My City, My SM, My Crafts: Artisan pottery, coco décor, and kiping in Lucena

MANILA, Philippines - Quezonians are known as among the happiest Filipinos who celebrate festivals all year round — from the Tagkawayan Day on January 1 to Sariaya’s Belen Festival in December.

 They are also a very creative people who celebrate the rich products of their land — coconuts, rice, and bananas — by transforming these into world-class products.

From buli weaving in Mauban and Sariaya to coconut-inspired crafts in Candelaria to kiping souvenirs in Lucban to driftwood sculptures in Lucena to Ugu Bigyan’s artisan pottery in Tiaong, Quezon is a treasure tove of some of the most amazing products.

This is what mallgoers discovered when “My City, My SM, My Crafts” recently made its second stop at SM City Lucena.  This joint project of SM, DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Trade, and The Philippine STAR with support from CITEM is a celebration of traditional arts and modern Philippine design in the cities where SM has malls.

Quezon provincial tourism head Alberto “Jun” Bay, DTI Welfare Division chief Leila Cabrebros, and Lucena City administrator Anacleto “Jun” Alcala graced the event as did world-renowned beauty expert and My City, My SM honoree James Cooper, indie film director Felino Tañada, Koffee Katch’s Milada Dealo-Valde, and Grace Laurel of The STAR.

SM officials led by SM vice president for marketing Millie Dizon, as well as SM Supermalls regional operations manager Cid Luis Victoria, SM City Lucena mall manager Maricel Alquiros, and assistant mall manager Russel Alegre, gave guests a warm welcome.

Guests enjoyed the program, which included a video presentation featuring the crafts of Quezon with James as the guide, and a fashion show featuring beautiful indigenous gowns and barongs by designer Obet Orajay.

One of the program highlights was the awarding of the winner of the Best Pahiyas Window Décor with workshop participants competing. Juanita Escobar and Modesta Salamat of San Isidro got the judges’ nod for the top prize, and received P5,000 worth of gift certificates.

But the “My City, My SM, My Crafts” centerpiece was clearly the Craft Market inspired by the traditional Bahay na Bato in Luzon.  This beautifully designed showcase was a treasure trove of the best of the best crafts in Quezon, and was an instant hit among SM City Lucena shoppers.

The Craft Market included artisan pottery pieces from Ugu Bigyan; candles in coconut shells from Sa’tin Crafts; buri and buntal bags from Sariayanas; extraordinary décor made from ordinary things like bottles, twigs, and pieces of twine from Martha’s Handicrafts; wooden sculptures from Banglos; bags from the Gat Uban Weavers, decorative soap from The Soap Farm; and kiping-inspired décor from Pahiyas Crafts.  OTOP products like lambanog or coconut wine were also on display.

Craft demonstrations by Lola Salome Purio, a weaver from Gat-Uban, and Nucifera Pacific Enterprise, which showcased how coco coir is made, likewise delighted mallgoers.

“My City, My SM, My Crafts” is a take-off from the previous “My City, My SM” campaign, which promotes tourism, and “My City, My SM, My Cuisine,” which highlights the culinary specialties in cities were SM has malls. A celebration of traditional arts and modern Philippine design, it aims to showcase the best of the best Philippine crafts in each host city, providing livelihood opportunities, as well as a platform for cultural exchange.

The Lucena launch is the second in the “My City, My SM, My Crafts” road show after SM City Santa Rosa. The next stop will be in SM City Batangas.