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unremarkable at first glance. But a
closer look reveals them to be woven
entirely of raffia, a fiber made from
the leaves of the palm of the same
name. Apart from oyster farming, the
entire village is known for raffia, with
makeshift looms four or so generations
deep in the back of most homes.
Weaving the fabric was necessary
during the Second World War and there
was little else to wear, but the Bohol
and raffia go further back in time: it
was the fabric of choice for Francisco
Dagohoy and his company of guerillas
when they famously waged the longest
revolution in the country — 85 years in
the interior of Bohol province, against
the Spanish invaders of the 1800s. In
many ways, this is the fabric of their
lives.
“
There are 20 steps in making
the raffia cloth,” shares Cirila, deftly
separating the rib of the leaf, then
shredding what is left into strips,
Another
Boholano pride :
fabric woven
from raffia
A R I V E R R U N S T H R O U G H I T
