MikeLigalig.com

Municipio Inabanga in Bohol is gunning for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records – producing the longest continuous hand-woven raffia fabric.

Gov. Erico Aumentado, Provincial Board member and former Mayor Josephine Socorro Jumamoy and incumbent Inabanga Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy led guests in the recent formal gallery launching at the town cultural center.

Aumentado also tried his hand at the loom set up in the gym itself. This loom had so far produced 1,119 meters of fabric 24 inches wide. The younger Jumamoy is targeting a minimum 1.6 kms – to be unrolled during the town fiesta on June 29 in honor of St. Paul the Apostle. The day also caps the first ever week-long raffia festival to celebrate the century-old industry.

Thousands of Inabangnons had jampacked the cultural center to witness the gallery launching. The Jumamoys, Vice Mayor Wenceslao Lao, the Sangguniang Bayan members, and employees and Team Inabanga had welcomed the visitors to include Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera, Board Members Corazon Galbreath, Ma. Fe Camacho Lejos, Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr., Assessor Edgardo Orig, Treasurer Eustaquio Socorin, Budget Officer Valeria Orig,  and other provincial dept. heads. National Sangguniang Kabataan President Jane Censoria Cajes also graced the occasion.

Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region Director Asteria Caberte who had helped the industry become what it is now gave a brief history of how her DTI family had nurtured and let it grow.

From practically just a pastime, she turned the informal weavers sector into a strong group now capable of accepting orders according to specifications including colors.

The guest list included other personalities from DTI-Bohol, the Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) Provincial Director Francisca Opog and other heads of national agencies, fashion designer Salvador Malto, some mayors, mediamen, investors and  constituents on top of tour agencies witnessed the event.

BACKGROUND

The raffia industry has been handed down from generation to generation. It has provided livelihood and has become a major income earner for the people – put food on their table and sending their children to school.

“What we are doing here today is not just showcasing what we can do but assuring the whole world that Inabanga can supply and make what they need,” he said.

He also announced that as of that day, the raffia roll has breached the 1,000-meter mark.
For her part, lawmaker Jumamoy who was responsible for making the loomweaving industry Region 7 ‘s best One Town One Product (OTOP) during her administration as mayor congratulated Team Inabanga under her son for the endeavor and initiative to be known as the municipality that wove the world’s longest continuous raffia fabric.

In his message, Aumentado said the industry as it is now is history in the making. It brings fame to the province and promotes the raffia industry worldwide.

The townsfolk also surprised the governor with a birthday bash. He just celebrated his birthday the day before the launch.

For his part, Herrera congratulated the Local Government of Inabanga for creating an avenue of even better employment and financial opportunities to the people.

Loomweaving was introduced to the Inabangnons during the time of Francisco Dagohoy, the leader of the longest running Philippine revolt. The woven fabrics were then used as sleeping mats and uniforms of the Boholano guerillas.

Over the years, the raffia weaving industry has gone a long way and has evolved several notches higher from the home. It has since been turned into lifestyle products highlighted in the gallery launching.

The gallery showcased exceptional skills and creativity of the weavers who have turned colored fabrics made into placemats, table runners, pillow cases, decorative rolls, customized hand bags, fashion accessories and other lifestyle products of world-class quality.

Through this acclaimed feat, the municipality of Inabanga intends to inform the consumer sector to include institutional buyers, exporters, and sub-contractors that Inabanga has the production capacity and variety of product lines of excellent quality. The municipality also wants to earn the distinction of being the anchor municipality producing loom woven raffia-based craft of world class quality.  With reports from Aida Osio - the Bohol Chronicle

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=20202.0