Puni

Article by Rhien_F

Puni (Puh-ni)

Palm weaving, or Puni, originated in Malolos, Bulacan. The art of Puni is about folding, twisting, plaiting, and weaving fresh or dried coconut fronds (leaves of the coconut tree). The new coconut frond is the most common material used in making puni. Puni took many forms: shapes, toys, baskets, and decorations.

Origin

Even before the colonizers came, early Filipinos were already doing Puni. Years ago, Puni was considered one of Bulacan's most famous art types. In times when electronic devices were not popular among people, doing puni became people's entertainment; it became a simple toy that they could easily make. It also became popular because materials like coconut fronds were easy to find, primarily in the backyard or farming fields. Playing with and folding these materials allows them to make different styles of things and animals, including balls, birds, fish, whistles, grasshoppers, shrimp, crabs, butterflies, bracelets, rings, crowns, and many more.

People also used Puni as a basket (Sisidlan) for harvesting in the fields, which helped farmers take their harvest to their homes back then. Puni also serves as a wrapper for delicacies like suman (rice cake) and for rice that they wrap in a pyramid-like shape (Pusô).

Puni is present on occasions like christenings, weddings, and birthdays. Puni comes as a decoration. Even at festivals, Puni is also part of the decorations in the church. When festivals occur, people decorate almost all of the houses with Puni. As the Lenten Season approaches, particularly on Linggo de Ramos or Palm Sunday, people see the 'Palaspas' as an art of Puni that plays an integral part in the ceremony and decorates the doors.

As time passed, people slowly lost interest in Puni until it became a part of the Vanishing Traditional Arts (including Pagbatok and Folk Writing). But some remarkable people worked hard to keep it alive and continue the Puni generation.

These remarkable people are Tiya Mila (Milagros Enriquez), Gigi (Noemi Garcia), and Rheeza (Nicanora Hernandez. They can bring Puni back to life. They opened a page solely for Puni called "Puni de Malolos" (https://www.facebook.com/punidemalolosleaffoldingart). They made events, videos, and workshops to teach people how to make Puni. At Know Your North Season 9, Rheeza stated, "I felt the need to revive it because what was dying was our childhood." (https://www.facebook.com/victorylinerinc/videos/3124639714278673).

Puni art is still alive. This art plays a significant role in cultural treasure in the Philippines, not only in Malolos, Bulacan.

References:

• https://modernagejournalism.weebly.com/features/revival-of-puni-art-of-bulacan
• https://mystorymysm.com/bong-enriquez-and-rheeza-hernandez/
• https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200098600496906&set=pb.1506883023.-2207520000&type=3
• https://www.facebook.com/114315955252379/photos/panayam-kay-rheeza-santiago-hernandez-kampeon-ng-kalinangang-bulakenyosino-ang-m/510284835655487/
• https://www.flickr.com/photos/eazy360/39678455500
• http://www.traveltrilogy.com/2018/02/malolos-bulacan-lakbay-norte.html

External Link

• Itchan Flores. (2018, September 23). Puni: The Art of Leaf Fronds Folding (Documentary) [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXBkqTv8jHs