Elda Baldon

“Weaving has become an inseparable part of my being.“

Elda, who hails from Panay, shares her passion and love for “hablon”, a handwoven textile of her province made using a traditional handloom and natural fibers.

At a young age, Elda developed an interest in the art of weaving and became a manug-habol, the term the locals use that refers to weavers.

This style of weaving has been passed down from generation to generation within Elda’s family. This was how she learned how to weave. She recalled precious memories of her mother weaving while she would look with a keen eye, observing how her mother would do it. Until finally, she felt ready to do it herself and tried making her first woven fabric.

Everything was going well until her life took a detour. Elda married and became a mother at a very young age, leading to new responsibilities she wasn’t ready for. But still, she found herself getting through the challenges that came her way.

Shortly after giving birth to her first child, she began weaving again. This helped her with the needs of her family by making one piece of hablon for 30 pesos each. And every day, she made sure to weave at least ten pieces to earn enough money.

Elda worked hard to master her craft, so she attended training on weaving to be updated with new techniques, styles, and designs.

She bought her own “tidal,” a traditional loom weaving machine used by the locals in producing their handwoven products. Everything seemed to work well for them until she needed more funds to support her children in college.

For ten years, she worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper and faced the constant battle of missing her family back home. But fortunately, as soon as her children finished their education and landed stable jobs, they encouraged her to return home. Elda’s children told her that it was their time to take care of her, so she finally came home.

Not having to worry about her family’s needs anymore, Elda rekindled her passion for weaving, and this time, she wanted to help others learn this craft, too, and revive this industry in her hometown.

“One of the first things I did when I went back home was to look for my old “tidal” because I missed weaving,” Elda shared, recounting how much she longed to weave again.

She urged others to be part of this advocacy, but more than that, she wanted to help other women like her learn this skill and maximize its potential as a source of income.

Currently, Elda sits as the president of the Cabayogan Women Loom Weaving Association in Badiangan, Iloilo. She only has one thing in mind: to make sure the art of weaving lives on for future generations and for them to develop the same passion and love for the craft she holds dear to her heart.