LOOK: This Card Game Takes Inspiration From Philippine Weaving Patterns
Twenty patterns, one deck, four games to play.
Published on Sep 16, 2026
(SPOT.ph) Filipinos are quite the crafty lot. Having one of the world's most diverse cultures—reflected in our art, cuisine, creative traditions, and more—has inspired us to come up with all sorts of innovations.
Case in point: HANAP HIBLA, a new card game inspired by our very own weave patterns. More than a way to make game nights with family and friends uniquely Filipino, this activity lets players learn and appreciate the artistry of Philippine textiles in a fun, new way.
Introducing HANAP HIBLA, a card game inspired by Philippine weave patterns
Recently launched by Hibla Philippines, HANAP HIBLA is a new card game created by anthropologist Nice Marquez and designer Roym Chean Marquez. As a cultural and social enterprise that works closely with traditional weavers and indigenous communities, Hibla Philippines had plenty of material and inspiration to draw on.
Inspired by colorful, intricate Philippine weaves, HANAP HIBLA features a deck of 40 cards with 20 different patterns. There are four different ways to play, each exciting game testing the players’ memory and observation skills:
Game 1: Hibla! Tugma!
Find and collect as many matching pairs as you can by remembering where each pattern is hidden.
Game 2: Hibla Snap!
Be the player with the most cards at the end of the game by spotting matching motifs faster than everyone else.
Game 3: Alin Ang Wala?
Remember the motifs on display and be the first player to correctly identify which card has been removed.
Game 4: Hibla Pares
Collect as many matching pairs of Philippine weave motifs as possible by asking other players for the card you need.
Hibla Philippines also reminds players that there’s more to the cards than a fun time. Each card carries a pattern or motif inspired by Philippine weaves. The colorful designs printed on each card are bound to have you wondering, “Wait, what is this pattern?”
So while you’re busy trying to score a win, you’re also learning something new about the craft. In fact, the designers consulted textile expert, researcher, and cultural worker Bernard Joseph Guerrero to make the game as rich and accurate as possible.
Where to grab the HANAP HIBLA Card Game
Sounds like a game you’d like to play? You can grab the HANAP HIBLA Card Deck for P2,250 at the Hibla Philippines website. Each purchase of the made-to-order deck also supports the makers and communities that keep our weaving traditions alive.
For more information, visit the Hibla Philippines website and Hibla PH Facebook page.
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Joy is a writer, film photographer, caffeine junkie, and part-time traveler. When not any of these, she’s either lost in a book, beating a game, or making a zine. Cat-mom to Noodle, Nori, and Mocha.