Traditionally worn in the Mountain Province of the Philippines, the Pasiking is used to carry goods and equipment and also, even if carrying nothing, as just a rain coat. The entire bag portion is woven rattan. The water-proof covering is made from the extracted fibres of a very long-leafed pineapple plant.
Its probably only when seeing one of these Pasiking packs that one can fully appreciate the complexity of its construction. For example how weaves change and merge, how the straps are finished. Today it is almost impossible to find a Pasiking pack and the knowledge of such construction is close to being forgotten.
Nowadays we place so much value on technology, mechanical manufacturing processes and synthetic materials that we are likely destined to forget many hand made construction techniques and manufacturing processes along with the use of natural materials.
Weaving techniques which developed over hundreds if not thousands of years, disappearing faster and faster with the rapid advances in technology and with every artisan that is forced to change profession due to the cultural consumer shift towards technological and often more affordable product.
Will losing our understanding of crafts and value of natural materials also increase our consumption of synthetic materials and pollution?
Is there a way to include the makers of disappearing complex crafts around the world into our technologically focused culture? To sustain them, the craft and preserve the knowledge.
The subject of sustaining craftspeople and preserving their knowledge is something I am also exploring with Huarache Blog, my Blog dedicated to promoting, researching and documenting Mexican Huarache Footwear. Another tradition at risk and one increasingly overshadowed by modern footwear and its technological advances.
For further reading about Pasiking packs click HERE
Via Jeff Werner
Will our increasing consumption of technology and synthetic materials reduce our appreciation and connection to nature and natural materials? Eventually desensitizing us to the environment and its pollution?
74 FOOTWEAR DESIGN CONSULTING 
hi what kind of tribe can make this kind of pasiking? cause i read that it depends upon the tribe on how they will make it. thank you.
I’m not sure, the Ifugao province in the Philippines is only about as big as El Paso County in Texas so it shouldn’t be so hard to find the tribe that uses it. I think it will be harder to find who still makes Pasiking because nylon backpacks being much more affordable will most likely have replaced the woven Pasiking. You can ask Jeff Werner for more information as I think he lived in the Ifugao region of the Philippines. Contact Jeff HERE
Tena Koe e te Kaiwhatu,
Greetings to the very talented Artist/Weaver that wove this beautiful piece of your heritage i am guessing was past down from the sharing of knowledge from your Ancestors. I am a weaver myself from Aotearoa (New Zealand) and I can only start to imagine and appreciate the amount of hard work and effort that must of went into making this clever, traditional, and most likely Practical neccesity for your Elders. STUNNING!!! I am wondering if you are selling your Pasiking or are there any weavers that still hold the knowledge of how to weave this gift? it is very very similar to the clothing and bags of my Ancestors, Maori people used to wear and use here in Aotearoa. However I have never seen a bag with the cloak type thing both woven together, GENIUS!!! Seperately we call them Kete Pikau (Back Pack) and Hieke (Waterproof Cloak). Just like your culture there are very few gifted weavers that hold the knowledge of our old people that still continue to make these treasures today, however we are fortunate enough that they are kind enough to share there gift of knowledge with the world and those keen to learn these sacred traditions, Tenei te mihi atu ki aku Pouako, Tena Koe Aunty Elenoa Puketapu-Hetet me tona tamahine ataahua rawa atu a Veranoa Hetet-Hauwaho mo te tuari mai tenei taonga mai a matou tipuna ki ahau, Arohamutungakore kia korua tahi.
Love, Love, Love te Pasiking!!!
Arohanui mai tenei Maori kei Waiwhetu ❤