Kalinga weaving gets boost from young lass’ int’l award

TABUK, Kalinga – The reviving weaving industry of the province gets a booster-shot from a Kalinga lass, who won grand award in the International Science Engineering Fair last month in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Hester Mana Umayam of Bulanao, this town, and a graduate of the Philippine Science High School in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya not only earned honors for the entire country when she won 4th place in her research work, but inspired even the loomweaving industry of her tribe.

Umayam made a study on “Ethnomathematics in Geometric Patterns in Woven Fabrics of the Indigenous Kalingas of the Philippines,” using mathematics in the weaving of ethnic fabrics.

Her research work affirmed that Kalinga weavers, who did not obtain formal schooling, were indeed applying principles of mathematics in their job since time immemorial.

Umayam’s study came at the right time when Kalinga’s weaving industry, with at least 300 members, is facing some difficulty in its production technology and is being assisted by the Department of Industry provincial office. It brings inspiration to the association in terms of new fabric designs which they can display during the regional trade fair in Manila later this year.

Though exhibiting high market performance during trade fairs, here and outside the province, loomweavers, whose average daily income is P267 still need to increase output capability.

The industry, which nearly reached the verge of termination couple of years ago, is sustained by the Lubuagan weavers who mainly comprise the association and who produce mostly the woven fabrics coming from the province.

Hester’s mother, Nelia Ducasao Umayam, Chief Nurse at the Kalinga Provincial. Hospital belongs to the Lubuagan tribe.

Photo Credits : http://www.tribaltextiles.info/