26/05/2025
In the quiet municipality of Valladolid, where hablon threads once moved to the rhythm of generations, the looms are falling silent. The craft that once defined this community now survives in the hands of its eldest women—keepers of a tradition under threat.
Ethan James T. Tulmo, architecture student and heritage advocate, refused to let this legacy fade. His thesis, “A Handloom Complex for the Municipality of Valladolid,” is not simply a proposal—it’s a reclamation. And with it, he earned three major distinctions: the Outstanding Oral Defense Award, Outstanding Presentation Award, and Outstanding Manuscript Award.
“Unlike other handloom weaving communities in Negros Occidental—where weaving was introduced only in recent years—Valladolid is home to fourth-generation weavers,” Ethan explains. “This project is a direct response to the urgent need to preserve, revitalize, and innovate.”
A Complex Woven with Intention
Ethan’s handloom complex is designed as a living ecosystem—supporting not just the product, but the process, the people, and the place.
The architectural plan begins with the Weaving Center, a purpose-built facility that addresses every stage of the craft—from thread preparation to loom operation. Here, elderly weavers find comfort, dignity, and the infrastructure they’ve never had before.
Connected to it is a Training Center, where young artisans can learn under the guidance of masters. “The goal,” Ethan says, “is to ensure the continuity of the craft and reintroduce its value to the younger generation.”
Innovation is encouraged through a Crafts Center and an Artist-in-Residence Program, bridging traditional hablon with modern applications. Exhibit and retail spaces showcase the artistry. Tourism-friendly public areas invite the wider world to appreciate what was once hidden in plain sight.
“Together, these interconnected spaces create a sustainable framework not just for the products—but for the craft itself.”
Tradition, Reimagined
Rather than preserving tradition in a museum case, Ethan’s complex lives it forward.
Rooted in vernacular design, the architecture draws from the first Filipino houses—reinterpreted through modern materials and updated construction methods. This synthesis of old and new reinforces cultural identity while improving functionality.
Every design choice—from airflow to lighting to the spatial rhythm of weaving bays—is grounded in user experience, informed by immersion in the community.
From Legacy to Livelihood
Beyond design, the project becomes a catalyst for Valladolid’s future.
“Economically, the complex will generate livelihood opportunities by formalizing the weaving industry,” Ethan says. “Culturally, it celebrates the legacy of hablon weaving. Creatively, it’s a space where traditional practices meet modern ideas.”
In time, Ethan envisions Valladolid becoming a recognized center for culture-based enterprise—a place where weaving is not just remembered, but revered, revived, and reimagined.
A Future That Remembers
Ethan Tulmo’s award-winning thesis stands as a powerful reminder: that architecture can be a form of advocacy. That a building can be a loom, threading the old with the new. That a plan on paper can become a pulse for a community that refuses to forget.
In reviving the art of hablon, Ethan has not only designed a complex—he’s helped design the future of a town, one thread at a time.
