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Local Materials
used in the Philippines
Overview Philippines is very rich in natural
resources. We can maximize the use of
natural resources even in creating arts.
Arts express the artistic feelings
towards any aspect of life.
Filipinos are proven to be one of
the most creative and colorful people in
the world. The types of arts that are
produced in different regions, each
regions has its unique specialties or
product to take pride.
 Abaca
Abaca belongs to the banana
family. Its fiber has a natural luster with
colors ranging from pure white to ivory
and dark brown.
Abaca initially used as material
for rope. Furniture makers and
designers choose this material for their
works because of its durability and
availability.
 Bamboo
Bamboo is used as row material
in creating many products. It is used in
construction, textile, musical
instruments, weapons, and many
more. Aside from being used in
different pieces of furniture, it is also
sturdy and can give a home laid-back
tropical vibe, as a bonus, it can last a
lifetime too.
 Buntal
Buntal is a cylindrically
shaped fibers. The supple ivory
white strands are quite durable,
and have good dyeing qualities.
Buntal artistic product are bags, shoes,
desk accessories like pen holder, picture frame,
file trays, wallets, place mats, braide, lampshades,
window blinds.
 Buri
Buri is extracted from matured leaves of
buri plant. The fiber is durable and resistant to
moisture. Hats, bags, baskets, memorabilia
boxes, perfume tray, and other woven products
can be some artistic creation from buri.longs to
the banana family. Its fiber has a natural luster
with colors ranging from pure white to ivory and
dark brown.
Abaca initially used as material for rope.
Furniture makers and designers choose this
material for their works because of its durability
and availability.
Capiz Shell
Capiz shell is a
Highly asymmetrical
bivalve with a characteristically thin, translucent
shell often used in handicraft.
This can be use also as wall art, decor,
and even lighting fixtures.
Coconut shell
Coconut shell is a local material in the
Philippines used in many artistic products like a wide
array of boxes, lamps, tabletops, chairs, household
accessories, and even wall treatments.

Coconut coir
The coconut coir which is the fibrous material
surrounding the fruit of the coconut tree can be used
as indoor or outdoor fiber carpets, wall covering,
doormat, trellises, and geo textiles.
 Nito
Nito is a plant belonging to the
fern family that grows abundantly in
the Hinterlands of Mindanao. Bags,
bread tray, lampshade and decorative
jar are some artistic products of nito.
 Pandan
Pandan is a tropical plant. It is
processed and transformed into splints
that are being used as a raw material in
creating baskets, hats, picture frames
and bags.
 Raffia
Raffia is a fiber extracted from
unopened buri leafin three stages. It is
loomwoven into fabrics or used as wall
coverings, upholster material, folding
doors, and window hangings. Other
artistic products include hats,
placemats, folder, shoes, slippers, boxes,
portfolio, and ladies bags.
 Rattan
Made of climbing palm tree
leaves, the rattan is another favorite
of many designers. Rattan furniture
pieces have evolved over time.
 Santol Wood
Quite common among Filipino
backyards and farms, santol is mostly
known for its fruit that is popularly
consumed and used as an ingredient. Little
did we know that it has more to offer -
while it is less dense than narra or molave,
it is way easier to work with and polish. It is
also highly resistant to wood borers
(bukbok) which makes it ideal for skeletal
framework.
 Tikiw
Tikiw is a large, erect and aquatic
or marshy herb plant. It is found in
Central Luzon to Mindanao. It abounds
in fresh water swamp, and in newly
opened rice land at low tides. Baskets,
hampers with lids, bags, rugs, carpets,
place mats, jar, and other decorative
items are some artistic products of tikiw.
 Tikog
Tikog belongs to sea grasses. It is
a native reed plant used as raw material
for mat weaving.
Artistic products made of tikog are bags,
decorative mats, hampers, newspaper
racks, table amt, waste bin, tower
candle holder and wall decor.
 Local Materials Used as
Applied to Contemporary
Arts
Puni or Palm folding
Bulakenyo's way of decorating using
leaf fronds folding. The Art of Leaf Fronds
Folding in Bulacan Province PhilippinesPUNI a
tagalong term from the province of Bulacan
which means to beautify or decorate with the
use of coconut leaf.
Coconut leaves are fashioned by
folding, plaiting, braiding and simple weaving,
which may have functional as well as aesthetic
uses. Puni designs can be categorized
according to their uses. The most common
designs are in the form of toys such as birds,
fish, grasshopper, etc.
 Singkaban/Bamboo Art
Singkaban is a local term for bamboo arches
elaborately designed with kayas. Singkaban -s a
Filipino word for decorated bamboo arch, is used as a
welcome signage of a town, city or village in the
country. It is widely used as decoration during town
fiestas in Bulacan. Singkabans are artfully-made
entrance arches used during fiestas and other
important events in Bulacan. Bamboo is primarily
used in creating a singkaban, and the art is most
prevalent in the old towns of Hagonoy and Malolos.
Singkaban Festival is an annual provincial event of
Bulacan where Bulakenyo culture and arts are
featured in a week-long celebration.
 Taka
The art of “taka” or “taka-making” is not an exclusive Pinoy art. Paper
mache and decoupaging have been around for centuries. In the
Philippines, the first recorded or mention of a created taka was by a
woman named Maria Bague in the 1920’s. Common and traditional
subjects of taka include the manok, kabayo, kalabaw, dalaga (chicken,
horse, carabao, maiden) which is made primarily for local use. Due to
exposure and migration of Paete residents to Manila and abroad,
European-influenced paper mache toys began to be made for export to
other countries, such as Germany. The Paeteños believe that the idea
originated in Mexico with a significant difference to what we have in Paete.
While the Mexican “pinata” is decorated with cut-off colored paper, the
Paete’s takas are hand-painted and are sometimes small enough for little
girls to use as dolls.
Taka Making and Products
 Pagbuburda
Pagbuburda (Taal, Lumban, Laguna). The art of embroidery is
happily alive and flourishing in these towns. Although it’s mostly done
by women who are wives of the farmers and fishermen, it is not
uncommon to see fishermen and farmers who are also carefully and
delicately embroidering floral designs during their “off-season”.
In the highlights of Philippine history, Taal embroidery has
always made an exquisite presence. Former presidents Diosdado
Macapagal and Ferdinand Marcos were usually seen in Taal-
embroidered Barongs. A number of former First Lady Imelda Marcos’
fabulous ternos were Taal-embroidered. Taal embroidery has also
adorned garment accessories and home décor items. Although the
embroidery looks exquisite on jusi and piña fabric, it’s also dainty on
cotton, linen and ramie.
 Pagbuburda
The embroiderer would
have to slightly dampen the textile
and separate thread by thread,
and then stitch them together to
achieve the dainty netted look of
calado embroidery. Truly mad Barong as Pagbuburda
props to embroidery artisans of Finish Product
Lumban for this feat.
Saniculas Cookie
Mold Carvings
Saniculas cookies are arrowroot
cookies that have the image of St. Nicholas
molded on it ergo the name Saniculas. St.
Nicholas is also known as “the healer” and
is the go to saint for those who need
“healing” from illness The moulds are an
exceptional piece of folk art and a rarity, if I
do say so myself. Saniculas cookie makers
would commission the carvers of these
moulds with one of a kind designs.
 The word pabalat has two levels Pabalat or
of meaning. On a literal note, it pertains
to the pabalat as a product (paper cut-
outs). On a metaphorical level, it connotes
Pastillas wrapper
the state of the art practice .The art is not
only a cultural product or an artistic cutting art
expression but also cuts through some
cultural, social, even political discourses
and issues. Pabalat or Pastillas wrapper
(Bulacan)
cutting art (Bulacan) Pabalat is also a folk
art or in Filipino term, siningbayan. It is a
folk art because it originated among the
townsfolk reflecting their traditional
culture. The art practice has also been
passed from generation to generation and
its creative elements and aesthetic values
mirror the people’s everyday life.
Pabalat or Pastillas wrapper
cutting art (Bulacan)
Pabalat or Pastillas wrapper cutting art
(Bulacan). Another important aspect of
this folk tradition is that the makers of
these intricate paper patterns do not see
themselves as artists and do not consider
their works as arts. Taking a quote from
Dr. Brenda Fajardo in her book Ang Inukit
na Kaalamang Bayan ng Paete.
Hi Class, I hope you enjoy and
learned a lot from this presentation.
I will publish the assessments on
Wednesday.

Take care and God bless!