‘Hindi siya pwedeng palitan into Mabilong Weaving Center… it’s Kalinga Weaving Center,’ – Kalinga Tourism Office Ngao-I explains name change not possible

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Provincial Tourism Officer Lorraine Ngao-i firmly emphasized the importance of retaining the name “Kalinga Weaving Center” amid discussions of possibly renaming the newly built weaving center in Lubuagan to reflect specific localities such as Mabilong or Lubuagan.

Ngao-i, during the meeting on September 29, 2025 for the inauguration and blessing of the center, underscored the center’s role as a symbol of the province’s collective cultural heritage rather than just individual towns or villages, saying that the proposal of the building’s name from the province was designated as Kalinga Weaving Center and cannot be changed, as doing so may cause technical issues based on official documentation.

“To be clear, yung proposal na nag-emanate from the province is really Kalinga Weaving Center. Hindi siya pwedeng palitan into Mabilong weaving center or Lubuagan weaving center—it’s Kalinga Weaving Center, or else, ma-technical tayo kasi yun ang nakalagay na,” she said.

The tourism officer further said that if the MLGU manages the center, all responsibilities that fall under its operations shall be the MLGU’s.

Ngao-i added that the building operations won’t affect future funding or assistance.

“….wag kayong mag-alala. It’s only the duties and operation of the actual building—it won’t affect the future assistance and funding. For example, we will propose a landscape, it will not affect that if ever na akuhin ng LGU yung operation of the weaving center,” she added.

The Lubuagan MLGU, after accepting the challenge of Governor James Edduba through Municipal Administrator of Lubuagan Atty. Jame Tagaotao to run the center, is expected to manage the project at the municipal level.

As the discussion progressed, the Governor said, through Atty. Priel Balnao, that the provincial government shall continue to support the programs and activities of the center and aid the Lubuagan LGU so that the center will be able to serve its purpose in preserving the weaving culture and tradition of the province.