111 Grade 10 students from the Philippine Science High School (Pisay) – Ilocos Region Campus, along with 10 faculty members, toured the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) on April 10, 2024. The educational tour aimed to introduce the students to real-world applications of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to help guide their choice of specialization for senior high school.

During the tour, students learned about the Institute’s programs and services, including discussions on Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) and natural textile fibers. They also witnessed the yarn production process at the DOST-PTRI Innovation Center for Yarns & Textiles (ICYT) and experienced hands-on demonstrations with handloom weaving machines developed by the Institute.

The students also appreciated the handwoven works of National Living Treasure Magdalena Gamayo and explored various textile products made from abaca, bamboo, banana, pineapple, and silk.

“The tour we had in PTRI has been an eye opener for us, because aside from knowing textiles from our province, Ilocos Norte, I got to know and appreciate more about the different textiles in the country…”, a student said.

This educational tour is part of DOST-PTRI’s Textile Academy, which serves as a platform for future collaboration opportunities such as Joint Research Undertakings (JRU) and Work Immersion Programs.