Rina Ilul-Pangkalan : A Personal Story of Hope and Excitement with the Yakan Weaver
by Martha Rodriguez
I have been meaning to write an article about this certain Yakan weaver in Zamboanga. She holds a special place in my heart, not because she has won an award from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) or is one of the pioneers in Yakan weaving but because we have grown together throughout the years. She was the first Yakan weaver I met when I started VESTI back in 2010.
I remember getting on a plane with a determination to visit the Yakan Village in Zamboanga. My first time to visit Zamboanga, ever. I did my own research and luckily, I have a friend who lives there so it was a relief knowing that a local will help me find the weavers.
In 2010: VESTI founder Martha Rodriguez with Yakan weavers Rina Ilul Pangkalan and Evelynda Otong in Zamboanga
Zamboanga is such a different place. It feels entirely peaceful but seen with a lot of armed military men. People speak Chuvacano as if they are singing the most beautiful songs. There were bazaars along the bay area. Charming open churches, buildings made of bricks, and Spanish-colonial houses breathing classic beauty.
Beautiful. Serene. More so of relentless hope over fear.
And that feeling was validated over and over with this growing friendship I have with Rina Ilul Pangkalan. She was the first weaver I met and whom I purchased Yakan handwoven fabrics. I remember seeing her weaving fabrics at their house with bamboo flooring. Her backstrap is as mighty as her heart. Colours and patterns are so awakened with her.
Fast forward to 2018 after finishing my master’s degree in Fashion Business Creation in London, I came back and vowed to scale up my VESTI brand. I visited the Yakan weavers again, taking a trip by land from my hometown, Cagayan de Oro. We got lost and had to spend the night at a hostel in one of the provinces. The next day, we continued traveling to the Yakan village in Zamboanga.
Rina, was there and I remember hugging her and showing her and giving her a copy of a VESTI article that Rappler published in 2015 with her photo on it.
Rina has been weaving for more than 30 years now. She was taught by her cousin at 8 years old. Her favourite design is the diamond. I asked her what she thinks when she weaves, she said she thinks of the colours and designs. “What do you want to aside from weaving?”, I asked. She said she would gladly continue to weave and sell Yakan fabrics forever.
The VESTI team reunited with Yakan weavers Rina Ilul Pangkalan and Evelynda Otong - Zamboanga 2018
Her sense of calmness, progress, and love for the Yakan weaving heritage exists in my day to day VESTI motivation. Keep the business afloat, come out with new collections, and help the weavers.
I need to sell more VESTI bags so I can order more fabrics from her and she too can be able to buy her maintenance medicines. Rina had a goiter operation when she was in Grade 6 and she said there are complications that came with it.
She shares our VESTI photos and features on Facebook and finds time to comment on our pages. When the pandemic started, the Yakan weavers have been asking financial help from the government and they have resorted to making Yakan face masks.
Rina has been in constant communication with me. As my personal commitment to Rina in buying face masks from her on a monthly basis, what my friends and family are using, alongside VESTI’s sewers and suppliers and our VESTI community – all are from Rina.
I took a break from countless Zoom meetings or even large expectations of groundwork laid for a year. Putting in priorities of family, love, friendship, and what truly matters most. I take refuge in knowing that wonderful things will be coming soon for both of us. Taking care of ourselves so we can take care of our families.
Rina recently shared to me a photo of her greatest and proudest moment, a storefront of her own, displaying her creations.
Thank you, Rina, for giving me sense of hope and excitement and for being in this personal journey with me.
Rina Ilul Pangkalan shares her Yakan creations
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The VESTI Jetsetter 2.0 Mini features the handwoven Yakan textile from Zamboanga . shop here