Yale University Honors FAHM And PH National Indigenous Peoples Month through Philippine Textile Exhibit
New Haven, CT, 02 October 2026 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in New York, in collaboration with Yale MacMillan Center, Yale University’s Council on Southeast Asia Studies and Yale Peabody Museum, successfully launched HABI: A Philippine Textile Exhibit at Henry R. Luce Hall located in Yale University.
The exhibit featured handwoven fabrics crafted by Indigenous communities and local artisans from diverse Philippine regions, including T’nalak, Piña seda, Kantarines, Pinilian, Kantanaey, Hablon, and Pigi textiles. Preserved largely through women-led micro and small enterprises, these weaves celebrate cultural diversity, resilience, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Filipino weaving communities.
The exhibit opened with a virtual talk by Dr. Analyn Salvador Amores, Professor of Anthropology, founding and former Director of Museo Kordilyera at the University of the Philippines Baguio, and Project Lead of the Cordillera Textiles Research Project. Her presentation set the context for HABI by tracing efforts to revive and preserve Philippine ikat weaving traditions, from their cultural significance and traditional techniques to ongoing work to ensure that these practices continue to thrive across generations.
In his welcome remarks, Acting Head of Post and Consul Juan Carlos C. Borromeo traced the exhibit’s beginning to an earlier conversation with Yale University in 2025 initiated by then Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, who championed Post’s Philippine Fibers, Fabrics, and Textiles Promotion Program and noted that the discussions have finally concretized through HABI.
Meanwhile, Trade Commissioner Alma Argayoso reflected on the broader role of trade in creating opportunities for people and bringing greater visibility to the stories behind Philippine products and traditions. She noted that the textiles featured in HABI carry generations of cultural knowledge while also opening new possibilities for collaboration, design and innovation. She expressed hope that the exhibit would inspire new partnerships and encourage fresh ways of bringing Philippine weaving traditions into contemporary practice.
Professor Erik Harms, Chair of Yale’s Council on Southeast Asian Studies, Dr. Louward Allen Zubiri, Lector in Filipino, and Ms. Charmaine Wong, Collections Manager for Pacific Ethnology at the Yale Peabody Museum, also delivered remarks. They reflected on Yale’s long engagement with Philippine studies, from early scholarship and ethnographic research to the university’s present-day academic and museum collections.
The launch event was attended by the leadership of Yale University, including Faculty members, students, and the local Filipino community.
HABI: A Philippine Textile Exhibit aims to underscore the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines and celebrates Filipino artistry to foster cross-cultural connections. The exhibit will run until 31 October 2026 at Yale University’s Henry R. Luce Hall. END
