Due to her outstanding ability in inabel weaving, Magdalena Gamayo received the highest honor that was granted to folk artists, craftspeople, and cultural bearers which is the National Living Treasure Award in 2012 which is a rare award that only 16 Filipino received.
Preserving Culture
Magdalena Gamayo is a national treasure due to her exceptional skills, knowledge, and mastery of inabe weaving, originating in the Ilocos region. The art of weaving is starting to decline in the country due to harsh weather resulting in a lack of materials; modern technology such as machines that can imitate weaving patterns; lack of funds; and newer generations are not particularly interested in weaving. It was assumed that once Magdalena Gamayo has an eternal rest, the tradition of Inabel weaving will also disappear; it just shows how important she is. However, it is said that the younger generation is being encouraged in Ilocos to continue the inabel weaving tradition alive. Additionally, in Pinili, Ilocos Norte, since 2018, the local administration has provided all interested individuals with basic weaving lessons guided by Magdaleno Gamayo, one of the Philippines’ National Living Treasures.
The tradition of inabel weaving is a pride of Ilocos and it is an important part of Philippine culture. We need to preserve and support not only inabel, but weaving as a whole so that future generations can still witness and appreciate the art of weaving as it is an integral part of our culture.
Passing of Torch
The skillful Lola Magdalena has created a very significant legacy not only in Ilocos but from a nationwide perspective. She has cemented herself as one of the greatest artists our country has produced as she has dedicated her life to perfecting and achieving such masterful craftworks and products. She has shifted a whole culture through the works of her hand. With modernization on the horizon, Magdalena Gamayo has accepted the decrease or lack of interest the new generation has shown due to advanced technologies and the different demands of the current era. But as Lola Magdalena has been practicing her whole life, she believes that it takes patience, persistence, and passion to keep such tradition alive.
Fortunately, the increase in years never wavered Lola Magalena’s love for the custom. She spent the last years of her life by giving God the honor and not letting her talents be put to waste by passing such knowledge and skillset to a younger generation of weavers. This small group of textile makers are mainly composed of her family members and neighbors wherein Ms. Magdalena acts as their guru as she hopes that the tradition of abel does not go down with her. She pleaded that governmental support is needed to further sustain and keep alive the techniques she has mastered as she aims to teach more enthusiasts. She gives lectures and personalized demonstrations on the Iloko way of weaving which consists of some of the more reliable methods that have got her through the years as she emphasized her goal of preserving such local treasure despite the minimal number of students.
Governor Imee R. Marcos is determined to construct an Abel Museum in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, where all the unique and original abel masterpieces would be displayed, in order to support the indigenous loom weaving business in the province and gain traction to further inspire the new generation of classic Philippine pride and joy.
references
Trocino, K. D. (2019, October 29). The Inabel of Ilocos: Woven cloth for everyday. Narra Studio. Retrieved from https://narrastudio.com/blogs/journal/the-inabel-of-ilocos-woven-cloth-for-everyday
Trocino, K. D. (2021, March 27). Magdalena Gamayo: Weaving history and inabel for over 80 years. Narra Studio. Retrieved from https://narrastudio.com/blogs/journal/magdalena-gamayo-weaving-history-and-inabel-for-over-80-years