DID YOU KNOW?

January 8, 2024

Textiles made from abaca fibers are generally called 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗬. The word comes from the Visayan term”𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙮” meaning “𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚.” At times, however, some confusion arises from the use of the word. In some areas in the Visayas, the term is sometimes used to refer to fine Visayan weaves such as piña, banana or even cotton. In a manuscript written during the Spanish colonial period, there are some references to cloth called 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗶ñ𝗮.

(𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢: “𝘼 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙬𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 / 𝙍𝙚𝙣𝙚 𝙀. 𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙡𝙤, 𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧. — [𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙯𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙮] : 𝙃𝘼𝘽𝙄: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙡, [2013].”)

According to Proclamation No. 313 Series of 2012, the country is celebrating the 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 (𝗣𝗧𝗙) 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 this January. It seeks to encourage the production of textiles in the Philippines using natural textile fibers, industries, and technologies in order to revitalize the domestic textile sector, achieve inclusive growth by giving Filipinos a means of subsistence, and supply resources that support and foster the development of a distinctly Filipino textile brand. The (𝗣𝗧𝗙) is made, spun, woven, knitted, or finished in the Philippines and comprises natural textile fibers from pineapple leaf, abaca, banana, and Philippine silk.

To raise awareness about the local natural fibers, the National Library of the Philippines (𝐍𝐋𝐏) presents some books about fabrics and textiles that you can read and use.

Let’s visit the 𝐍𝐋𝐏 and enjoy reading books.

#NationalLibraryPH