Banig: Grounding Filipino Life

The banig is more than just a simple mat; it’s an object that literally grounds Filipino life. This episode traces its extraordinary 39,000-year journey, from prehistoric stone tools in the Tabon Caves to the sacred spaces of pre-colonial chieftains. We explore how this craft, passed down almost exclusively by women, survived colonization through its "strategic ordinariness" and later became a national symbol. We also discuss the harsh economic realities facing master weavers today and the countermovement by contemporary designers and social enterprises who are transforming the humble mat from the floor to the fashion catwalk.