EXHIBITION OF LOCALLY MADE TEXTILES, IN CELEBRATION OF THE 44TH PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY

By: Reina Rose B. Realino
Technology Transfer, Information and Promotions Staff

In celebration of 124th Philippine Independence Day, the Philippine Textile Research Institute conducted a physical "TELA Pilipinas Exhibit" at Gateway Mall Activity Area from June 12 to 17, 2022 as part of the Araneta City celebration dubbed as Kasarinlan: Likha at Talento.

Tela Pilipinas Exhibit

The exhibit featured the Philippine Tropical Fabrics and the latest innovations in textiles. It showcased the Natural Textile Manufacturing Process wherein it showed how textile fibers are converted into yarns, fabrics, and textile products using different DOST-PTRI developed technologies and facilities. Various products from the Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) and the products of DOST-PTRI's partners — Creative Definitions and Panublix, such as Lakat sustainable sneakers, cotton-pineapple blended yarns, crochet yarns, and handwoven fabrics were also exhibited.

Various textile products made of Philippine Tropical Fabrics displayed inside the exhibit

Visitors were amazed by how textile fibers like abaca, banana, bamboo, BANDALA, pineapple leaf, and silk can produce textile products. Aside from the general public, this exhibit served as a collaborative hub where they can come together and showcase the talent and designs of designers, MSMEs, and start-up companies enabling them to develop innovative Philippine textile products.

Products of DOST-PTRI’s partner stakeholders Creative Definitions and Panublix

The partnership with Araneta City allowed DOST-PTRI to further promote its developed technologies and services and educate people about its campaign called TELA Pilipinas. "We, at Araneta City, are very happy to contribute to the promotion of the local textile industry through the TELA Pilipinas Exhibit. It is our honor to be a partner of DOST-PTRI in its mission to enable the Philippine textile industry through science, technology, and innovation", said Gateway Mall Property Manager Lizette Villanueva.

   Gateway Mall Property Manager Lizette Villanueva delivering her welcome remarks

DOST-PTRI Director Celia B. Elumba in her handloom-woven RYPIC cotton-abaca terno top delivers her message during the opening ceremony

DOST-PTRI Director Elumba spoke of the wealth of the Philippines: natural resources in raw materials that we have in abundance, and our human resource complete with talent and skills. The local technology and system are also in place through the DOST-PTRI. She enjoined everyone to consciously use any product, wearable or not, that is made in the Philippines by Filipinos using natural Philippine materials. In this manner, we hope to inspire concrete support for socio-economic development of our people and country.

"Having this exhibit in this public area will surely inspire those passing by. They will be educated and can celebrate our culture and independence. Hopefully, this will inspire another curious young girl to take a science course and become a TELAmbassadress one day too. Let us proudly wear TELA Pilipinas", said Bb. Pilipinas International 2021 Hannah Arnold.

Bb. Pilipinas International 2021 during the closing remarks of the event. Hannah wore a cotton/pineapple terno top hand loomed by the Kabankalan Loom weavers through Creative Definition and dress pants of power-loomed cotton/abaca yarn from the PTRI’s ICYT

TELA is more than just a material. This exhibit showed how textiles empower the lives of every Filipino and how their prioritization can also impact the local economy.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of the TELA Pilipinas Exhibit with from left: Panublix’sMargs Malazo, DOST-PTRI Dir. Elumba, Ms. Hannah Arnold, Creative Definitions’ Mike Claparols and Araneta City/Gateway Property Manager Ms. Lizette Villanueva

For more information about DOST-PTRI's programs and services, visit and follow DOST-PTRI social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts or check out www.ptri.dost.gov.ph.