WOVEN PATRIOTISM Punique CEO and cofounder Jonnah Garcia wears pieces from the company’s Philippine Independence Day Collection, featuring handcrafted puni designs inspired by the Philippine flag, sun and other symbols of nationhood. Made from woven buri leaves, the collection celebrates Filipino patriotism, resilience and hope. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN—In a modest workshop in this historic city, strips of buri leaves are transformed into delicate birds, radiant suns, and miniature Philippine flags.
Through the centuries-old Filipino art of “puni”—the intricate folding and weaving of palm leaves—Bulacan artisans are crafting more than decorative ornaments. They are creating symbols of patriotism, resilience, and hope, values that have endured through generations of Filipinos.
As the nation marks the 128th anniversary of Philippine independence, local artisan firm Punique is unveiling its latest collection of handcrafted pins and brooches inspired by the country’s history and enduring spirit.
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For Jonnah Garcia, chief executive officer and cofounder of Punique, the collection is both a tribute to the country’s hard-won freedom and a reminder that hope remains alive despite the challenges confronting the nation.
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“These are symbols of hope,” Garcia told the Inquirer on Wednesday.
She added: “Let us not focus only on the few Filipinos who have committed wrongdoing, engaged in corruption, or become involved in controversies. There are still many Filipinos who are honest, fair, hardworking, and striving every day to live good and God-fearing lives. These creations are meant to inspire us and remind us of that.”
The newest addition to the collection is “Sinag,” an infinity-inspired design that incorporates elements of the Philippine flag, including its three stars and radiant sun.
WOVEN PATRIOTISM Punique CEO and cofounder Jonnah Garcia wears pieces from the company’s Philippine Independence Day Collection, featuring handcrafted puni designs inspired by the Philippine flag, sun and other symbols of nationhood. Made from woven buri leaves, the collection celebrates Filipino patriotism, resilience and hope. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Enduring spirit
Crafted from woven buri leaves, the brooch was conceived through a collaboration between 61-year-old senior designer Henry de Guzman and Garcia’s mother-in-law, Noemi “Gigi” Paguia Garcia, 66.
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According to Garcia, the design originated from a request by a Bulakenyo global strategist based in Malolos who wanted a symbol that would express Filipino pride wherever she might be in the world.
“Our artists came up with Sinag as a symbol of the enduring Filipino spirit and our love for the country,” Garcia said.
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The piece completes Punique’s growing Philippine Independence Day collection.
Before Sinag, the company introduced “Araw,” a sun-inspired brooch conceptualized by Gigi Garcia and launched last year.
The collection traces its roots to 2018 with the creation of the Malolos Republica Bird, which served as the official symbol and souvenir of the annual Malolos Republica Day celebration.
Taken together, the bird, the sun, and the flag-inspired designs tell a story of freedom, nationhood, and optimism—ideas that resonate deeply during Independence Day.
Their connection to Philippine history is especially meaningful in Malolos, regarded as the cradle of the First Philippine Republic.
The city was the seat of the revolutionary government established by President Emilio Aguinaldo and the site where delegates ratified the Malolos Constitution, Asia’s first republican constitution, inside the historic Barasoain Church on Jan. 23, 1899.
WOVEN PATRIOTISM Punique CEO and cofounder Jonnah Garcia wears pieces from the company’s Philippine Independence Day Collection, featuring handcrafted puni designs inspired by the Philippine flag, sun and other symbols of nationhood. Made from woven buri leaves, the collection celebrates Filipino patriotism, resilience and hope. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Public appreciation
Former Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad, who initiated the annual Malolos Republica Day celebration, has long advocated for greater public appreciation of the city’s role in nation-building.
For Garcia, preserving puni is also a way of preserving Filipino identity.
A third-generation puni weaver, she traces her roots in the craft to her mother-in-law, who worked closely with the late culinary historian Milagros “Mila” Enriquez of Bulakan town.
Enriquez helped revive the traditional art form in the 1990s by incorporating puni creations into local and international food exhibitions. Using folded palm leaves, artisans fashioned intricate stars, birds, fish, flowers, and other decorative forms that highlighted Filipino creativity and craftsmanship.
Garcia later worked alongside t…
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