As we have seen in the successes of Maarte Fair, Katutubo Art Fair, ArteFino, among others, traditional art in its original and derivative forms, the result of collaborations between traditional communities and contemporary fashion designers, is growing in popularity. It is proof that traditional knowledge in the applied arts has great economic potential. But with this come some questions about intellectual ownership and the risk of misappropriation, counterfeit, and decrease or even loss in transmission of long-held traditional designs.
There are laws to protect these communities, but the policing of what has become a lucrative sector of the market and the blurred lines between how best to help these communities in the long run and helping them survive economically now is a debacle that is best threshed out by experts in the field.
In the meantime, Christmas shopping has begun.
If you want to help traditional and local communities earn a living by buying their products without unduly putting them and their traditional knowledge at risk, it is safe to say you only need to get closer to the source of production. That is, if the said products’ introduction to the market has been found to have no ill effects on the community that made them.
Thanks to social media, most of these traditional, indigenous, cultural crafts can now be reached at the tip of our fingers, paid for via Gcash, and delivered to our doorsteps by any local and inter province couriers.
Here are some Facebook links to products or sources where you can find traditionally made items and communities that can benefit greatly from your patronage: Handicrafts of the Philippines, Handmade Crafts Products Philippines, Handicraft @Philippines, and HABI Community. Input the name of the traditional group and most likely they will have a page and you can contact them through their social platform.
Also, many of these products can be sourced from provincial or municipal tourism departments. Often, they have posts of cooperatives within the province or city and what they have to offer. You can message them and they will surely link you to the local craftspeople.
The biggest joy for me when I travel is a trip to the local market, where you’re sure to find a trove of treasures.
This Christmas, I will be more practical in my gift giving. With the high prices of basic commodities, even rice and vegetables, I intend to gift basic things like condiments or dishes to augment in some little way the household budget, even if briefly.
Recently, I came across products with such compelling stories behind them.
Among them is the Asin Tibuok form Alberquerque, Bohol. I wrote about this threatened traditional craft in a previous article entitled, “The Death of Salt in an Archipelago.” Well, now you can help prevent this death by giving friends and family the gift of Asin Tibuok for Christmas.
What has been marketed abroad as “Dinosaur Egg” salt is made using a rare salt-making process. Salt water is soaked up using coconut husks, which are left in seawater for six months, then dried. The husks are then burned, their ashes collected. The ash is then poured into a dried buri palm leaf-lined vat with funnel and seawater is poured over it. The dried buri palm leaves serve as a filter to separate the salt from the ash. The filtered brine is then placed in small “lagaan ng asin” or earthenware pots, then boiled. The pots are constantly filled with brine until salt forms and fills them, Once filled with salt, they are left to cool and then broken, leaving the salt to retain the form of the pot, resembling a dinosaur egg. To date, there is a resurgence in demand for Asin Tibuok from restaurants not only in the country but abroad as well, where it is marketed as an artisanal salt used in various tasting menus across the globe.
In 2017, there was only one Asin Tubuok shop left. Today there are four and two more are planning to open shop. These salt makers call themselves Kapunungan sa mangAsinay sa Alburquerque or KASAMA. You can place your order with KASAMA president Rolly Datoy at +639085134871. One Asin Tibuok costs ₱600. The shops deliver nationwide and worldwide.
Another item I’d like to suggest is Philippine cotton, which is really in danger of disappearing. Centuries of underdevelopment by intent—American colonial interest to stifle competition of industries that may directly compete with theirs and cheap imports have left us with no remarkable cotton making industry to speak of. There are a few brave souls who keep going with their cotton ventures and the noble efforts of the HABI group are also helpful, but more help is needed. Please purchase Philippine cotton and give it as gifts to friends and family this Christmas.
Nowadays, you can just show a picture of a piece of clothing, cloth bag, napkins, placemats, and other household or fashion accessories to sewers in your local market or those found along the underpass in Quiapo and they can easily replicate them. They can do it at prices remarkably lower than those of designers. Check out the website of Tropical Fabrics Collection at www.panublix.com and the FB page of Habi Community for products, sources, and prices.
In terms of food items as gifts, I go for the basic, such as Pinoy condiments like salt, patis, suka, and bagoong. Having been a recipient of these gifts for decades, I have no doubt these condiments will be used. I recently discovered a home business of sukang Iloko, patis, and various types of bagoong, whether boneless, dilis, padas, or ipon, under the label JF’s. Since 2005, when it started, it has been using traditional Ilokano family recipes for its line of products. Based in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, JF’s delivers nationwide by courier and unaccompanied luggage via bus. Call the owner Josie Cepe at +639682649197.
Happy shopping!