Teofilo Garcia Tabungaw Hats

Must-visit culture trip when you're in Abra. Meet the national living treasure Mr Teofilo Garcia.

He has been awarded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for his expertise in crafting gourd (tabungaw) into hats called "kattukong".

There's a marker along the highway with his face on it. The road is a bit steep, so we just parked along the curved highway and walked up to his house.

Each hat is priced around P3500 to P4500.

They also sell the bottom half of the gourd as fruit bowls for only P100.

Tata Pilo is the National Living Treasure of Abra because of his preservation of hat-making using 'Tabungaw'. These hats are high quality and are one of a kind. Not to mention the front of his place has a magnificent view of the river and mountains of Abra.

The artist, Teofilo Garcia, was not available at the time so we were not able to see most of his works. However, we saw some of his works that are near his window.

I really want to buy one but I was not able to as he was unavailable. Have to go back here.

Teofilo Garcia
Manlilikha ng Bayan
A great historical and cultural visit in Abra, I was so fortunate to meet the man, an icon that his masterpiece is considered a great work of a national celebrated artistry. I met him and had a chance to collect this beautiful hat collection from the manlilikha ng bayan, just like a national artist award. It is a must to meet our living national treasure, Teofilo Garcia with his Cultural Tabungaw hat

see the expert at work. traditional tabingaw hat making.

A native Ilocano hat made from fully matured gourd shell