Overview:
This bulletin from the Bureau of Education in 1913 dives deep into the intricate world of Philippine mat-making. It highlights the widespread use of mats across the archipelago for diverse purposes, from sleeping and household functions to baling agricultural products like tobacco and abaca. The publication emphasizes the need for enhancing mat design and color combinations to appeal to both domestic and foreign markets. It meticulously outlines different types of mat materials, including palm straws (buri), pandan straws (sabutan, sarakat), and sedge straws (tikug, tayoc-tayoc). The bulletin also details various weaving techniques, such as over-and-under weave, sawali weaves, and open work weaves, and provides instructions on how to create intricate designs through embroidery and “woven-in” patterns.
Key Findings:
- Mat-making is a vital industry in the Philippines: Mats are used for various purposes, including sleeping, household items, and baling agricultural products.
- Artistic and commercial potential for improvement: The publication argues that improving design and color combinations could greatly increase the industry’s revenue.
- Unique regional mat-making traditions: The bulletin details distinct regional specializations, such as the finely woven Romblon buri mats and the intricately embroidered Samar tikug mats.
Learning:
- Understanding the diverse materials used in Philippine mat-making: The bulletin provides detailed descriptions of various palm, pandan, and sedge straws used in mat weaving, including their characteristics, preparation methods, and dyeing techniques.
- Exploring different weaving techniques: The publication outlines various weaving methods, such as over-and-under weave, sawali weaves, and open work weaves, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the craft.
- Learning about traditional and modern design elements in Philippine mats: The text explores both traditional and innovative designs used in mats, showcasing the evolution of this craft.
- Gaining insight into the economic importance of the mat industry: The bulletin offers a nuanced understanding of the market demand for mats, the labor involved in their production, and the potential for expansion.
Historical Context:
This bulletin was published in 1913, during the American colonial period in the Philippines. The text reflects the Bureau of Education’s efforts to promote economic development and modernization by encouraging Filipinos to improve their craft skills and expand their market reach.
Facts:
- Buri palm: The buri palm is the largest palm in the Philippines, reaching up to 20 meters in height.
- Sabutan: The sabutan pandan is a variety of the common seashore pandan that is only found in cultivated patches.
- Sarakat: The sarakat pandan is a unique pandan species found only in the Bangui Peninsula of Ilocos Norte.
- Tikug: The tikug sedge is widely used for mat-making in the Visayas and Mindanao.
- Samar Mats: The Samar mats are known for their intricate embroidered designs and are a significant economic product for the island.
- Bohol Mats: Bohol mats are primarily made of tikug and are known for their striped and checkered patterns.
- Tayoc-tayoc: The tayoc-tayoc sedge is smaller than tikug and produces a finer but stiffer straw.
- Juncus effusus: This rush, found in the Philippines, is known for producing high-quality matting in Japan.
Statistics:
- Mindoro Buri Palms: There are approximately 2,000,000 buri palms on Mindoro Island, with about 12% being mature trees.
- Romblon Mat Exports: Romblon exports a significant number of mats, ranging in price from ₱0.25 to over ₱10.
- Samar Tikug Mats: Basey produced approximately 9,000 mats in 1911, while Sulat produced around 300.
- Samar Tikug Mats: The cost of dye in a Basey mat can be significant, ranging from 10 centavos for the cheapest mat to 65 centavos for more elaborate ones.
- Samar Tikug Mats: The time needed to make a plaid mat sold for ₱2 in Basey is about 5 days.
- Bohol Tikug Mats: A bundle of tikug straws in Bohol typically costs 10 centavos.
- Bohol Tikug Mats: Weavers in Bohol earn approximately 20 centavos per day.
- Samar Tikug Mats: A large mat measuring 10 meters by 12 meters was made for a church in Samar, with 30 women working on it simultaneously.
- Bohol Tikug Mats: Northern Bohol families often have three or more large mats for sleeping purposes.
- Samar Tikug Mats: Basey mats are sold to Chinese brokers, transients, and residents in Tacloban, Leyte.
- Bohol Tikug Mats: Bohol mat weavers earn about 20 centavos per day.
Terms:
- Buri: A type of palm used for mat-making.
- Sabutan: A specific variety of pandan used for making high-quality mats.
- Sarakat: A pandan species found in the Bangui Peninsula of Ilocos Norte.
- Tikug: A sedge commonly used for mat-making in the Visayas and Mindanao.
- Tayoc-tayoc: A smaller sedge used for making mats and hats.
- Juncus effusus: A rush used for mat-making in Japan.
- Bayon: A plaited sack made from buri or pandan straws.
- Pandan: A genus of plants that includes various species used for mat-making.
- Sawali: A weaving technique used to create patterned mats.
- Embroidered mats: Mats decorated with designs using colored straws.
Examples:
- The Romblon buri mat: A type of mat known for its fine white and colored materials and intricate designs.
- The Samar tikug mat: A mat featuring elaborate embroidered designs that showcases the skill of Samar weavers.
- The Bohol tikug mat: A simple but durable mat made with striped and checkered patterns.
- The Moro pandan mat: A richly colored mat with elaborate designs, often using imported dyes.
- The “iluhan”: A primitive sugar-cane and copra crusher that is also used to flatten pandan straw.
- The “bangkoan”: A coarsely woven pandan mat used for drying palay, copra, and other agricultural products.
- The “bastos”: A coarsely woven banana petiole mat used for baling tobacco.
Conclusion:
The 1913 Bureau of Education bulletin “Philippine Mats” provides a comprehensive and insightful glimpse into the diverse world of mat-making in the Philippines. The publication highlights the craft’s economic significance and its potential for further development. By emphasizing the need for improved designs and color combinations, it calls for a revitalization of the industry to meet both domestic and international demand. The text also offers a valuable window into the historical context of the early American colonial period, demonstrating the government’s role in promoting craft skills and modernization. The detailed descriptions of materials, weaving techniques, and designs, coupled with the historical context, make this bulletin a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the rich heritage of Philippine mat-making.