Exploring the Hopeful Threads of Adelaida Guia's Life
- DONNA ALYSSA MABIASEN
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
See the original file here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rDD8AOfp8QKYQSeO5okZaGygI8FwrKnF/view?usp=sharing

During the onslaught of the pandemic, a woman hailing from Lucban, Quezon decided to pursue her talent in Baguio City for doing crochet bearing the name of ‘Adelaida Guia’. Together with Philip Guia, her half-Igorot husband, she first started putting out little trinkets whenever her family were able to, around the Polytechnic University of the Philippines before focusing on crochet products. Their choice of selling handmade jewelries, toys and keychains was due to Adelaida not wanting to produce large-sized pieces because of her preference for doing work in one-sitting.
Her talent was first discovered by an author from the Daily Tribune, Marbee Shing-Go while seeing her samples of voodoo dolls for the event of Baguio’s artisan market named ‘Mandëko Kito’ partnered with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) but Shing-Go was more enthusiastic about displaying her crochet pieces and the rest was history
She’s now practically dubbed as ‘the Queen of Crochet’ by several news sources thanks to her heavily detailed crochet pattern inspired by Helen Shrimpton called “Mandala Madness” in reference to the mandala used in religious traditions in India. It is shaped as a circle filled with yarns that have geometric patterns and styled with complimentary colors. The yarns that she usually used for her mandalas are called “Monaco”, a small and thin type of yarn

Adelaida only started getting more focused on her mandalas when the COVID-19 virus had spread throughout the country and her family was unfortunately infected as well, which led them to be isolated in their home during October 2020.
The number of her accomplishments only continued to bless her on December 26, 2022 when she was able to earn a spot for the first time in displaying her giant mandala on Session Road every Sunday in courtesy of a DTI-CAR (Department of Trade and Industry- Cordillera Administrative Region) Trainer Layla Corro. Her mandala was originally going to be a carpet design until it dawned upon her that it would be much better for a wall decor.
“Just getting the opportunity to really display my giant mandala (on Session Road) is enough to make me happy” Adelaida says during the interview while sitting in their personal store near Wright Park. She also stated that she was able to get one piece done with just the span of 3 weeks and 3 days due to her motivation of achieving her goal of being in Session Road.

On February 5, 2023, her first mandala displayed on Session Road was photographed by EV Espiritu from Inquirer which was also dubbed as a ‘head turner’ to which Adelaida even agreed herself because her mandala pieces were indeed a refreshing concept to our country.
Adelaida’s family business called ‘Abiakak’ increasingly grows when almost all members of Adelaida’s family become involved in the art of crochet. This was especially observed in her daughter Danielli Guia who mastered the Japanese crocheting style of ‘Amigurumi’ a small yarn that imitates a character.
Throughout the interview, her answers showed her passionate nature, humility as a person when she gave due credits to her fellow crocheters that inspired her works, her objective outlook to certain issues, and positive behavior at her accomplishments.
When dealing with her artistic work, she is always the first to volunteer in artistic events
These days, Adelaida Guia is booked and busy to just spend time playing around with her yarns. For one, her Abiakak business has now established their ‘Mandala Madness’ pieces along with other crochet products on Session Road every Sunday. Her pieces have even captured the attention of many artisans and can now be viewed at ‘Pugad ni Art Studio’, BenCab Museum and at Cafe by the Ruins.
As Adelaida still tries to find ways to fight for her crochet art being recognized as something more than just ‘a piece of fabric’, she brings up a message to her fellow aspiring crocheters experiencing the same: “Just be happy with what you’re doing, look at me! I don’t rush myself (in my career as a crocheter). I enjoy my crocheting because if you rush the work, you will find it more difficult. For me, I only do what I am able to do so when someone is commissioning me, I specifically state to them that I don’t do due dates because I will not enjoy the work (if I’m required to finish it too early)."
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