By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Senate has approved Senate Bill No. 2583, a measure that aims to establish a museum and cultural center dedicated to preserving and promoting Aklan’s centuries-old piña handloom weaving tradition.
Authored by Senator Loren Legarda, the bill seeks to safeguard the Aklan Piña weaving craft as a cultural expression of Aklanon heritage.
It also emphasizes the importance of research and development to sustain the livelihood of piña weavers and related industries.
The proposed facility will include a museum, an innovation and training hall, an arts hall, and other essential spaces.
These areas will serve as venues for learning and developing piña weaving, enhancing public appreciation, and expanding the market for its products.
The Aklan Piña Weavers, in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Aklan, the Municipal Government of Kalibo, the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM), and other cultural and trade agencies, will oversee the establishment and management of the center.
Legarda filed the bill in March 2024, shortly after UNESCO inscribed Aklan Piña handloom weaving in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2023.
Aklan Piña handloom weaving is the first intangible cultural heritage from the Visayas region to achieve this global recognition.
“This global recognition highlights the cultural and historical significance of Aklan Piña weaving as a proud representation of Filipino heritage and identity,” Legarda said.
The bill proposes the creation of the Office of the Aklan Piña Museum and Cultural Center (OAPMCC), which will oversee the center’s operations.
The OAPMCC will be based at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and headed by a director appointed by the NCCA.
“Our intangible cultural heritage, particularly traditional crafts, faces numerous threats. But through steadfast support from our allies like the NCCA and the National Museum, we can preserve these treasures,” Legarda added.
Piña, regarded as the finest of Philippine textiles, is celebrated as the “Mother of all Philippine Textiles” and the “Queen of Philippine Handwoven Textiles.”
The craft, which dates back to the 1570s, continues to be a source of pride and livelihood for the Aklanon people.
