With the proliferation of hotels in Muntinlupa, casinos in Pasay, and businesses in Makati, it is quite difficult to find something cultural in the metro—a common dilemma among people with foreign friends visiting the Philippines. While museums and parks allow for some historical learning, most people wouldn’t really go out on a limb and endure Manila traffic. Luckily, we’ve come to offer a solution. What better way is there to introduce our culture than through locally made proudly Filipino products? After all, Filipinos are branded to be generous and hospitable.
Here’s a list of 5 native Filipino products and where you can find them in the city.
1. Native Décor
From wooden salad sets to home décor made of capiz, there’s a wide array of handcrafted Pinoy products to choose from. These products, like the ones showcased by Saffy Handicrafts, puts a spotlight on Filipinos’ skill in intricacies and attention to detail. Apart from promoting our heritage, they also help empower local artisans from all over the Philippines by giving them a platform to sell their products.
2. Wooden Bags and Accessories
If there’s one thing Filipinos are proud of, it’s the ability to make the most of the resources around us. Locally manufactured handbags made of acacia wood, pineapple and abaca fiber, pearls, and semi-precious gems are a validation to this ingenuity. Wooden slippers or what we call bakya have also evolved into modern forms, and can also be a good reflection of our history.
3. Hand-woven Grass and Buri Bags
A testament to Filipino resilience, Abre Linea bags came about from the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). It was initially launched as a project that aimed to assist people in various towns in Samar and Leyte, where the typhoon had the biggest impact. Woven with such sophistication and class, who would have thought that ticog grass and buri can be turned into such artful products?
4. Water Hyacinth Bags
What was once responsible for severe flooding is now the source of a community livelihood. These water lily bags are carefully crafted to bring forth export-quality products that are infused with our country’s beautiful and traditional weaves; a rather genius revival of a Filipino art for that has gone in remission with the modernization of the country.
5. Chocolate Coated Dried Mangoes
When we say world-class, we don’t only refer to talent; we also mean cuisine. Parallel to our rich culture is the richness of our palettes that is evident in the different dishes and delicacies each of our provinces take pride in. A product of innovation and creativity, these widely exported chocolate-coated dried mangoes have since been the top choice for airline snacks, diplomatic gifts, and even presidential flight treats.
Itching to get your hands on these products? You need not go far. These and a lot more are available at the Acacia Hotel Manila in Alabang, Muntinlupa, where they have a Souk, dedicated to promote innovative Filipino products while supporting the country’s marginalized communities.
