Although the glory days of having to deal with plenty of orders and the lack of burderos (embroiders) are long gone for Lumban, Laguna, the art of embroidery in the idyllic town continues to thrive. “There is no truth to the perception that the embroidery industry is dying,” shares Marivic Gordovez, chairperson of Lumban Embroidery Association Multipurpose Cooperative. In spite of the rise of computer-based industries, Lumban remains unfazed and continues to produce quality embroidery for big names in the fashion scene like Patis Tesoro, Rajo Laurel, Paul Cabral, and Betina Ocampo.

Monica de Ramos, popularly known as Andi Manik, is proof of Lumban’s dedication to keeping their craft alive. Andi Manik is the oldest living burdero in Lumban and at eighty-four, she continues to embroider place mats and napkins for her most loyal customer, Patis Tesoro. She just wishes the younger generation were as dedicated to the craft as her. “Back in the day, my playmates and I would spend an hour or two in the afternoon outside our houses, embroidering. Now, the kids go straight to computer shops after school,” she laments. Andi Manik learned embroidery at the young age of seven, together with twenty-three other siblings.

The present generation’s lack of interest will hopefully change with the implementation of K-12 and the inclusion of embroidery in the curriculum. Lumban Public High School has required all students to take an embroidery course, starting in seventh grade. “It is important that children nowadays know the importance of embroidery in our town,” explains Gordovez. After all, despite having other sources of income like fishing and farming, embroidery is really what keeps the town of Lumban alive.

Photos by Geric Cruz

Source: Denise Danielle Alcantara for Southern Living, “Thread of Life,” September 2014