Magdalena Gamayo (born 13 August 1924) is a Filipino weaver who is a lead-practitioner of the Ilocano tradition of ''pinagabel''.

Background

Magdalena Gamayo, a native of

Pinili Pinili, officially the Municipality of Pinili ( ilo, Ili ti Pinili; tl, Bayan ng Pinili), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 17,626 people. History Pin ...

, Ilocos Norte, learned the Ilocano weaving tradition of making ''inabel'' from her aunt at age 16. She taught herself on how to execute the traditional patterns of ''binakol'', ''inuritan'' (geometric design), ''kusikos'' (orange-like spiral forms), and ''sinan-sabong'' (flowers). She became best known for weaving the ''sinan-sabong'', since it is the most challenging pattern among the four. Her father bought her first loom, made by a local craftsman using ''sag'gat'' hardwood. Gamayo's loom lasted for 30 years. Already past 80 years old, Gamayo remained committed in making ''inabel''. On November 8, 2012, she was conferred the National Living Treasure Award. In late 2016, the House of Inabel was inaugurated enabling Gamayo to further promote ''pinagabel''.

References

1924 births Filipino weavers National Living Treasures of the Philippines People from Ilocos Norte 20th-century Filipino artists 21st-century Filipino artists Living people {{Philippines-artist-stub