The Cabagtasan Tribal Council weavers of Sitio Cabagtasan, Barangay Codcod, San Carlos City, elevated their tikog weaving skills on Tuesday, August 12 through specialized training led by the Madaja Hand Weavers Association (MAHAWA) from Himamaylan City.
MAHAWA weaver Enie Tanilon Mordenio led the hands-on session, guiding participants in improving their weaving techniques for products such as mats, placemats, hats, bags, and wallets.
MAHAWA was formed in 2022 through the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) with the support of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), following a recommendation from the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion.
Its origins trace back to then 94th IB operations officer Lieutenant Efren Reyes Jr., who first recognized the potential of the local weavers. Since then, Madaja has been promoting tikog weaving in Himamaylan City, creating sustainable livelihoods while preserving cultural heritage.
Today, MAHAWA has expanded its reach, bringing training to other communities. In San Carlos, the session carried even greater significance — a memorable opportunity for participants to learn from fellow Indigenous Peoples (IPs) who share their heritage, ensuring that the art of tikog weaving is not only preserved but continually enriched within Indigenous communities.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.