In the age of mass production and machines, artisanal goods stand out. More and more Pinoys are celebrating the artisanal spirit and the beauty of things made by skilled human hands.
Weavers
In Manila, organizations like The Philippine Textile Council’s HABI hold fairs to showcase the work of weaving communities all over the country.
The Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI), ” a non-stock, not-for-profit membership and volunteer organization dedicated to preserve and promote the Philippines’ rich artistic and cultural heritage and to provide funding support for the special projects of the National Museum and other museums in the Philippines,” holds an annual fundraiser in Manila with so many private organizations showing their wares, many of which are fashion items made from woven fabrics. However, there are other things too that range from home accessories to food to jewelry to aromatherapy concoctions.
Woodcarvers
The Philippines is known for artisans who shape wood to create decorative items and functional objects since precolonial times. Today, our churches and many homes display wooden statues that are being revered by Catholics. Families known to take care of these take pride in dressing up carrozas during Semana Santa.
Years ago while walking around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a German town known for its Oberammergau Passion Play every 10 years, I passed by a quaint shop and saw wooden statues that reminded me so much of ours. So I went inside and found out that these were carved in Paete, Laguna.
Our wood carvers make many other types of things that are secular and used in everyday life, like wooden bowls, trays, games like sungka.
Furniture Makers
While living for more than a decade in Europe, I used to import furniture and home accessories, and did my sourcing through Manila FAME, our biannual premier export trade show that carried high-quality home, fashion, and lifestyle products made by Filipino artisans and manufacturers.
Top designers worldwide found their way to our shores and chose Filipino partners to make their high-end products. Read about it here.
An example would be Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola’s Crinoline chair for B&B Italia that used the distinctive silhouette of the peacock chair.
Our artisans who make these are known for their excellent craftsmanship and skill.
Makers of Home Accessories
Wood, stone, rattan, abaca, marble, shell that can be found from the north to the south of the Philippines are just some of the materials used by our artisans for home accessories.
The aesthetics differ depending on their tribal crafts, the materials found in their areas, and the external influences that have transformed their art, just like our food that have been influenced by other people who have reached our shores, or who have migrated from one area of the country to another.
Here are beautiful, colorful banigs from Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost province of the Philippines.
Creations of Filipino Artisans
Handcrafted and bespoke items have entered the mainstream. I am happy to see that many young Filipinos are very welcoming of the artisanal goods that are being offered. You can see that when you join trade fairs around the country. There is pride to buy and bring these things home.
(parol image)
Artisanal things are also being sold in stalls in open-air markets and mercados in the provinces. One such thing that I am looking forward to are the parols made of capiz or paper. These are lovely to decorate our homes with to welcome the Christmas season.
Handmade items carry with them the heart and soul of the artisans who made them. They speak of imagination, craftsmanship, and heritage. Usually, these things are made to last unlike mass-produced goods where maximizing profit margins are the main driver.
If you feel the desire to create something with your own hands, go ahead and do it. If not, then buy the creations of our artisans. With the advent of AI, this is one way we can celebrate each other’s humanity by honoring the human touch and connection.
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