DSA highlights “Inaul weaving” as town product

INAUL FABRIC WEAVING --- Using the weaving tool known as “Iluwan,” at least 10 Moro women will soon weave “tubao” made of inaul fabric as Datu Saudi Ampatuan’s main product.  Mayor BaiAnida U. Dimaukom (right) shows the newly acquired Iluwan by which weavers can produce three tubaos in a day.(GILMHAR A. LAO –MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN (DSA), Maguindanao --- This local government will soon produce “tubao” made of inaul fabric which will serve as Datu Saudi Ampatuan’s main product.

The southern part of the country is known for itshand-woven fabric called Inaul, interlaced with multiple colors, as well as gold and silver threads.

Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor BaiAnida U. Diumakom shared previously the victory of the women sector after winning first place under the “Fastest Weaver Tubao Category” in theKapaginaul competition of the “2017 Inaul Festival sa Maguindanao.”

“Amanually-designed weaving machine called Iluwanwill be used to make a special apparel called Inaul. The Iluwan shall be placed inside the municipal compound,” Mayor Dimaukomsaid.

The lady mayor said they have chosenthe production of “tubao” so they can produce larger quantities of the product.“We can produce at least threetubaos in a day.”

Tubao is a traditionally hand-woven ethnic cloth. This colorful cloth is worn as headpiece or headscarf and used as handkerchief.

“We have at least 10 women trained on inaul weaving. These women are also slated to train other women from the grassroots to earn a living,” she said.

Unlike other traditional weaves in the country, inaul is still a very much important everyday item in various communities in this part of the country.

Inaul (also pronounced inol) is a time-honored weaving tradition in Southern Mindanao. The three types of threads being used in weaving are tanor which is cottony, the silky rayon, and katiyado which is the shiny type.

Further, it was learned that the colors are reflective of the Maguindanao culture, where red means bravery, black for dignity, white for sadness, and green for peace.

Nowadays, inaul is also being made into modern clothing such as gowns, polo, and even trousers.

“We would want to makethe tradition alive by passing this knowledge and skill to the Bangsamoro women of our communities,” said Mayor Dimaukom.

She added that it is mostly important that inaul is saved and further advanced for the benefit of the future generation.(GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA - – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)