Officials and members of the Habi: The Philippine Textile Council, Inc., a social anthropologist and professor from the University of the Philippine (UP) Baguio, a weaver from the Kiyyangan Weavers Association (KIWA), and a representative from the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology shared their experiences, expertise, and appreciation of Philippine textiles at the 9th ASEAN Traditional Textile Symposium held on 04 to 06 November 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

During the 3-day Symposium, Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores of UP Baguio joined the panel discussion on “Founding a Textile Museum”, and presented on “The South Silk Road and the Propagation Routes of Three Geometric Patterns on Textiles”. Habi and KIWA set up booths showcasing PH textiles, accents and garments at the exhibition area. Mme Naly Sisoulith, spouse of Lao PDR President Thongloun Sisoulith, was among those that visited the booths.

During the Cultural Night on 04 November 2024, singers from the Filipino community in the Lao PDR regaled the international delegates with Filipino songs.

The ASEAN Traditional Textile Symposium is organized biennially with the aim of celebrating and preserving the heritage of traditional textiles across ASEAN countries by bringing together experts, artisans, enthusiasts, and scholars to discussions and workshops on textiles. The Philippines hosted the 2nd ATTS in 2009. At the closing ceremony graced by Mme. Naly Sisoulith, the Lao PDR turned over the ATTS hosting to Singapore, which will organize the next symposium in 2026.