sMODULE 6

HANDICRAFT
MODULE REVIEW
Philippine economy. Its value both as a product and a skill has been recognized time and
again. This has been integrated in the Philippine educational system because of its relationship to
arts. According to UNESCO and International Bureau of Education (Galvante1958), "the skill
and understanding required by studying art encourage the appreciation of nature, life, production,
and art. Moreover, handicraft is also recognized as an important means for aesthetic, intellectual,
and moral education. Taking handicraft as part of the curriculum would help students develop
self-realization through self-confidence, creative self-expression and communication of one's
ideas to others. Students would also learn to respect and value the artistic expression of others
within the context of values prevailing in the community.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson students are expected to:
 Explain the contribution of handicraft industries to the country's culture and
economy
 Demonstrate awareness on the history of handicrafts in the Philippines.
 Identify examples of handicraft from selected regions of the country
 Define terms and concept in handicraft
 Identify basic handicraft elements 6. Identify the basic principles in handicraft in
the theory and practice

Discussion:

Cultural Importance
The culture and tradition of our country have also been preserved through the love of handicraft.
History gives concrete evidence of our rich traditional art, skills and talents as well as the
Filipino way of life. Here are some examples:1)Tacloban's name was said to have been derived
from bamboo baskets known as "taklub" or cover. This "taklub" was created for fishermen to
catch fish, crabs or shrimps in shallow areas by hovering a fish and covering it quickly to make a
catch. 2) In Davao, a similar basket was also used by the Bagobo tribe (Cole, 1913). This is the
reason why, in the Social Sciences and in Home Economics subject, these handcrafted materials
are included as culture materials to study how the community managed their resources. At
present, craftsmen and majority of the Filipinos have developed the love for handicraft products
by showcasing them not only in museums but by also using them in their everyday life.
Economic Importance
Handicraft is a great contributor to the economic development of the Philippines through job
creation and employment A huge number of artisans and employees are hired by handicraft
industries. Even with low capital investments, handicraft products are now part of the
international market which bring additional income to the country. Small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) and handicraft entrepreneurs operating the cottage industries are supported
through the financial programs and trade fairs coordinated by the Department of Trade and
Industry. The Philippine Chamber of Handicraft Industries has been organized by the.
entrepreneurs themselves to help in the promotion of the handicraft industry of the country.
Thus, acquisition of knowledge and skills in handicraft is something that you must be proud of.
You will get financial reward by doing something for the end users and lovers of the crafted
products. Above all, you help spread the Filipino culture.

Handicraft in the Philippines: A Brief History

Handicraft in the Philippines is almost 5000 years old. In the Philippines, some evidence
of early Filipinos craftsmanship have been discovered in caves and in the burial places of ancient
Philippine tribes before the Spanish Colonial period (Galvante, Udan, & Salvador, 1958). Some
of these relics were the 29 earthenware secondary burial pots called the Maitum jars, named after
Ayub Cave in Maitum, Saranggani Province where these jars were found. The report said that
these jars were "anthropomorphic", meaning human-shaped. The jars have head-shaped covers
which depict varied facial expressions.
Another similar treasure was found in Tabon Cave, Palawan. This was believed to be a
work of a master potter, the structural design of which features a lid with boat where two human
figures are seated thought to represent souls to a voyage to the after life. Although there is
limited literature about handicrafts during the early period, pottery is not the only handicraft that
has been documented. Furniture carvings and ornaments also share in the history of handicrafts.
The regular trade between the Philippines and the neighboring countries included handicrafts.
(Galvante, etal). Handicraft flourished especially as religious items during the Spanish colonial
period. The more prominent handicrafts known were the sculpture, woodcarving, metal craft,
embroidery, and weaving. The Philippines was known for embroidery such as Calado, which
was applied to clothes and undergarments. The Banton cloth in Banton, Romblon, woven from
red, black, and white abaca threads is also known as the oldest relic estimated to be 400 years old
during the time of Spanish occupation (www.nationalmuseum.gov. ph).
The introduction of handiwork or skills in the primary curriculum paved the way to the
growth of handicraft in the country during the American occupation. The teaching of handicraft
was taught differentiated by gender. Carpentry was taught for boys while the embroidery such as
Calado was for the girls. Such development gave the local designs and indigenous handicraft to
flourish and export of these products was made possible. The existing free trade agreement with
the United States has given way for the export of Marikina shoes, buntal and Baliwag hats, and
other embroidered products. With the advent of technology, handicrafts from the different
regions or provinces in the country have been developed through time. The products of each
region were not only known in the Philippines but also abroad. Moreover, with advanced
technology, enabling mechanized equipment to facilitate some processes of production, efforts
were made to characterize and define handicraft products to differentiate them from machine-
made ones (UNESCO-ITC, 1997). It is during this time that entrepreneurs saw the rising demand
for handicraft products.

Indigenous Philippine Arts and Crafts

Weaving is the most precious traditional livelihood that originated in the pre-colonial
times and is still kept until today. The art of weaving of the Cordillera tribal groups in the
northern part of the country is still existing despite the threat of the more practical, mass
production of cloth. The natives used backstrap loom to produce blankets and articles of clothing
(The Freeman, 2016).
In the entire province of Antique Pinya cloth has also been Produced in looms. It is a
delicate and exquisite hand-woven cloth that is made from the fibers obtained from the leaves of
pineapple plants. The Barong Tagalog is the most popular product made from this organic and
airy textile of pinya fiber. Abaca fiber is produced from the abaca plant which is grown in some
places in the country. Eastern Visayas is the largest supplier of this product followed by the
Bicol region. Abaca has been cultivated in the country since 1500s and became known
worldwide in the 1800s mainly used as ropes in ship rigging (https://en.mwikipedia.orq).
Sinamay fabric is also woven from abaca as well as specialty papers- like vacuum bags, currency
and tea bags. Handicrafts like bags, carpets, and clothing are also some of the products made
from abaca.

Handicrafts from Selected Regions

Almost every region in the Philippines has its own "specialty" products or unique
process. Examples of traditional handicrafts from selected regions are discussed in the
succeeding paragraph.
1. Loom Weaving — Cordillera Administrative Region
Some of the tribes in the Cordillera have their unique weaving techniques.

In Abra, there are three known types of weaving techniques namely:

Pinilian — weaving features designs common to the locality (Valmero, 2010). For
example, pineapple and guava are depicted since these are the main products of Abra.

Binakol — features uniform geometric patterns that depict the waves of sea.
Tiniri — is differentiated in its technique rather than its design since it uses "twisted
weaving technique" (Valmero, 2010).
 In Baguio, the Easter Weaving Room has continuously trained and preserved the weaving
techniques particularly after the second World War. Present-day weavers can still be
observed while they work on their looms. The popular colorful woven Ikat clothes and
other items such as clothes, bags, rugs, and carpet have been identified already with
Baguio.
Other handicrafts made from the Cordillera Administrative Region are wood craft,
Baguio brooms (walis tambo) and metal craft.
2. Calado – Lumban, Laguna and Taal, Batangas
Calado id a type of embroidery using a process of pulling threads from certain areas of a
cloth, usually pina or jusi, the sewing the drawn threads using various stitches to form a
clean hole on the cloth.

3. Marble Craft — Romblon

Romblon marble is known to have qualities with commercial value that can rival those of
other countries like Italy. The famous mortar and pestle which are used in the kitchen are
the earliest prod ucts carved out of marble. Other products are the ash trays, nameplates
for offices and tombstones used as grave markers. The products made from marble are
now diverse and the designs are becoming more elaborate as these are used to produce
large furniture and statues. This also improved the skills of the Romblon carvers and
sculptures while high-powered cutters became available.

Marble is perhaps the most difficult material to handle as an inorganic material for
handicraft. This is mined from the ground deposits and preparation of this is really a
tedious process. Transporting the material needs a heavy equipment to facilitate the
process. Marble crafts preserve the integrity of the designs of the carvers and sculpture.
Crafts are valued and evaluated primarily on the quality of material such as the color of
the marble and the swirling effect (marbling) of colors.

Handicraft and Its Basic Elements

As defined, handicraft is referred to as a product, process, and a skill. It is a product (or artisan
craft) when referring to an object of "aesthetic production" (Shivers& Calder, 1974), that is
created by hand or by using only simple tools to serve a purpose or possess a value (Arribas,
2009). When its focus is on the techniques such as weaving, to create an item by hand, the term
referred to is process. Skill is the term used when the focus is on the mode of expression as well
as motor skills, particularly on the dexterity and facility of the hands(Shivers & Calder, 1974). In
any handicraft process, it is the hands that control and manipulate the materials and tools. In
some cases, there may be a need for mechanical tools provided that the direct manual
contribution of the artisan remains the most substantial component of the finished product
(UNESCO-ICT, 1997).
Three basic elements of handicraft
Handicraft cannot be created without considering these three elements are interrelated
with one another. The following are:
1. Design. This refers to an idea or an arrangement scheme that is shown or exhibited into
a configuration, drawing, model, mold, pattern, plan or specification to work out the form of an
object. Once the design is drawn by the artisan or designer, the expected finished product shall
be visualized with the given perspective.
2. Material. This is the most important element of handicraft which is used as input to a
production process for subsequent transformation into the finished product. This could either be
natural, modified or in its semi-processed state.
3. Technique. This refers to the method and process on how the material is to be
handled. The tools and equipment to be used will determine the technique to be appliedin the
production stage.

Types of Philippine Handicraft Industry

There are several handicraft industries in the Philippines. Different materials are used to produce
these products. These are sold both to local and foreign markets. Handicraft industries generate
income and improve the quality of lives of the owners and their workers, their respective families
and contribute valuable growth to our economy as well. The following are some of the major
handicraft products in our country:

Rattan Craft
Rattan belongs to the palm family and a native species are found in the regions such as the
Philippines in Asia, Australia, and Africa.
In Filipino term, rattan is known as Yantok. It is a long and slender climbing plant, whose
sheaths are protected by its spines that play a major role in supporting the rattan as it grows on
other plants in the forests. The flexibility and durability characteristics of rattan made the
finished products popular. Some of the products made out of rattan are bags, baskets, hats, wall
decor, ash trays, picture frames, sofa sets, TV racks, cabinets, and other articles and furniture for
home use.
Bamboo Craft. The art of making usable products out of bamboos is called bamboo craft. You
must have observed that bamboos are used in building bahay kubo (nipa-hut), furniture, house
furnishings like hangers, trays, baskets, dividers, lamp shades, and many more useful items at
home.
Leather Craft. Articles made out of leather are called leather craft. Taxidermy is the term that
refers to the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals. This also makes use of
the skin of animals, but generally it is the head and the parts the back are used. Some examples
of leather products are bag that shoes. jackets, coin purses, gloves, belts and wallets.

Coconut Shell Craft. Coconut shells are made into useful articles through coconut shell craft
industry. After the coco meat is scraped from the shells, they are cleaned and cut into various
shapes to be used in making articles like buttons, brooches, table lamps, dippers, ladles, and
many more.

Basket Weaving
This is also called basketry, basket making, which is the process of weaving unspun
vegetable fibers into a basket. People who weave baskets are called basket makers. Materials
used in basketry are pine straw, stems, animal hair, grasses, thread, and other varieties of fibrous
materials that will bend and form a shape.
Weaving. This is a fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced
at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods of these are known as knitting, lace
making, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the
lateral thread are the weft or filling. Weft or woof is an old English word which means that
which is woven.
Tatting. This is a technique for handcrafting a durable lace through constructing a series of knots
and loops. Tatting is commonly used as lace edging. as doilies, collars, and other decorative
pieces. The lace is formed by a pattern of rings, and chains formed from a series of cow hitch, or
half-hitch knots, known as double stitches, over a core thread. Gaps are left between the stitches
to form picots. which are used for practical construction as well as decorative effect.
Macrame. This is a form of textile-making using knotting instead of weaving or knitting. Square
knots are the primary knots formed; and forms of hitching like full hitch and and doublehalf
hitches are made. Materials used made of cotton twine, linen, hemp, jute, leathern or yarn.
Crochet. The process of creating fabric from yarn, thread, or other material strands using a
crochet hook is called crochet. "Crochet" is derived from a French word which means hook.
Hooks available in the market are made of different materials such as metals, woods or plastics.
Crocheting is done by pulling loops through other loops, but in addition, this incorporates
wrapping of working materials around the hook one or more times. Crochet differs from knitting.
It only uses one hook while knitting has two knitting needles.
Basic Principles of Handicraft
The basic principles (Ambas, 2009) are briefly discussed below
1. Handicraft always serves a purpose or a need. Creation of handicraft is understood to have
evolved from a felt need, thus knowing the function of the object is important.
2. Knowledge of handicraft always requires the understanding of its essentials or basic elements
which are materials, techniques, and design (product).
3. Economy of materials and techniques must be practiced. The quality of the product is affected
if this principle is violated.
4. Handicraft activity requires attention in mind. A conducive workplace free from distraction is
necessary for a craftsman when working on a project.
5. Handicraft should be learned from simple to complex.
6. Good craftsmanship is influenced by the materials, techniques, tools, equipment, the working
environment, and the skill of the craftsman.
7. "Form follows function", the art principle which is the key to good design. This simply means
that the form or shape of a jar, including other features like a cover or handle, must be related to
the function of the jar itself
8. There is always the best technique for accomplishing a design. It is necessary to plan and
search for the best technique before doing a project.

Activity 1.
1. How handicraft contributes to cultural tourism?
2. How does making handicrafts help a country's economy?

Activity 2.
1. Tacloban's name was derived from bamboo baskets known as "taklub" or cover used by
early fishermen in
a. cooking fish
b. catching fish
c. drying fish
d. preserving fish

2. Pinilian, Binakol, and Tiniri are some known types of weaving techniques that originated
in _____.
a. Baguio
b. Abra
c. Tacloban
 d. Romblon

3. "Yantok" is the Filipino term for ______.

a. Attan
b. shell
c. bamboo
d. leather

4. Which term refers to the basic element of handicraft that shows the idea or arrangement
scheme exhibited into a drawing model, mold or pattern?
a. Design
b. Fabric
c. Material
d. Technique

5. Which basic element of handicraft is used as input to a production process for

transformation into the finished product?
a. Design
b. Material
c. Fabric
d. Technique