Gal Fun

An evening for special hats - I had gotten mine just in time!

We weren't back at Los Baños long (where Crissan lives and the International Rice Research Institute is located), before I was introduced to several of the women living there, most married to scientists working at IRRI. I was welcomed and entertained with many stories of unusual lives. The women I met came from the Ifugao region north of Manila, the countries of Great Britain, Colombia, Germany (both formerly East Germany and West Germany), and Australia. I later met others from China and I had already met some from India. Quite a microcosm within this small community.

One of the first places Crissan took me to was the American Women's Club Bazaar, a monthly fundraiser for charity efforts, like a huge craft show, featuring artists and artisans from all over the Philippines showing their handcrafted jewelry, clothing, housewares, foods, and furniture. I seem to have taken no pictures that day, as I was so busy just taking in all the exquisite work I saw. I did indulge in the hat you see in the photo above, created by a group known as "Hat Momma," whose logo is "topless can be so uncool!"

We also went to the market where they specialized in pearls, which all apparently now come from China. There was booth after booth of freshwater cultured pearls, South China Sea natural pearls, and beads made from everything from gem-quality stones to plastic, and everything in between.

"Pinky's" pearl booth - jillions of pearls!

The next day, a few of us set off to explore some nearby villages known for their artisanry with embroidering the very lightweight, transparent fabrics made of pineapple and banana fiber, used especially for men's formal wear in this very hot climate, where 3-piece suits would never do. The fabric is woven in long rectangles which are embroidered and then washed, strung taut onto wooden frames and then put out in the sun to dry. They are then cut and sewn into the shirts, with plackets for buttoning only partway down the front, between the embroidered pattern.

Embroidered fabric drying on the frame.

Close-up of embroidery as it will be on shirt front.

a finished shirt

A seamstress works on a two-tone pattern

Crissan (far right) consults with two ladies from the shop, and friend Aurora, front, about a design for a jacket.

On another day, after spending some time in Manila, we went to a salon at one of the big downtown hotels for some pampering, which turned out to be very inexpensive and which felt VERY good. They even give you a neck and shoulder massage as part of the deal -no extra charge! SOoooo relaxing!

All at once - hair, hands, feet. Luxury!

Ahhhhhhhh....

Later on, I visited Aurora when she was weaving on the traditional Ifugao backstrap loom. She grew up in a tribal culture but came to the city to find work in her late teens, as do many people from the distant villages. She has had an incredible range of experiences in the years since then (more about that later.) She offered me a chance to try my hand at the weaving, which I was delighted to do; thankfully she was a patient tutor, as I found it very awkward to manage what years of practice had taught her to do with a confident rhythm and attention to detail. It was a privilege to add a few rows to the fabric she was making.

Here's Aurora, dextrous and quick . . .

. . . and me, a bit awkward but having great fun.