In a village where ancient loom once sang with tradition, young hands are pulling forgotten threads into today’s light.
The sound of wooden shuttles fills the air at the Indigenous Livelihood Center in Cauayan City, Isabela—a melody that nearly fell silent. Meanwhile, in Barangay Rogus, where 396 Kankanaey households have lived since the 1960s, five young weavers are rewriting this story. With Pure Bayanihan’s support, the Young Kankanaey Loom Weavers initiative is breathing new life into an ancient craft.
From Classroom Dreams to Woven Reality
The journey began in an entrepreneurship class at Isabela State University. Initially, what started as a school project would eventually transform into a lifeline for an entire community.
Under the guidance of Dr. Regine Manzanillo, students didn’t just study the craft—they learned to weave. They sat with community elders, absorbing techniques passed down through generations, and witnessed firsthand how this ancient art was slowly fading away.
These young Kankanaey discovered they were the bridge their community needed—young enough to innovate, yet connected enough to honor tradition. With Matt Matias serving as their community advocate alongside supporters from the local government and university, the students transformed their academic exercise into a real-world solution.
By December 2, 2024, their vision became reality when the weaving facility officially launched, proving that sometimes the most powerful changes begins in unexpected places.
When Tradition Hung by a Thread
Lyka, a 21-year-old from Cauayan City, represents the bridge between cultures and generations in this inspiring revival. Speaking candidly about her struggles, she shared: “Poverty is really the number one problem. We lack in our livelihood and one of my struggles as a student is that sometimes we don’t have complete allowance, or sometimes we don’t have any allowance at all.”
Her words echo the challenges faced by many young people in the community—challenges that made the preservation of traditional crafts seem like a luxury they couldn’t afford. But what Lyka and others discovered was that their heritage could become their lifeline.
A Weaving Center Born from Hope
The transformation began when Pure Bayanihan partnered with the Local Government Unit of Cauayan to establish a dedicated weaving facility. The project launched on December 2, 2024, marking not just the opening of a center, but the rebirth of a cultural treasure.
The facility now houses four (4) handlooms and serves as both a training ground and a space for cultural exchange. The project has achieved remarkable milestones:
- 5 full-time community weavers trained and employed
- 6 senior citizen beaders onboarded to share their expertise
- Documentation of traditional Inabel/Abel weaving patterns
- Plans to expand with 2 part-time student weavers in the first quarter of 2025
Young Hands, Ancient Wisdom
What makes this project extraordinary isn’t just its preservation of tradition, it’s how it’s transforming tradition for the modern world. Rather, the young weavers aren’t simply copying old patterns; they’re creating “fun and youthful designs” that resonate with contemporary audiences while honoring their roots.
As one weaver shared in their vision board: “I can see a successful strong foothold of our loom weaving center. That it can cater big transactions, showcase talents, designs, empower culture of Filipinos.”
Meanwhile, another community member expressed their broader hope:
“My vision for the country is to have more younger age to be interested in this craft and more products in the future.”
Weaving Dreams into Reality
The YKLW project has created multiple revenue streams ensuring sustainability: textile sales, finished handwoven items, training programs, and cultural tourism experiences. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, with the nearby Regional Yarn Production Innovation Facility providing a steady supply of natural fiber-based yarns.
Moreover, the tripartite partnership between Isabela State University, the Local Government of Cauayan, and the Department of Trade and Industry has created a supportive ecosystem addressing not just weaving techniques, but also business development and financial literacy.
Threads That Bind Us
Today, in the weaving center that Pure Bayanihan helped create, you can witness something miraculous: the sound of a culture refusing to be forgotten. Each thread pulled through the loom carries with it the dreams of young people who chose to look backward to move forward.
Lyka’s story — from struggling student to young loom weaver, represents the transformative power of providing opportunities that honor both heritage and hope. The Young Kankanaey Loom Weavers project isn’t just about saving a craft; it’s about empowering a generation to become the authors of their own cultural narrative.
As the shuttles continue their dance through the looms in Barangay Rogus, they’re weaving more than fabric — they’re weaving together past and future, tradition and innovation, struggle and triumph. In every thread lies a story. In every pattern, a promise that some traditions are too precious to let slip away.
A Future Woven by Community
The revival of Kankanaey weaving is a testament to what happens when communities come together. However, sustaining this renaissance takes all of us.
You can be part of this story.
If you believe in the power of heritage to transform lives, consider supporting by becoming a member of the Pure Bayanihan community, or donate to help more livelihoods come to life. Every contribution helps keep these threads of hope alive.
Together, let’s weave a brighter future—one thread at a time.
