KCAST, as a promising institution and a local college in Region XI, has been chosen by the Philippine Women’s College as a partner institution in the province of Davao del Norte for the implementation of their Tambayayong Network Hub. To which, the institution accepted this opportunity and chose Banana Fiber Weaving as their Tambayayong Hub Network livelihood activity. 

In line with this premise, the institution conducted its Skills Transfer Training and Workshop on Banana Fiber Weaving last May 10-12, 14, and 18 with these following goals and objectives: (1) to train selected students on how to weave banana fiber properly and accurately; (2) to demonstrate to students and working committee the different processes and steps in weaving; (3) to educate students and working committee about the market and economical advantage of weaving; and (4) to develop sense of commitment among students’ weavers as well as with the teachers as the KCAST-Tambayayong Hub Network Working Committee. 

The said activity started with an opening program to give due recognition to the different trainers as well as with the participants which includes the KCAST students, working committee and people from the adopted community, which is the Sitio Taguango. Further, Mr. Ben Oni P. Ligaray, MAED., OIC-College President, gave his welcome address welcoming all the participants which includes the chosen students, working committee and most especially the trainers from the province of Davao del Norte namely: Reynaldo “Dodong” Lino, Juliet Baruiz, Jospeh Tado and Marites Racacho. In addition, Mr. Reynaldo Lino gave his expectation for the said the activity and set the atmosphere of the training by giving inspiring messages to the participants. Also, Mrs. Marites Racacho inspired the participants by giving a short orientation and background about the marketable advantage of banana fiber fabric. In fact, she pointed out that the fabric involved in the global market already as it was sold in Switzerland and USA. 

Meanwhile, after the opening program, the training and workshop proper commenced by teaching and demonstrating the participants how to do “tinagak” which was led by the head trainer, Mr. Lino and assisted by the assistant trainer, Ms. Baruiz. Anyway, tinagak is the very first step of weaving to which you need to sort the banana fiber in order to produce a thread-like fiber which will be used in the weaving-proper.

However, before we can start the weaving, we need to set-up first the loom for weaving. Thus, after when the participants knew how to do tinagak, the participants were taught how to do benting. It is a process to where you need to knot threads having three holes, with the use of the benting tool, which will be used in separating the thread in the loom. Each participant, including the teachers, were given the chance to perform the benting. In the afternoon, the participants were trained and taught about the next process in loom preparation which is the warping. It is in this process where the threads to be used for the design and pattern of the fabric will be organized in detail using the warping tool. The same way applied, each student and teacher was given the chance and opportunity to perform one-round warping to give them the chance of having a first-hand experience. In this case, participants have the greater chances of remembering and learning the process.

On the second day, the activity started on teaching the participants how to remove the thread in the warping tool following the chain method. The trainer properly demonstrated how to tie and knot the thread as it is a meticulous process in the preparation and setting-up the loom for weaving. After which, the whole morning session was covered in setting-up the loom where the threads from the warping tool was set-up. It includes the beaming where threads from the warp were rolled along the weaver’s beam, a bamboo cylinder at the upper back of the loom. Also, after beaming was the heading where each thread of the warp passes through the opening of the heddle. Consequently, on the afternoon, it was the same process applied as students need to separate every single thread according to the desired pattern of the fabric. 

In addition, on the third day of the training, the whole day activity was spent on the most crucial and time-consuming process in the loom set-up – the reeding process. It is where the students, with the guidance of the trainers, needed to separate individually the thread and put it through in each hole of the “likis” (from the benting tool). Thereafter, they needed to put it through individually to the reed with the used of needles. It is really time consuming as there were hundreds of small holes in the reed. After reading, the trainer demonstrated the tie in process of the threads where threads were tied up into the cloth roll and it was followed by the spooling process with the use of traditional spooling wheel. However, the third day was a productive day as the students were able to set-up the loom accurately. Thus, the next day, students were ready for the weaving proper since the loom was set-up already. 

On the fourth day of the training, it was quiet easy and less tiring as students were only weaving. Some students were having “tinagak” while others were assisting the one who weaved and alternately do the process. Moreover, Mr. Lino, the head trainer, still watched and assisted the students in weaving since weaving still needs thorough observation especially with the patterns of the fabric. Yet, the day was still productive as students were able to learn weaving with joy and enthusiasm. In fact, during the day, the students were able to weave one-meter fabric. 

Consequently, on the last day of the training and workshop, in the morning session, the students continued to weave and have tinagak. Thus, they were able to produce two-meter fabric with ease and spontaneity. Likewise, it was observable on the faces of the students that they were happy learning and doing fiber weaving. Meanwhile, on the afternoon, it was the closing program of the activity. It started with the inspirational message of Mr. Jaylou C. Niniel, the project manager of KCAST-Tambayayong Hub Network. It was followed by giving of messages from the participants which includes the students and from the teachers as well, the response message of the head trainer and lastly, the giving of certificates and token of appreciation to the provincial trainers. 

Lastly, it was indeed a fruitful and rewarding activity as the goals and aims of the training were achieved and attained. Everyone was having fun and at the same time learning. It was evident that there was a skills transfer happened from the trainers to students. Also, aside from that, the activity was rewarding as the participants were able to close and end the training and workshop with a gaiety faces, grateful heart and a knowledgeable mind. Thus, the activity concluded and ended having the commitment from each participant and working committee to do their corresponding job and responsibility.