Aklan piña weavers win Visayas distinction at Galing Likha

KALIBO, Aklan – Aklan Piña Mantra Association Inc. and the municipal government of Kalibo have been named the Visayas grand winner at the Galing Likha 2026 Amazing Weaves Distinction Awards.

The Kalibo-Aklan entry will receive a PHP 150,000 grant to strengthen community weaving infrastructure and support enterprise development initiatives for local weavers.

The award was announced on Nov. 11, 2026, during the ASEAN Trade Expo: Way of the Weaves at Okada Manila in Parañaque City.

The partnership was one of three grand winners nationwide, representing Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

The awards recognize weaving communities, artisan groups and local governments for cultural safeguarding, craftsmanship, sustainability, market readiness, fair livelihood outcomes and local governance.

Kalibo’s winning entry featured two works representing Aklan’s piña weaving tradition:

• AWDA2026-00024: Red Pineapple Artcrafts Diagonal Aklan Piña Mantra Haboe Piña.
• AWDA2026-00022: La Herminia Weaving Industry Haboe Piña Suksok.

The entries showcased the work of Aklanon weavers and the potential of traditional piña weaving to support livelihoods and reach domestic and international markets.

Aklan piña handloom weaving was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023.

The fabric is made from pineapple leaf fibers extracted by hand and woven on a handloom, with skills traditionally passed down within families. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Galing Likha awards were jointly organized by the Philippine Commission on Women, Women’s Business Council Philippines, Galing Pook Foundation, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Textile Research Institute and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority supported the program.

Grace M. Benedicto, DTI Aklan officer-in-charge and provincial director, congratulated the local partners and weavers.

“We congratulate the LGU of Kalibo, Aklan Piña Mantra, Red Pineapple Artcrafts, and La Herminia Weaving Industry for this remarkable achievement. This recognition is a testament to the talent, dedication, and resilience of our Aklanon weavers who continue to preserve our rich piña weaving heritage while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for their communities. DTI-Aklan remains committed to supporting the growth and global promotion of Aklan’s world-renowned piña products,” she said.