) delivering the keynote message on behalf of Secretary Mel Sarmiento. Marcaida said that peace is similar to the local heritage of weaving, built through trust, participation, and socio-economic cooperation.
The handwoven textile traditions spanning Sulu, Zamboanga, Basilan, Lake Sebu, Maguindanao, and throughout the country are evidence that diversity and women’s leadership underpin genuine development.
Master weaver Padirna Saani showcased Pis Syabit is a traditional, intricately hand-woven square cloth made by the Tausug of the Sulu archipelago and famous for its complex geometric patterns and bright, contrasting colors. Saani further described Pis Syabit with its intricate pattern carrying the heart, history, and resilience of the Tausug community.
Representing Maguindanao del Norte within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), WOW-Matanog’s Asmaira Mapantas and young weaver Soraida Bansil spoke of weaving as identity, livelihood, and hope passed to the next generation.
Alongside WomenBizPH, Galing Pook Foundation, BPW Philippines and OPAPRU, four institutional partners reinforced AWDA’s pillars: PCW Executive Director Nharleen Santos-Millar addressed gender and Babaylan leadership, calling women weavers “builders of the future”; DTI’s Regional Director Grace Aduca outlined market-access pathways through the Malikhaing Registry under the Creative Industries Development Act; DILG’s Director Jun Benitez tied the program to local governance and GAD-budget policy; and BARMM’s Trade Minister Farserina A. Mohammad addressed creative-economy development and peace tourism.
INTERNATIONAL THREAD
Ukrainian Ambassador Yuliia Fediv drew a direct parallel between Ukrainian and Mindanao weaving traditions shaped by conflict, describing displaced Ukrainian women rebuilding embroidery from memory since 2022. She announced an open invitation for exchange between Ukrainian ateliers and Mindanao/BARMM weavers, beginning with designer Karen Maximo-Fernando’s existing Krpa Bags collaboration.
ASEAN TRADE EXPO
PCW Commissioner on Business and Industry Myrna T. Yao invited the community of weavers to join the 2nd ASEAN Women Economic Summit (AWES), the largest convening of women-led enterprises for the ASEAN Trade Expo on Nov 10-12 at Okada Manila where distinguished Philippine weaves from the AWDA will be exhibited at the SINAG Pavilion, connecting community-rooted textiles to global demand for ethical, sustainable supply chains.
“Policies are now underway that directly address the concerns of local artisans, citing the essential collaboration with the Philippine Commission on Women and other public-private partners to utilize the women’s economic fund under RA 9710 Magna Carta for Women in support of our community of local weavers,” Commissioner Yao said.
AWES is a regional platform convening regional leaders, industry pioneers, policy makers and development partners to advance collaboration, innovation and inclusive growth, particularly from women-led enterprises across ASEAN.
Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.
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