Threads of Identity: Habing Katutubo Collective at the SULONG SEAPop Music and Culture Caravan

From the loom to contemporary clothing, Indigenous textiles carry stories of identity, craftsmanship, and community. These connections took center stage in “Threads of Identity: Indigenous Weaving, Fashion, and the ASEAN Creative Economy,” an ASEAN lecture held during the Pampanga leg of the SULONG SEAPop Music and Culture Caravan.

Held on September 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Event Center, SM City Pampanga, the gathering brought Habing Katutubo Collective Inc. (HKCI) together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Designers Circle PH to share perspectives on weaving, fashion, and cultural enterprise.

The lecture featured Mr. Edwin Uy, Chairman of Designers Circle PH and industry expert, and Ms. Maila Alog, a member of Designers Circle PH and founder of Habing Katutubo Collective Inc. and M.A. Woven Designs. Mr. Alfonso Emmanuel, Head of Creatives and Communications of Designers Circle PH, moderated the conversation.

For HKCI, the exchange offered a platform to bring Indigenous weaving into a wider discussion about contemporary design and the ASEAN creative economy. It encouraged appreciation of textiles through the knowledge, cultural roots, and people behind their creation.

Working with traditional textiles calls for thoughtful relationships between makers and designers. As fabrics become garments and reach new audiences, acknowledging their origins and the contributions of weaving communities remains essential. These relationships can support creative expression while keeping community knowledge visible.

The experience extended beyond the lecture through a special showcase of pieces by Designers Circle PH and Habing Katutubo Collective at the booth area. Bringing the craft closer to visitors connected the discussion with tangible examples of textile artistry and design.

Set within a music and culture caravan, the lecture also placed Indigenous weaving alongside other forms of creative expression. It offered an opportunity for broader audiences to encounter Philippine textiles and consider their place in everyday clothing, cultural identity, and enterprise.

Habing Katutubo Collective is grateful to NCCA and Designers Circle PH for this collaboration. Through shared conversations and showcases, the Collective continues its advocacy of connecting communities, designers, and audiences—giving greater visibility to the knowledge and stories woven into Philippine textiles.

Photos: NCCA

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