Each time Teofilo Garcia leaves his farm in San Quintin, Abra, he makes it a point to wear a tabungaw. People in the nearby towns of the province, in neighboring Sta. Maria and Vigan in Ilocos Sur, and as far as Laoag in Ilocos Norte sit up and take notice of his unique, functional and elegant headpiece that shields him from the rain and the sun. A closer look would reveal that it is made of the native gourd, hollowed out, polished, and varnished to a bright orange sheen to improve its weather resistance. The inside is lined with finely woven rattan matting, and the brim sports a subtle bamboo weave for accent.

Because he takes pride in wearing his creations, Teofilo has gotten many orders as a result. Through his own efforts, through word of mouth, and through his own participation in an annual harvest festival in his local Abra, a lot of people have discovered about the wonders of the tabungaw as a practical alternative. Hundreds have sought him out at his home to order their own native all-weather headgear. His clients have worn his work, sent them as gifts to their relatives abroad, and showed them off as a masterpiece of Filipino craftsmanship. With the proper care, a well-made tabungaw can last up to three to four generations, and the ones created by Teofilo are among the best there are. They are so sturdy that generally, farmers need to own only one at a time. Even Teofilo and his son only own one tabungaw each.