Weaving knows no gender
Weaving has long been closely associated with Filipino women, but across the country, Filipino men are also helping to preserve the craft, carry forward indigenous traditions, and build livelihoods through local handloom weaving.
According to the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) DigiTELAzation's SalinHabi Mobile App, an online registry of local weavers and authentic indigenous textiles, men account for 14 percent, or 179, of registered weavers nationwide as of 18 September 2026.
Photo of 43-year-old Abra weaver Norman Humpay Venus talking with visitors at an event, with woven textiles displayed behind him and a 2026 PHWF logo overlay. Posted on 21 September 2026 with 268 hits at time of migration.
From rice farming to handloom weaving
Through its #WeMenWeave program, DOST-PTRI seeks to recognize and support Filipino men in the weaving sector while challenging stereotypes that associate weaving exclusively with women. The initiative highlights a simple truth: weaving is a cultural tradition and livelihood that knows no gender.