ABANIKO FAN IN PHILIPPINES

An Abaniko (from the Spanish word abanico, meaning fan) is a type of 

hand-held fan that is originated from the Philippines

and it became the country's native product nowadays.

The traditional abaniko is a fan woven into the shape of a paddle, but the

use of the term is also applied to the folding (Spanish) fan.

The word abaniko is from the Spanish abanico (a fan), a diminutive form of

the Portuguese abano,

and deriving ultimately from the Latin vannus (a winnowing fan), a word

related to ventus (the wind).  

The woman below is an Abaniko maker.

The Abaniko is made from the stems and leaves of an ornamental plant of the same name,

the abaniko.

ABANIKO PLANT

The Abaniko plant (Belamcanda Chinensis D.C.) is originally found within the

south-east Asian region. It is planted for ornamental purposes and is

currently being cultivated in most warm countries.

The abaniko, together with the Philippine native dresses  was once a part of a lady's attire. Various ways of using and holding the abaniko may convey

different meanings. For example, an open abaniko that covers the chest area is a sign of modesty while rapid fan movements express the lady's

displeasure.