Handwoven piña listed as world intangible heritage

Aklan’s craft and tradition of handwoven piña (pineapple textile) was recently inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The declaration was held during the 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee in Kasane, Botswana, from Dec. 4 to 9.

This is the fifth intangible cultural heritage (ICH) element from the Philippines to be inscribed, including: hudhud chants and punnuk ritual of the Ifugao; Darangen epic of the Meranaw; and the buklog ritual of the Subanen, which was inscribed in the separate List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. On the other hand, NCCA’s School of Living Traditions was inscribed in UNESCO’s Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

The aims of the UNESCO Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) are for better protection and wider awareness and recognition of ICH elements. The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is an annual gathering attended by representatives of States Parties, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions, and other stakeholders from across the globe.

In the 18th session, chaired by Mustaq Moorad, ambassador and permanent delegate of the Republic of Botswana to UNESCO, the committee inscribed six elements on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and 45 elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It also selected four programs for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists now feature 694 elements corresponding to 140 countries, and the Register now features 37 practices corresponding to 31 countries.