Culture & Entertainment · Philippines Bureau
Matigsalog artisans bring indigenous crafts to Iligan fiesta celebration
Two Matigsalog women traveled over eight hours to showcase handmade native bracelets at Iligan City's Diyandi Festival, bringing traditional ethnic craftsmanship to the patronal celebration honoring St. Michael the Archangel.
LSN Philippines ·
ILIGAN CITY — Indigenous artisans from Davao City's Matigsalog community journeyed to Iligan City this weekend to present their handcrafted wares at the city's major religious and cultural festival.
Aida Ababon, 47, and Sheila Batal, both members of the Matigsalog ethnic group based in Marilog District, made the lengthy trek by bus to participate in the Diyandi Festival. The journey, spanning more than eight hours, brought the two vendors and their collection of traditionally-made native bracelets to the celebration marking the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel.
The Diyandi Festival serves as both a religious commemoration and a platform for cultural exchange in Iligan City. The participation of indigenous artisans expands the festival's scope to include representation of the Philippines' diverse ethnic communities and their traditional crafts.
The presence of Matigsalog vendors at the event provides an opportunity for attendees to directly support indigenous craftspeople while gaining exposure to traditional production methods and designs that have been preserved within the community for generations.