NM Bohol brings ‘Bukag Series’ to

enjoin community in conservation

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Many think If you think museums are made up of those static displays of the rare items of the past, think again.

The National Museum of the Philippines in Bohol (NM-Bohol) may fit the bill. But yet, in its efforts to make itself relevant to the present and the future, NM Bohol reaches into the treasure trove of the present to bring back into the social discourse, in its public programs, the relegated state of the indigenous Boholano craft of basketry.

For its centerpiece when the country celebrates National Heritage Month in May, NM Bohol picks Preserving Legacies, Building Futures as its theme, information officer Neil Gerurd Paredes said at the Kapihan sa PIA.

With the tradition of basketweaving, NM put up Bukag as the museum appreciates the craft and saw the need to protect and conserve the weaving tradition.

“Centered in the towns along the Abatan River possibly because of the proliferation of raw materials in the area, basket-weaving became a formal cottage industry when the then National Cottage Industry Development Authority (Nacida) conducted training in Antequera,” summed trade and promotions officer Rey Anthony Regis of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), guest at the Kapihan sa PIA.

“The basket came about because of a need, and then from what is available in the vicinity, in the environment, in nature, there are materials that can respond to the need. In the present times, basketry has many challenges: shortage of young weavers,” also points out Paredes, whose office opened up the museum for lectures and theoretical foundations, full active workshops, basket exhibits and community immersion for its Bukag Series for a more thorough look at the waning industry.

Baskets made out of nito, sig-id, bagacay, bongbong, kawayan, lais, gungi, uway, salimpokot, sagisi, buli and romblon in all sizes, shapes and designs get a prominent space at the museum, to bring out the artistry, skill and craft of the Boholano weavers.

It was also found out that basket thrives now in a complex weave of issues, which surfaced during the lectures and collaborator engagements at the museum events.

“We did not look at it like when it was mentioned by collaborators, but we realized in the end that the industry is really threatened,” admits Paredes.

“Threatened in the sense that, our young generations, if we focus on Antequera, and as we observed, they lack interest,” he continued.

Antequera, now is acclaimed basket capital of Bohol, has turned their Nacida training into a livelihood, something that has helped spread the skill and artistry into the expression of beauty in the hand-wovens across generations.

And to make sure there is no local competition in the supply, each barangay in Antequera weaves a specific raw material for baskets, which come in all sizes and uses, Regis said.

While through basket weaving, families were able to send their kids to school, the fluctuating demand for native baskets continue and the increasing cost of raw materials have caused weavers to stop producing baskets.

The presence of technology nowadays makes it easier for materials to be processed, the skill and talent needed have not changed much, NM Manila museum researcher Maren Dasal shared.

With less and less demand for baskets especially when the pandemic disrupted industries, the DTI continued to conduct product development training and opened up its trade fairs, if only to keep the industry thriving, shares Regis.

These product development conducted in partnership with the Design Academy of the Philippines also ventured into incorporating other materials and fibers into the weave, to develop more interesting products and patterns, Regis added.

The move is in response to the put in recyclable materials, synthetic fibers and stuff, to reduce the dependence on full organic native raw materials and introduce new products during trade fairs, the DTI official noted.

The effect is, these new products are getting the interest of international buyers, according to Regis.

While it has been established that the fluctuating market for baskets discourage weavers, a more serious challenge pops: Bringing back the interest and the passion to weave.

Among the young generations, and even among those who joined the NM Bohol weaving demonstrations, the organizers note that that skill is there, but there is apparent lack of interest.

While skill can be passed, however, passion can not, this is our challenge, Parades said. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

BRINGING BACK BUKAG INTO THE DISCOURSE. The tradition and craft of basket weaving is now slowly disappearing, no thanks to the economic viability and the lack of interest among the young, according to NM Bohol Information Officer Neil Gerurd Paredes at the recent Kapihan sa PIA. (PIA)