Ilocano NCCA awardee upholds abel-weaving tradition

NATIONAL living treasure Magdalena Galinato Gamayo, an Ilocano native of Pinili, Ilocos Norte demostrates the art of abel-weaving. At age 88, the master abel-weaver hopes to pass on the craft the younger generation. (PGIN-CMO)

By Rey T. Arcangel Jr.

PGIN-CMO

After being honoured as a National Living Treasure (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan) by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in 2012, Magdalena Galinato Gamayo of Lumbaan Pinili, Ilocos Norte continues to strive in making the abel-weaving tradition in the country alive.

At the age of 88, Gamayo is eager to pass the tradition to younger generation through holding lectures and tutorials of abel-weaving at her home.

According to her, patience is the most important trait that one should possess when entering this job, as abel-weaving undergoes complicated procedures and techniques.

 “Anus talaga iti kasapulan ta narigat met talaga iti panagabel nga trabaho (Patience is needed in this job, because abel-weaving is really hard)”, she said.

Currently, she is teaching five locals including her cousin's daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, and her neighbours who revealed that Gamayo’s techniques are really difficult to follow.

“Narigat a masurutan, aglalo tay ‘inubon a sabong’ ken ‘inpalagto’ ta basit laeng nga kamalim ket maperdi tay disenyo nan.  (‘Inpalagto” and “Inubon a Sabong” are very challenging to do because just one mistake would result to a flawed design)”, said the 45 year-old Erlinda Gampong, one of Gamayo’s students.

Gamayo added that she only starts teaching her students with other special designs when she is satisfied with the quality of their triple-toned warp Binakol, which is the first test of her lesson.

Aside from her relatives and neighbours, there are also other Ilocano weavers who want to learn the techniques and method of abel-weaving that only Magdalena Gamayo can do.

Gamayo started to learn the art of weaving when she was only 16 years old through observing and copying the strategy of her aunt who used to weave abel during the World War II.

She also revealed that during those times, they used to have informal competition with her cousins and friends as to who could weave the finest.

“Aglilinumba ken aglalaban kami pay idi nu sino iti kapipintasan iti maaramid na nga abel (We used to compete before to know who would make the finest abel),” she related.

Through the years, Gamayo’s abel fabrics were recognized with its high quality and unique designs where she actually taught herself to recreate patterns such as the kusikos (spiral forms similar to oranges), inuritan (geometric design), and the most challenging sinan-sabong (flowers).

To further promote and retain this Ilocano culture and tradition, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos is putting up an abel museum in Paoay, Ilocos Norte where all the unique and original abel masterpieces will be exhibited and displayed to the public.

Ms Marcos has been trying to revive and improve the Ilocano heritage crafts particularly the inabel through making it innovative and sellable such as the “Carry All Bag” a top-quality bag made of canvas and nylon-lining.

On January 28, 2014, the governor distributed P10,000 loan to 15 abel weavers of Paoay so that they can buy raw materials and produce more abel fabrics.

Meanwhile, Magdalena Gamayo is encouraging everyone particularly the youth to continue this tradition until the next generation.

“Tuloy-tuloy kuma apo detuy nga ubra ta juray bassit man maala tayo ket napintas daytoy nga mangipakita iti kinabaknang tayo nga Ilokano (I hope this tradition will continue because even if we get a small amount of money, we can still showcase the rich culture of Ilocanos),” she stressed.

She fears losing this tradition, hence she wishes to have more years of living so she could extend her teachings of abel-weaving.

“Idawdawat ko ken apo Diyos nga manayonan kuma pay ti biag ko, ta nu mapukaw nak dituy lubongen ket baka agawan met daytoy nga pagsapulanen (I always pray to God to  add more years to my life because when I am gone, abel-weaving tradition might also be lost),” Gamayo pointed out.