Siquijor Artisan Workshops: Preserving Island Traditions

Behind the beaches and waterfalls, Siquijor harbors quieter treasures: hands that weave baskets as their grandparents did, carvers who shape wood into forms their great-grandparents would recognize. These traditions continue not for tourists, but because they’re woven into island identity.

For visitors seeking more than scenery, connecting with artisans offers something rare—learning from living tradition.

The Crafts of Siquijor

Basket and Mat Weaving

Materials: Nito (forest vine), bamboo, buri palm, pandan leaves

Traditional Products:

• Bilao (flat basket for winnowing rice)
• Banig (sleeping mats)
• Shopping baskets
• Storage containers

The Skill: Weaving requires patience. Materials must be prepared—split, dried, sometimes dyed—before weaving begins. Patterns are learned over years.

What You Can Learn: Simple basket base weaving, palm leaf folding, basic patterns.

Woodcarving

Materials: Local hardwoods, coconut wood, driftwood

Traditional Products:

• Mortar and pestle sets
• Kitchen utensils
• Decorative figures
• Furniture elements

The Skill: Carving tools are often handmade. Technique is passed father to son. Each carver develops signature styles.

What You Can Learn: Basic chip carving, spoon or utensil shaping, simple decorative work.

Coconut Craft

Materials: Coconut shells, husks, leaves, wood

Products:

• Shell bowls and jewelry
• Husk rope and brushes
• Leaf woven goods
• Coconut wood items

The Skill: Nothing wasted. Every part of the coconut has uses. Knowledge encompasses tree to finished product.

What You Can Learn: Leaf weaving (baskets, fans), shell polishing, simple items.

Shell and Bead Work

Materials: Shells from beaches, trade beads, local seeds

Products:

• Jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings)
• Decorative items
• Wind chimes

The Skill: Selection of materials, understanding of design, patience for detailed work.

What You Can Learn: Simple jewelry assembly, shell preparation, design basics.

Finding Workshops

The Challenge

Siquijor doesn’t have organized “craft tourism.” There are no workshop centers with fixed schedules. Artisans work from home, making products for local use or occasional sale.

Solutions

Ask Your Accommodation Guesthouse owners often know local artisans. Express genuine interest and ask if they can make an introduction.

Tourism Office The municipal tourism office in Siquijor Town maintains lists of artisans willing to receive visitors. Quality of connections varies.

Market Observation At Lazi or Siquijor Town markets, observe who’s selling handmade items. Ask about visiting their workshop.

Word of Mouth Tell tricycle drivers, restaurant staff, anyone—that you’re interested in meeting craftspeople. The network is small; word spreads.

Resort Programs Some resorts (Coco Grove, others) occasionally organize craft demonstrations or workshops. Ask at reception.

What to Expect

Setting

Workshops happen in homes—simple structures with outdoor work areas. You sit where the artisan works, using their tools, learning their process.

Comfort Level: Basic. Possibly sitting on the floor. No air conditioning. Real conditions.

Teaching Style

Artisans aren’t trained instructors. They demonstrate, then guide your hands. Language barriers may exist. Patience matters on both sides.

Pace: Slow. Expect repetition. Craft is learned through doing, not explanation.

What You’ll Make

Simple items achievable in hours:

• Basic basket base (not a finished basket)
• Coconut leaf craft (fan, simple basket)
• Carved spoon or simple utensil
• Shell necklace

Don’t expect gallery-quality results. The value is process, not product.

Time Required

Demonstration only: 30-60 minutes Hands-on basic project: 2-3 hours More complex project: Half day or multiple sessions

Specific Craft Experiences

Palm Leaf Weaving

What You’ll Learn:

• How to select and prepare palm leaves
• Basic folding and weaving patterns
• Creating simple items: fans, baskets, small containers

Difficulty: Beginner-friendly Time: 1-2 hours for basic item Cost: ₱200-500 including materials

Nito Vine Basketry

More specialized than palm weaving. Fewer practitioners.

What You’ll Learn:

• Nito vine preparation (splitting, drying)
• Basic weave patterns
• Beginning a basket base

Difficulty: Intermediate Time: 3-4 hours for meaningful learning Cost: ₱500-800

Note: Full basket-making takes days. You’ll learn fundamentals, not complete a basket.

Wood Carving Basics

What You’ll Learn:

• Basic tool handling
• Wood selection
• Simple chip carving or spoon shaping

Difficulty: Intermediate (requires care with sharp tools) Time: 3-4 hours for simple piece Cost: ₱500-1000

Shell Jewelry

What You’ll Learn:

• Shell selection and cleaning
• Drilling and smoothing
• Basic assembly techniques

Difficulty: Beginner-friendly Time: 1-2 hours Cost: ₱300-600 depending on materials

Economic Reality

Why Crafts Are Declining

Traditional crafts face challenges:

• Plastic products are cheaper and easier
• Young people prefer modern careers
• Markets for handmade goods are limited
• Tourism hasn’t created consistent demand

Your Role

Visitors who engage with artisans provide:

• Income that validates craft continuation
• Recognition that the work has value
• Encouragement for passing on skills
• Motivation to teach the next generation

Fair Compensation

Don’t bargain aggressively. These aren’t factory goods—they represent hours of skilled labor. Paying fair prices supports continuation.

Suggested minimums:

• Simple woven items: ₱200-500
• Carved utensils: ₱300-800
• Quality baskets: ₱500-2000
• Workshop participation: ₱300-800 plus purchases

Beyond Workshops

Buying Direct

Even without workshops, buying directly from artisans supports them more than buying from resellers. Ask where products come from and seek out makers.

Observation

Not comfortable with hands-on? Artisans often welcome observers while they work. Watching the process has its own value.

Commissioned Work

Some artisans take commissions. If you see their work and want something specific, they may create it for you. Allow several days.

The Learning Experience

What You Gain

Skills: Basic, but real. You’ll understand what goes into handmade items.

Perspective: Appreciation for the time and skill behind traditional crafts.

Connection: Relationships with artisans often become trip highlights.

Objects: Something you made yourself—more meaningful than purchased souvenirs.

Cultural Notes

Respect the Teacher: These are masters of their craft. Approach with humility.

Patience: Things take time. Rushing disrespects the process.

Conversation: If language allows, ask about their life, their craft, their family. This is cultural exchange.

Photography: Ask permission. Many artisans are proud to be photographed with their work.

A Workshop Story

The house sits at the end of a dirt path in Maria. Manang Lucia, 68, learned basket weaving from her mother, who learned from hers. The lineage stretches back beyond memory.

Her hands move with unconscious expertise, splitting buri palm into thin strips, weaving them into patterns her fingers remember even as her mind wanders.

I sit beside her on a low stool. She hands me prepared strips and demonstrates the basic weave. Under-over. Under-over. Simple, except my fingers tangle, my tension uneven.

She laughs gently, adjusts my hands, demonstrates again. An hour passes. My basket base looks like a child’s first attempt. Hers looks like mathematics made material.

“Practice,” she says in Cebuano, smiling. That’s all there is to it. Decades of practice.

I leave with my lumpy creation and with her woven bag—purchased for far less than it deserves. But more than objects, I leave with understanding: that everything handmade represents hours invisible to buyers, skill accumulated over lifetimes.

The basket sits in my home now. I’ll never use it for anything practical. But every time I see it, I remember Manang Lucia’s hands moving with generations of knowledge, and the patience with which she tried to teach my clumsy fingers.

Practical Arrangements

Language

Limited English is common among artisans. Simple phrases in Cebuano help:

• “Pwede makakat-on?” (May I learn?)
• “Salamat” (Thank you)
• “Nindot” (Beautiful)

Pointing, demonstration, and patience bridge most gaps.

Scheduling

Artisans have their own rhythms. Mornings often work best before midday heat. Avoid holy days and Sundays unless you know they’re willing.

What to Bring

• Cash in small bills
• Camera (if permitted)
• Patience
• Genuine curiosity

What to Expect to Pay

Beyond material costs, compensate for teaching time. ₱200-500 for informal sessions. More for organized workshops.

For more local experiences, explore our traditional healer guide or taste the island with our food guide.