The Roots: Mabilong, Lubuagan, Kalinga Province, Philippines
A Kalinga woman dries threads after washing to use in laga. Mabilong, Lubuagan, Kalinga. Photo by Mr. Cirilio Sapi Bawer.
Mabilong is home to many Master Weavers of Kalinga Laga. From ancient hands, passed from generation to generation, this art is being preserved, shared, promoted and maintained in the diaspora by Kalinga Culture Bearer Jenny Bawer Young and weavers of Kalingafornia Laga.
In her work to pass down this tradition to her family, Jenny Bawer Young has demonstrated that traditions are truly living and maintaining tradition is at the heart of her work. Kalingafornia Laga is a shared experience where Jenny Bawer Young, teaches the traditional backstrap weaving, called Laga in her language in the San Francisco Bay Area.
She offers individualized instruction, and a safe place where Kalingafornia Laga members support each other as Pilipino Americans practicing Indigenous Traditional Arts. Members also provide community demonstrations and lectures about their experience and learning about the Kalinga traditional weaving practice.