84 



Basketry. — Within recent years a number of public 

 schools have begun to utilize successfully the midribs of the 

 unopened burl palm shoot for baskets and trays of various 

 types. For such articles the midribs need less careful prep- 

 aration than that required for Calasiao hats. 



Brooms. — Rough brooms are also made from buri midribs. 



Buntal hats. — The buntal fiber is used in the making of 

 hats, also known locally as Lucban hats, from the town of 

 origin in Tayabas Province. In export trade they are 

 known as "Bangkok" hats, although none are shipped from 

 that port. These hats are made in the "open," or simple 

 over and under weave, which results in a very light hat now 

 popular in the United States. Fancy weaves are introduced 

 into these hats for decorative purposes. One such weave 

 gives an effect resembling the Leghorn straws of Italy. 



The buntal fiber is obtained in large quantities in a num- 

 ber of towns in Tayabas and in a few places in Laguna. 

 The principal center of trade and manufacture for these 

 hats is Lucban, Tayabas, but there is also a scattered pro- 

 duction of this kind of hat in a few other provinces, among 

 the more important of which are Laguna, Negros, Cama- 

 rines, and Ilocos. 



Buntal fibers were introduced into the town of Baliuag, 

 Bulacan, a few years ago. The introduction was rather 

 fortunate, for the weaving of the buntal in the "close" 

 weave — the same as bamboo — has, in the opinion of many 

 people, improved its appearance greatly. At present, about 

 half the hat weavers in Baliuag and neighboring barrios 

 have turned to the making of buntal instead of bamboo 

 hats. The buntal fibers are much finer than the usual grade 

 of bamboo splints. Moreover, the close, sawali or twilled 

 weave employed takes much more time than does the open 

 weave of Lucban. Only the best weavers can make the 

 buntal-sawalis or bali-buntals as these Baliuag hats are 

 called. Hence they are much more expensive than the Luc- 

 ban product, grade for grade. These hats have sold 

 well in the United States and are usually known there as 

 "Manilas." 



For hats in the "open" weave the buntal fibers are flat- 

 tened; for those in the "close" weave, they are usually left 

 in their natural round state. 



