IT’S THE SMALL THINGS
By ALEX M. EDUQUE
Alex M. Eduque
A few years ago, I was introduced to Marga Nograles – the creative genius and mind of Kaayo Modern Mindanao – by a common friend who co-owned a mosquito repelling cologne brand (I am a big fan of) with her, and who saw our common desire to give back to the greater community. Likeminded and with quite a bit in common, we instantly clicked. A few months later, the Marawi siege happened, and knowing Marga’s roots in the south, and all the amazing work she and her mom have done with the tribes over there, driven by my sheer determination to be able to shine some positive light on Mindanao in whatever limited capacity I had to offer, I broached my sentiments to Marga. Over candid conversation, a partnership that brewed a passion project born out of love for country bore a capsule collection, and the rest, as they say, is history. Two years later (just a little over a week ago), the collaboration was officially launched. Suffice it to say, #KaayoXAlexEduque was born in the most organic of ways – out of friendship and a common desire to give back.
Step one was for me to draw. But I knew this was unlike any other undertaking I had done in the past because this set of doodles (as I like to call them) were to signify so much more than decorations on clothes, or accents on whatever vessel they found themselves on – they had to somewhat represent, and stand for values we Filipinos are proud of, as well as a culture and heritage so rich, and ingrained into our lives (most especially in the south) that we tend to overlook, and oftentimes neglect. A few months later, after much thought, deliberation with myself, erasures and torn-up sheets, seven designs were drawn up -- a butiki (house lizard/Philippine gecko), durian, fresas (strawberries), bubuyog (bees), tipaklong (grasshopper), and saranggolas (kites).
Each representing a characteristic, trait, or value that I believe either needs to be emulated or reinforced, every piece from the collection tells us a story – one that we should proudly wear all-day, every day, in our hearts, minds, on our shirts and on our sleeves. The butiki, for instance, is a symbol to me of unity. In the Philippines, regardless of social class – whether one lives in a bahay kubo or palace – if one looks up at any given time of day, one is likely to see a butiki on the ceiling. Beyond unifying, it too is a reminder to always look back at your roots because legend has it that these creatures come down to “kiss the ground” every six in the evening. The durian, is not only a fruit unique to Mindanao, it is one that is very distinct (in smell) and rich (in taste) – a representation to me of the southern archipelago’s culture. Strawberries, known to be a universal symbol of love, is a symbol of what I believe is the most powerful weapon in re-building a place like Marawi after what it has endured: love. A reminder to us all that the greatest gift anyone is capable of offering on a personal basis is a simple gesture and show of love. The bee, having always been associated with hard work, and known to move in colonies, can be likened to the tribes in Mindanao, and the way in which they have chosen to preserve their heritage and culture by working hard to continue their age-old crafts and traditions, in the hopes of passing it on to future generations. The grasshopper, was inspired by the well-loved Flipino children’s tale Ang Langgam at Ang Tipaklong, where the grasshopper is a character who reminds us to never waste our resources because we plant the seeds today for the harvest of the future generations. And lastly, the kites, the central symbol of Celeste Legaspi’s infamous tune Saranggola ni Pepe, that speaks of our country’s history, is a reminder to us all of how key that knowledge is in nation building.
I have always believed that everything happens for a reason and a purpose, and my friendship with Marga is no exception. While serendipity definitely played a huge role, the timing was perfect in that Marga, through Kaayo, gave not only MovEd and myself an avenue to give back to Mindanao, but every person who has chosen to support the collection. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this capsule collection will be donated to MovEd Foundation (who will assemble school kits to be later on distributed) who has entered into a special project with Kaayo for the benefit of the children of Marawi.
I am grateful not only to Marga, her mom, and the entire Kaayo team for the trust in what I had to offer, but most especially, for giving me the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of getting involved with a project down south. I have always been fascinated by the heritage and richness of the culture of Mindanao, and the stories that their crafts have to tell. And now, more than ever, is as good a time as any to forget about the negative news, and to shed some positive light on the richness and beauty of the Mindanaoan culture. The clothes of Kaayo are not just a chic and modern way to wear our heritage, but they too, are the perfect vessels to do so with pride, and to tell the story of the Filipino people, and what our nation stands for.
To Marga Nograles, Tita Baby Montemayor, the tribes Kaayo works closely with, the whole Team Kaayo, and most especially to all of its loyal patrons and supporters – from the bottom of my heart, SALAMAT KAAYO!
Alex M. Eduque
A few years ago, I was introduced to Marga Nograles – the creative genius and mind of Kaayo Modern Mindanao – by a common friend who co-owned a mosquito repelling cologne brand (I am a big fan of) with her, and who saw our common desire to give back to the greater community. Likeminded and with quite a bit in common, we instantly clicked. A few months later, the Marawi siege happened, and knowing Marga’s roots in the south, and all the amazing work she and her mom have done with the tribes over there, driven by my sheer determination to be able to shine some positive light on Mindanao in whatever limited capacity I had to offer, I broached my sentiments to Marga. Over candid conversation, a partnership that brewed a passion project born out of love for country bore a capsule collection, and the rest, as they say, is history. Two years later (just a little over a week ago), the collaboration was officially launched. Suffice it to say, #KaayoXAlexEduque was born in the most organic of ways – out of friendship and a common desire to give back.
Step one was for me to draw. But I knew this was unlike any other undertaking I had done in the past because this set of doodles (as I like to call them) were to signify so much more than decorations on clothes, or accents on whatever vessel they found themselves on – they had to somewhat represent, and stand for values we Filipinos are proud of, as well as a culture and heritage so rich, and ingrained into our lives (most especially in the south) that we tend to overlook, and oftentimes neglect. A few months later, after much thought, deliberation with myself, erasures and torn-up sheets, seven designs were drawn up -- a butiki (house lizard/Philippine gecko), durian, fresas (strawberries), bubuyog (bees), tipaklong (grasshopper), and saranggolas (kites).
Each representing a characteristic, trait, or value that I believe either needs to be emulated or reinforced, every piece from the collection tells us a story – one that we should proudly wear all-day, every day, in our hearts, minds, on our shirts and on our sleeves. The butiki, for instance, is a symbol to me of unity. In the Philippines, regardless of social class – whether one lives in a bahay kubo or palace – if one looks up at any given time of day, one is likely to see a butiki on the ceiling. Beyond unifying, it too is a reminder to always look back at your roots because legend has it that these creatures come down to “kiss the ground” every six in the evening. The durian, is not only a fruit unique to Mindanao, it is one that is very distinct (in smell) and rich (in taste) – a representation to me of the southern archipelago’s culture. Strawberries, known to be a universal symbol of love, is a symbol of what I believe is the most powerful weapon in re-building a place like Marawi after what it has endured: love. A reminder to us all that the greatest gift anyone is capable of offering on a personal basis is a simple gesture and show of love. The bee, having always been associated with hard work, and known to move in colonies, can be likened to the tribes in Mindanao, and the way in which they have chosen to preserve their heritage and culture by working hard to continue their age-old crafts and traditions, in the hopes of passing it on to future generations. The grasshopper, was inspired by the well-loved Flipino children’s tale Ang Langgam at Ang Tipaklong, where the grasshopper is a character who reminds us to never waste our resources because we plant the seeds today for the harvest of the future generations. And lastly, the kites, the central symbol of Celeste Legaspi’s infamous tune Saranggola ni Pepe, that speaks of our country’s history, is a reminder to us all of how key that knowledge is in nation building.
I have always believed that everything happens for a reason and a purpose, and my friendship with Marga is no exception. While serendipity definitely played a huge role, the timing was perfect in that Marga, through Kaayo, gave not only MovEd and myself an avenue to give back to Mindanao, but every person who has chosen to support the collection. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this capsule collection will be donated to MovEd Foundation (who will assemble school kits to be later on distributed) who has entered into a special project with Kaayo for the benefit of the children of Marawi.
I am grateful not only to Marga, her mom, and the entire Kaayo team for the trust in what I had to offer, but most especially, for giving me the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of getting involved with a project down south. I have always been fascinated by the heritage and richness of the culture of Mindanao, and the stories that their crafts have to tell. And now, more than ever, is as good a time as any to forget about the negative news, and to shed some positive light on the richness and beauty of the Mindanaoan culture. The clothes of Kaayo are not just a chic and modern way to wear our heritage, but they too, are the perfect vessels to do so with pride, and to tell the story of the Filipino people, and what our nation stands for.
To Marga Nograles, Tita Baby Montemayor, the tribes Kaayo works closely with, the whole Team Kaayo, and most especially to all of its loyal patrons and supporters – from the bottom of my heart, SALAMAT KAAYO!
* * *
To those interested in pieces from the collection, and in Kaayo’s products, you may visit them at their store on the ground floor of SM Aura, or you may send them a direct message on Instagram, @kaayo.ph.