94 ROBINSON. 
There is every variation in quality. Prices range from 6 centavos to 
perhaps 1,000 pesos per hat.^ The main basis of price is the time 
riequired in m'aking the hat; the excellence of materials or the difficulty 
of procuring them are also factors in some cases. Shapes nsuall}' follow 
standard lines, although the workers will vary them to suit changing 
% styles, but with considerable conservatism. 
Hats of the first and third classes are practically all made by women 
and girls in their own homes, men rarely doing more than to gather the 
materials and perform the rougher part of the preparation, and to do the 
actual selling at prices the minima of which have been fixed by their 
• 
waves 
SEAT OF THE INDUSTRY. 
Hats of one grade or another are m^de at a great many places but 
three towns have deservedly the widest reputation, Baliuag in Bulacan, 
Lucban in Tayabas, and Calasiao in Pangasitian. In the case of the two 
first, neighboring towns share in the work, notably Pulilan in Bulacan 
and Apalit in Pampanga, both near Baliuag; and Majaijai and Luislana 
in Laguna, and Sampaloc and Mauban in Tayabas, all four near Lucban. 
Naturally, when a woman moves from any of these places, a potential 
hat industry is set up in her new home, and in occasional cases this has 
become of more or less importance, but more often they make no further 
effort than to supply the needs of their families. Another locality well 
worthy of mention is Mavitac in Laguna, from which the work has spread 
to several places in the neighborhood, especially to Pililla in Eizal. 
Albay and Ambos Camarines were among the first provinces to engage 
in this industry, but have not retained their comparative position, and 
are now of much less importance in this respect than those above named. 
Ilocos Norte also has a small trade. 
All of these are upon the Island of Luzon. In the Visayas, the 
industry reaches importance upon the Island of Panay, especially in the 
towns of Pototan and Dumarao; the other island chiefly concerned is 
Bohol. 
Everywhere, hat making is accompanied to a greater or less extent by 
the weaving of mats, and less often of bags, baskets, and cigarette-cases. 
Many places have a wider trade in mats than in hats, still more make 
mats but not hats, at least on a commercial scale. This is especially 
true of Basey in Samar, and of Romblon, with a great reputation for 
mats; the "Romblon" hats are ma^de on the adjoining Island of Sibuyan. 
In pursuance of the policy of the Bureau of Education, the work is 
+ ■ 
'One peso of 100 centavos Philippine currency equals 50 cents United States 
currency, and slightly more than 2 shillings, 2 francs 73 centimes, or 2 marks 
10 pfennige. 
