By JUNE S. BLANCO | Saturday, July 4, 2009 10:30 PM

TOURISM as well as trade and Industry brass, provincial and local officials and thousands of Inabanga residents and visitors witnessed the unrolling of the two feet wide hand-woven continuous raffia fabric that is the Bohol town’s ticket to the Guinness Book of World Records.

From the project launch on May 17 until the morning of the vespers of the town’s fiesta in honor of St. Paul the Apostle, its patron saint, local weavers, tourists and guests including Gov. Erico Aumentado wove a total of 1,813.5 meters of fabric wound around a giant bobbin.

Undersecretary Phineas Alburo and Region 7 Director Patria Aurora Roa of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Rep. Edgardo Chatto of Bohol’s 1st District who chairs the House Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry Region 7 Director Asteria Caberte, Acting Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr., Provincial Board member Josephine Socorro Jumamoy and Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy led the unrolling from atop a pickup, kicking off from Barangay Lutao all the way to the public market in Barangay Ilaud.

The Guinness entry highlighted the first-ever raffia festival Inabanga held to express the townsfolk’s oneness and tribute to the century-old industry that put food on the weavers’ tables, clothing on their backs, spent for the education of their children and money to buy basic and other needs.

From a home-based part-time activity producing saguran used mainly to dry palay on – or as a blanket – the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its bureaus, with the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and other government agencies and the private sector collaborated to develop the industry.

Instead of just the plain natural light yellow fibers, DTI and DoST introduced bleaching to make the fibers and the fabric lighter in color, and “scientific” dyeing to produce a rainbow of colors but uniform in shade and hue to meet buyers’ requirements.

DTI and the other agencies conducted constant product development so that the weavers and craftsmen produced prototypes of new products in various colors, organized trade fairs and invited buyers.

From “mere” saguran, the weavers soon produced placemats, table runners, raffia rolls for wall decors, fabric for clothes, bags, pillow- and throw pillow cases and others in attractive color combinations.

These have found niches even in major stores and malls in the United States and Europe, among others, hence the need for continuous product development in order to be competitive.

Dagohoy
During the launching, Aumentado said saguran also played a role in history. Local hero Francisco Sendrijas, said to have acquired the amulet of the breeze or dagon sa hoyohoy, hence his nom de guerre Dagohoy, had led the longest revolt (1744-1829) against the Spanish colonizers.

Devoid of supplies and logistics from a national organization like the armed forces or any of its branches, Dagohoy and his men used their own bolos and similar arms, wore improvised uniforms made from the sturdy saguran as they fought the enemy using guerilla tactics – the lone strategy applicable in their situation.

Dagohoy who was quick on his feet and very familiar with the terrain easily eluded the enemy – using the river, the caves and forests of nearby Danao town as his escape route and hiding places, hence the legend of the amulet.

Street dancing
Spectators, students included, lined up on both sides of the street as the pickup carrying the giant bobbin and the guests passed by, followed by costumed street dancers.

And a phenomenon never before experienced in Inabanga occurred – a giant traffic jam.

The Lumad Manghahabol (native loomweavers) of Municipio Inabanga, the Pundok Manangkisay (from “tangkis” or frond strippers group) from Tubigon town and the Lupon Kabulihan (buri group, the palm from which raffia fiber is taken) from Catigbian town pitted choreographed dance moves against each other.

“This is the battle cry of Municipio Inabanga: To push for the development of this century-old weaving industry,” the mayor said.

He thanked his constituents for their cooperation and support to make the Raffia Festival successful.
He also said vying for a world record via the continuous hand woven raffia fabric also aims to catch the attention of designers and interior decorators who can well think up of what more to create out of the material, thereby increasing all the more the demand for it.

This spells more entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for Inabangnons, whose lives and culture have been intricately woven into the industry, and ultimately make the town “The Raffia Capital” of the Philippines .

Provincial Board Member Jumamoy, Mayor Jumamoy, Vice Mayor Wenceslao Lao and the Sangguniang Bayan, Liga ng mga Barangay President Gumersendo Melicor and the employees collectively known as Team Inabanga welcome the visitors.

For the world record attempt, Alburo, Agriculture Region 7 Director Ricardo Oblena, Caberte, District Engr. Gregorio Sayson of the Bohol 2nd Engineering District, Engr. Einstein Gonzales representing the Provincial Engineer’s Office, Herrera and Chatto signed as adjudicators.

Provincial Director Ma. Elena Arbon and Community Relations ManagerBlair Panong of DTI-Bohol, Board members Amalia Tirol, Ma. Fe Camacho-Lejos, Aster Piollo and Alfonso Damalerio II also witnessed the unrolling.

As part of the festival, the Miss Inabanga 2009 pageant and Fashion Fusion: A Raffia Fashion Show unfolded that night at the town’s cultural center.

The pageant was a fund raiser for the construction of the Saint Paul the Apostle convent. The fashion show featured raffia garments on willowy models, accessories and other creations of Cebu-based designer Sal Malto.

Adding glamour and glitter to the night’s activities was the presence of Boholano award-winning actor and director Cesar Montano and his actress wife Sunshine Cruz.


WORLD RECORD MATERIAL. From left, Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy, Trade and Industry Region 7 Director Aster Caberte, Rep. Edgar Chatto of Bohol’s 1st District who chairs the House Committee on Tourism, Undersecretary Phineas Alburo and Region 7 Director Patria Aurora “Dawnie” Roa of the Department of Tourism and Acting Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera cut the ceremonial ribbon marking the start of the unrolling of continuous hand-woven raffia fabric that is Inabanga’s entry to the Guinness Book of World Records. At right is part of the 1,813.5 meters long fabric. CONTRIBUTED