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By Vic Albornoz Lactaoen, Correspondent
OFTEN glossed over in tourist brochures and
guides on Northern Philippines, the province of Abra holds a
storehouse of simple pleasures for the traveler who wants to imbibe
nature and culture in refreshing doses. The natives called Tinguians
were originally used to refer to all mountain dwellers until the use
of this word was confined to the particular groups inhabiting the
mountain area of Abra.
Preoccupation with beauty is one distinct
Tinguian characteristic. Tinguian women are fond of wearing gold
beaded necklace and copper earrings. They use broad round hats when
working in the field. Weaving is also an essential economic
undertaking for Tinguian women. They produce multi colored tapis
either as clothes or blankets. Their designs are mostly animal forms
which are predominant in their woven products.
Most of these finely crafted jewelries can now
be found at Pamora Farms in Garreta, Pidingan Abra or through
Arestiina Morados, a native Tinguian herself in her Makati office.
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