Exhibit in San Francisco fetes piña’s entry to UNESCO cultural heritage list

LOOK: Exhibit at PH Consulate in San Francisco fetes piña’s entry to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list | Photos from The Hinabi Project/Instagram

In December 2023, Aklan piña handloom weaving was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

To celebrate this milestone and to highlight Filipino artistry through this craft, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco hosted the “Philippine Piña: Timeless Elegance” exhibit on Feb. 5 at the Philippine Center in San Francisco’s Kalayaan Hall.

Mounted in partnership with the trans-Pacific nonprofit The Hinabi Project, the exhibit featured contemporary piña designs by Filipino-American fashion designer and textile technologist Anthony Cruz Legarda alongside artifacts like delicate handwoven garments from centuries prior. There are even loose piña fibers for inquisitive visitors looking to know the texture of the material.

A month before the exhibit, Philippine Tropical Fibers Month was observed. It is an institutionalized event under Proclamation No. 313 issued in 2012 that dedicates an entire month to the promotion of natural textiles, advancing local industries, and creating livelihood opportunities for Filipinos.

Consul General Neil Ferrer said in his remarks, “At the heart of the Philippine Tropical Fibers Month celebration is the desire to showcase a wide spectrum of natural fibers sourced within the Philippines—from the piña, abaca, banana and bamboo to the Philippine silk. These materials demonstrate the rich biodiversity of the Philippines and the creativity and ingenuity of the Filipinos.”

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The Consul General also acknowledged The Hinabi Project’s relentless efforts in showcasing the talent and creativity of our people here in the United States.

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The nonprofit’s mission is to support weavers in the Philippines to continue their craft for generations to come through fundraising efforts like retirement funds, training workshops for younger persons in the community, and classes for general interest.

Last year, The Hinabi Project hosted “Weaving Peace and Dreams: Textile Arts of Mindanao” at Sentro Filipino, The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center. The exhibit featured contemporary, vintage, and rare antique textiles from various weaving communities of Mindanao.

“Philippine Piña: Timeless Elegance” will run at the Philippine Center until Mar. 8. The Hinabi Project is also offering guided tours by appointment.