I have heard of the popular silk making industry in Bago City, Philippines that is run by OISCA, or Organization for Industrial, Spiritual & Cultural Advancement. The organization started in Japan in 1961 and the OISCA-Philippines Chapter was organized in Manila in 1965.
The OISCA Administrative Office in Bago City.
However, it was not until 1981 when the OISCA-Bago Training Center (OBTC) was set up in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, Negros Occidental as an OISCA Model Farm. Eight years after, a mulberry plantation was established in a two-hectare area within the property to pave the way for cocoon production. Thus, sericulture in Negros Island was born.
Our silk comes from these cocoons.
Silkworm rearing and raw silk production became widespread in the island as more farmers in nearby towns and even far-flung areas started to get into the industry. Eventually, OBTC developed its facilities to put up a Silk Reeling Plant in 1999.
A mulberry plant. The silkworms eat only the leaves though.
Now, Philippine silk, particularly Negros silk, is creating a name in the local fashion scene. The silk yarn produced in OBTC is used by traditional weavers in neighboring Panay Island for official clothing, such as Barong Tagalog (a Filipino traditional costume) and formal dresses.
The Barong Tagalog, the Filipino traditional costume.
Some friends from Manila and abroad have already visited the center and I have heard a lot about it but never got around to really see the place. The only time I have learned about silk making was when I visited a silk factory in Beijing.
Visiting a silk factory in Beijing in 2010.
Yet, having one in our very own province was interesting. I know how tedious the process of producing silk is, so I wanted to see myself how we are faring in the local scene.
Silk floss is spun into yarns.
From Bacolod, we took the main highway to the south, which is Araneta Ave. When we got to Sum-ag (right after the market), we turned left at San Juan Street, the one with a 7-11 at the corner. We drove a little less than 3 km and saw the OISCA signage along the road. We turned left to enter the compound.
Very fine silk threads as reeled from the machine.
At the administration office, we looked for Angie who referred us to our guide. He first showed us a mulberry plant and a mulberry tree, which is significant in the whole process because silkworm feeds on mulberry leaves. Although we never got to see the silkworms, we have seen the cocoons, which are boiled and reeled to make silk yarns.
These manually spun silk yarns are the ones that are exported.
Silk floss is spun, either manually or by machine, to also make different kinds of silk yarns. These yarns are either sent to traditional weavers in Panay Island or are weaved in the facility.
Weavers create fabrics from silk and other materials.
The finished product are clothes, scarves, wallets, table runners, place mats, and other fabric materials. I purchased some of these products at the showroom, right within the compound. By the way, there’s a fee of P25.00 (USD 0.53) per person for the tour. I didn’t mind since it was a great visit and a very informative one. Who would have thought that we have silk produced right within our locality?
Scarves of different colors. They are Negros Island silk.
For further information:
OISCA Silk Showroom
Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City
Negros Occidental, Philippines 6101
Tel: (+63 34) 702 9075
Mobile: (+63) 917 301 9017
E-mail: nspa.oisca@gmail.com
http://www.oisca-international.org/
40 Responses
Thanks for this post. I learned that the Philippines silk industry is very small, not enough to sell enough yard to a manufacturer of mens shirts that can be made and exported from the Philippines. I have had a project that requires about a 1000 meters 60″ width of dyed special design silk, could be raw silk also perhaps for mens shirts. The requirement will start small with 1000 meters per item. Many designs each a small custom run.
That’s true. We still have to develop and grow the industry so that it can be a big supplier. For now, it only supplies local businesses and not much of the international market.
Those manually spun silk is so gorgeous. Love its rustic, uneven feel!
And they’re the only ones that are being exported.
What a lovely experience, to be able to learn how they make silk! That’s really awesome and pretty memorable too!
It was really interesting learning all those information and see how they do it.
Why supplies only local business?
I think all people love silk clothes, You are providing such a useful information for outsiders like me. Thanks for sharing the article.
The local supply is still very limited so they supply the local businesses only.
Silk designs look really elegant!
I agree!
This is a really great skill to learn. I also appreciate the tedious process of making silk.
It was amazing how fine a silk thread can be.
Loved this post. The process of silk making is very intricate and hope this tradition doesn’t get lost in the world of technology.
I second that. I hope this will continue in our local villages.
I have only seen silk making when we traveled to Shanghai. It is so interesting to see that we have this industry here locally as well. Our artistry with the silk designing will be enhanced with this venture.
I’ve seen one in Beijing as well and I was equally surprised to find an industry here in our very own province.
Your post reminds me of the silk making process when we were in the school. Entire process and every step is so crucial and in the end you have a masterpiece.
Wow, you learned this in school! That’s pretty awesome!
Thanks for sharing this information and story. I really hope that I can visit to this place and witness myself. It takes so much work to produce a piece of silk. No wonder its so expensive.
We encourage more people to visit this facility. 🙂
I saw one time on how this silk is made. I think that was when we had our field trip in Bacolod and had to visit one of the makers somewhere. I’m glad this process is still alive!
This must be the place you visited.
I would love to see silk being made. I love silk scarves and own a few but would have loved to see them being made. 🙂
I’m sure you would be fascinated watching how it’s done.
I tried that before in Malaysia and it was fun! It might not be silk, i forgot which one, but it was similar to what you did!
For the weaving machine, it may be done with any thread material, apart from silk thread.
This really does look like some high quality silk!
I’m glad you shared this post. It is fascinating to hear the behind-the-scenes of the things we use daily.
It was also an eye-opener to see the great pains others have to endure (like those silkworms) so we can enjoy such beauty, like silk.
I had no idea there was a local version of silk, it’s nice though because it promotes the textile industry in the province, and is export quality too!
I never knew about it until I went home and friends told me about this.
Silk is indeed an important natural source of fabric, and it is amazing to be able to see how it’s being made from the start to the end product. Must take some time to visit this place someday!
It was amazing knowing it’s being done in a facility near our city. I love the mulberry fruit! Good thing that the silkworms only eat the leaves. 🙂
Wow, I didn’t know about such a place exist in the Philippines! A lot to learn about our beautiful country.
Yes, there are so many places in our own country that needs to be rediscovered. I hope to do that to other provinces as well, but I’m starting in mine. 🙂
Wow this is soooo cool! I would like to check out a silk-making place. Must have been awesome to learn about the intricate details!
It was really amazing. 🙂
I’d like to visit such a place! Silk is one of the materials I love and feel very comfortable in, but, apart from the theoretical knowledge, I don’t know the process itself. It looks like you had a great day there!
I did. I hope you get to visit our country and our province. 🙂
Hi, do they sell waxworms at OISCA?
So sad the training and silk production facility in bagos was destroyed. I have been waiting to visit since the beginning of covid.