CTU’s Hinablon sa Cebu Receives Major Boost from DTI
by Lynnette M.S. Camello
Argao, Cebu — May 21, 2025. A new chapter in Cebu’s handloom weaving tradition unfolded as Cebu Technological University-Argao (CTU-Argao), home to the flagship community enterprise Hinablon sa Cebu: Handwoven in Argao, received a significant equipment grant from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The awarding ceremony, held at the CTU-Argao Campus, marked a milestone in the university’s continuing commitment to sustainable livelihoods and cultural preservation.
The grant, which includes a state-of-the-art EEVA loom weaving machine and three large-scale crochet-overlock sewing machines, is expected to revolutionize the operations of the university’s weaving center. Beyond machines, however, the grant symbolizes the strengthened ties between government, academe, and grassroots communities in breathing new life into a time-honored tradition.
A Weaving Legacy Reborn
Hinablon sa Cebu began as a humble community extension program in 2013 with a simple yet profound vision: to revive Argao’s nearly forgotten tradition of hablon—the handweaving of colorful, textured fabrics once central to the town’s culture and economy. The initiative, spearheaded by CTU’s College of Education and its Research and Extension units, trained local women, many of them mothers and wives of farmers and fisherfolk, in traditional loom weaving.
From weaving scarves and table runners to producing school uniforms and fashion pieces, the program evolved into a full-fledged social enterprise that not only sustains cultural heritage but uplifts families through alternative livelihoods. With DTI’s support, the next level of innovation has now arrived.
Upgraded Tools, Empowered Hands
The centerpiece of the grant is the EEVA loom—an advanced weaving machine capable of producing more intricate designs at a faster pace. Accompanying the loom are three heavy-duty crochet-overlock sewing machines, which will allow the weaving center to create high-quality finishes and expand its product offerings.
“These machines are game-changers,” said Dr. Jorelyn P. Concepcion, Project Director and staunch advocate of the program. “They don’t just increase our production capacity—they open creative possibilities for our weavers and enhance the quality of what we produce. We can now confidently cater to both local and international markets.”
DTI 7 Acting Regional Director Esperanza T.L. Melgar, who led the turnover, emphasized the agency’s support for community-based industries. “We believe in the potential of Hinablon saCebu to become not just a cultural icon but a competitive enterprise. This grant is our way of saying: we support sustainable, inclusive development,” she said.
Sustainability Woven in Every Thread
What sets Hinablon sa Cebu apart is its ethos: sustainability in both culture and economy. Every handwoven piece tells a story—of indigenous designs, of generational knowledge, of community resilience.
CTU’s vision is to scale this impact through technology. With the upgraded Shared Service Facility (SSF), the university plans to train more weavers, especially out-of-school youth and women from vulnerable sectors. Plans are underway to roll out modular training on textile innovation, pattern making, product finishing, and entrepreneurship.
Moreover, the upgraded machines enable diversification. From wearable art and shawls, the weaving center now eyes product lines such as office and hotel textiles, eco-friendly holiday giveaways, and home furnishings—all infused with Cebuano craftsmanship.
Education Meets Enterprise
Hinablon sa Cebu is not just a livelihood project—it is a living laboratory of interdisciplinary engagement. Pre-service teachers, business students, and design interns from CTU actively contribute to the initiative as part of their practicum and research. Some assist in developing culturally-rooted children’s storybooks that narrate the heritage of weaving; others analyze business models or design digital campaigns for eco-conscious consumers.
A distinctive component of this initiative is HATEKA a transdisciplinary collaboration led by CTU’s BSEd Mathematics faculty and students in partnership with the artisanal social enterprise HOLICOW (Holistic Coalition of the Willing), represented by sustainable design advocates Debbie Palao and Kae Batiquin. Together with local weavers, they co-design mathematically inspired patterns that integrate traditional hablonweaving with geometry, symmetry, and local narratives. Students also engage in documentation, pattern analysis, and community immersion, bridging classroom concepts with indigenous knowledge systems.
“This is where theory meets praxis,” noted Dr. Lynnette MateaCamello, University Director for ESD. “Hinablon is an embodiment of our vision of the university as a social entrepreneur. We mold students who are not only competent professionals but also agents of change.”
Stitching the Future Together
With this latest DTI grant, CTU-Argao envisions Hinablon saCebu to expand its reach, both geographically and economically. Plans include setting up satellite weaving hubs in nearby barangays, joining more national trade fairs, and developing export-ready collections.
As the EEVA loom begins to hum and the sewing machines whir to life, a new energy now permeates the weaving center. Elderly weavers smile as younger apprentices join them on the benches. Patterns once only passed down by memory are now being digitized for posterity. The past and future, woven together.
In the words of local weaver and trainer Ate Maribel: “Sa hablon, dili lang kita nagpanahi og panapton. Nagpanahi sab ta og paglaum.” (With hablon, we’re not just weaving fabric. We are weaving hope.)|Dr. Lynnette M S. Camello
