30/06/2022
Is it a bird? Is it a fish?
We share with you this nature inspired abel-Iloko as we close this year's observance of the Celebrate the Sea Month and the Philippine Environment Month.
The main pattern in the featured textile is sometimes interpreted as that of a bird, but most see it as a fish. If viewed from the top, it could also be a sting ray.
This handloom woven textile is done through the pinilian design technique, a specialization among the weavers of Santiago, Ilocos Sur and a few in the Itneg-Iloko town of Manabo in the neighboring province of Abra. The pinilian technique is recognized for its versatility in creating a variety of brocade patterns.
The textile in the photo is among those exhibited in the Abel-Iloko Gallery of your Ilocos Regional Museum Complex in the City of Vigan. The upgraded Abel-Iloko exhibition will soon be opened to the public.
Continue following this page for updates, and visit your National Museum in the Ilocos soonest!
©National Museum of the Philippines (2022)
