Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray witnesses National Living Treasure and Ilocana master weaver Magdalena Gamayo works at her loom. (Photo courtesy of Pocholo Miguel Apostol/Catriona Gray’s Facebook page)
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—Tears welled up from Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s eyes after she witnessed Ilocos Norte’s cultural legend and National Living Treasure Magdalena Gamayo working at her loom during a weekend visit to the Gumaba Cultural Center in Pinili town.
“I don’t find myself welling up with tears for many things. But watching Nana Magdalena [sit] at her loom, at the graceful age of 98, naiiyak ako,” Gray, who is in the Ilocos Norte leg of her Raise Your Flag series, wrote on her Facebook page on Sunday, Nov. 13.
Gray said it was an “honor” to meet and witness Gamayo’s work with her own eyes, noting how the living treasure has “contributed to the Filipino weaving community so greatly.”
“Her hands have literally woven tradition, the hands of a national living treasure,” added Gray, noting that she was inspired by the Ilocana master weaver for being a “woman who dedicated her life to her craft.”
In 2012, Gamayo was conferred the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, institutionalized through Republic Act No. 7355, which is the highest award given by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to the finest traditional artists of the country, bearing the same order with National Artist or National Scientist.
Working with the craft for over 80 years, Gamayo exemplified the best of the Filipino Abel weaving tradition, which she started to learn when she was 16 years old.
“She was never formally taught but picked up the art on her own by copying the patterns and the weaves of her aunt,” the NCCA said.
The Miss Universe 2018 hoped that the local tradition of “panag-abel” would be passed on to younger generations who would “continue to see and appreciate its value.” INQ
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