top of page
Teofilo Garcia
Casque Maker
Ilocano
San Quintin, Abra 2012
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Awardee
Personal Background
Teofilo Garcia is known to be the last of the Tabungaw hat makers, a traditional headgear made of tabungaw or gourd. He learned how to make gourd casques and weave baskets from his grandfather, Hipolito, at the age of 15. Although he has been a master artisan, the primary source of living of Teofilo Garcia is farming.
Teofilo is from Sabulod, San Quintin, Abra. He was born on March 27, 1941 and his parents were Francisco Padapat Garcia and Concepcion Cabotaje Callos. He is the fifth of eight siblings. He married Dolores Cabael from Cadacad, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur at an early age and they are blessed with three sons and two daughters.
bottom of page