Women in Taal, Batangas, continue to practice the century-old hand-embroidery craft known as Burdang Taal despite competition from cheaper machine-made alternatives.
In Taal, Batangas, burdareras such as Mary Jane Marcellana, Dorina Baja, and Lorenza Piol work on terraces using bastidor frames to create Burdang Taal on piña or jusi fabric. The process includes pagdidibujo for designs, hand stitching without thimbles, and pagka-calado for finishing. Historians trace the craft to the Spanish colonial period when nuns taught it to local women.
Machine-embroidered barongs now account for 65 percent of market revenue, leaving hand-embroidered pieces with 35 percent. Burdareras earn about P120 per piece, an amount that has not kept pace with rising costs. Mary Jane Marcellana, 56, said customers prefer the cheaper factory versions.
Local government units supply fabrics and kits, while TESDA offers training. A museum honors pioneer Ka Naty Sison Noche on R. Noble Street. Lorenza Piol, 68, who began at age seven, teaches workshops and urges broader programs to attract younger practitioners. She said, “As long as we are breathing, we will make sure Burdang Taal will survive. Slowly but surely.”
