BRIDGING THE GAP
The patadyong legacy at UP Visayas
On the occasion of its 34th Foundation Anniversary on June 26, 2009, the Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS) formally opened to the public its Museum of Local Textiles featuring more than two dozens of patadyong woven locally. This, in effect, is an expression of recognition on the role that the patadyong played in the history and culture of Western Visayas.
CWVS is a pioneering institution of UPV which was established as the Visayan Studies Program in 1975. It aims to preserve and disseminate information on the rich historico-cultural legacy of the region. As such, it has built up through the years a library of more than 17,000 assorted materials on West Visayan history and culture and a collection of museum pieces on the lifeways of the people.
The Center, in order to respond to its mandate of educating the public of their proud and colorful past, has been engaged in the following:
1. Collection of materials or information that have something to do with the culture and history of the region.
2. Establishment of a folk museum that will have five exhibit components, namely a) weaving, b) traditional farming, c) fishing and boat-building, d) sugar-cane production and sugar-making, and e) traditional arts and crafts.
3. Study and research on the various aspects of local culture and history.
4. Publication of books, conference proceedings, newsletters and brochures as media in information dissemination.
5. Conduct of outreach activities like conferences, seminar-workshops, lecture-forums, living museums, moving exhibits, and festivals.
6. Historico-cultural tours for students.
The patadyong exibit is the first component of the Center's Folk Museum that has been established already. The exhibit consists of patadyongs grouped into six categories according to designs and color patterns based on predominant plaids and stripes. Short narratives on the history of the patadyong, old photographs on patadyong weaving, and mannequins clad in traditional and contemporary fashion utilizing the patadyong are also important pieces on display.
Looking back in history, Iloilo earned the title "Center of the Weaving Industry in the Philippines" or "Textile Center of the Philippines" during the period late 1800s to the early 1900s. This signifies the early development of weaving in the province and in the region. The basic materials used by the inhabitants in weaving were/are the tiral, sab-ongan, galingan and bunang. Bunang or thread fibers were made out of cotton, abaca, pineapple and silk. Among the popular and easily marketed textile products at that time was the patadyong which was admired even by the foreigners because of its various attractive designs and combination of colors.
The patadyong was popular not only because it was a comfortable and colorful attire, but it has other uses. It can serve as a head cover to protect oneself from the heat of the sun or from the rain. It is a comfortable body covering while washing or taking a bath in the river. It can be used as an aboy-aboy or hammock to lull the baby to sleep, a mat and a blanket for adults. It can be used to wrap fruits and vegetable so that one can easily carry them. It is also convenient to use as curtain, table cover, divider and many more. All these may explain why the patadyong, despite the onslaught of imported Western textiles, has survived the passage of time.