23 January 2024, CANBERRA – The Philippine Embassy in Canberra joins the celebration of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) Month in January with the theme “Spinning Innovation”. Photos of twelve distinct indigenous Philippine fabrics from different regions are being displayed at the Embassy’s Consular Section and available for viewing until the end of January 2024.

The exhibit features the Hablon from the Kiniray-a and Hiligaynon in Panay Island, Pis Syabit from the Tausug people in Sulu, Dagmay from the Mandaya Tribe in Eastern Mindanao, Saputangan Tapestry Weave from the Yakan people in Basilan, Mabul Tabih from the Blaan people in Saranggani and South Cotabato, Bagobo Inabal from the Bagobo Manobo in Davao Del Sur, Kalinga textiles from Kalinga Province, the Bontoc Weave from the Bontoc people in Mountain Province, Pinilian from the Ilocano region, T'nalak from the Tiboli people in South Cotabato, the Meranaw textile from Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, and the Piña from the Aklan Region.

The month of January has been declared as the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month in the Philippines by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 313 series of 2012. The PTF Month celebration is led by the Philippine Textile Research Institute under the Department of Science and Technology. The celebration aims to promote the judicious use of indigenous fabrics of abaca, banana, pineapple leaves, and Philippine silk in the Philippines and sustain increased interests and active participation in the local tropical fabric developments. - END -