120 Moro women gain livelihood in inaul weaving

BULUAN, Maguindanao – More jobless Moro women, including widows of former secessionist guerillas, are gaining additional source of livelihood in inaul weaving, an age-old local cottage industry that the provincial government of Maguindanao has successfully saved from extinction and harnessed to boost eco-tourism development in this part of the country. Eman Aljani, chief of staff of Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, said at least 120 more jobless women in their province have been added to hundreds of female constituents involved in inaul fabric weaving after undergoing extensive trainings on the centuries-old industry.The additional 120 weavers finished a 15-day training conducted here by the provincial government in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as part of last month’s preliminary events in the 1st Inaul Festival, Aljani said.Festival organizers said the new weavers joined earlier trained peers in exhibiting the dynamics of the age-old local industry at a public place here, also as highlight to the preliminary festivities.Lagawlan Pagalad, a 56-year old resident here, said she was glad to undergo the training, gain additional income for her family, and at the same time help in the revival of the nearly extinct inaul weaving industry, which predated the Spanish occupation of the country.Old timers in the industry said each of them could weave in a month a minimum of five malongs, which is easily sold at P1,800 per piece. One weaver is netting at least P1,200 per piece, it was learned.Promotional efforts for Inaul weaving gained a big boost when candidates to the recent 65th Miss Universe pageant displayed traditional attires made of the inaul fabric during their tour presentation in Davao City late last month.The Davao City event inspired the Maguindanao provincial government to rename its annual Sagayan Festival into Inaul Festival, which would formally commence here tomorrow (Feb. 9) with a long parade of thousands of residents wearing colorful malongs made of inaul textiles, Aljani said.Lagawlan Pagalad underwent an enabling training conducted last month in the town by the provincial government in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as another highlight to the Inaul Festival, which reels off formally tomorrow (Feb. 9) in the municipality.