Iloilo

"Hablon" is fabric produced in Iloilo, so named because "habol" in Ilongo means "to weave." Hablon is thought to have been produced for both local and international consumers in Miag-ao, a town southwest of Iloilo City, since the 18th century. By 1854, Iloilo was exporting an astounding $400,000 worth of textiles (a value of over $12,000,000 today) and was known as the textile capital of the Philippines. Every house had at least six looms and, although women were the main weavers, men also contributed to the enterprise.

The "patadyong" is a lady's tubular skirt made from hablon that was traditionally worn at work around the house or in the garden. It literally means "to be straight" in Visayan as the skirt falls in a narrow vertical fashion. A 16th century manuscript describes the garment as a "mantle with diverse colored strips made of cotton." It used to be made from a local cotton thread called "bunang" but its very last manufacturer passed away in 2010 which caused weavers to choose a mix of rayon and polyester called "rotex" instead. The traditional colorful stripes, plaid and checks pattern are still produced in various combinations and colors today.