SM City Baguio opens Adivay: Celebrating Culture & Heritage as a way to support the local artists and craftsmen in Baguio City especially in these trying times. The mall offers the atrium for free to artists and local businesses to showcase and sell their handmade products which will run from October 9-18.
Support the artisans by buying their indigenous products like the display from Tam-awan Village which features Cordilleran designs in dream catchers, native headbands with beads from Kalinga, face masks, decorative pieces, jewelry, and the necklace called lingling-o which symbolizes fertility. Another local business called Ibagiw sells their handcrafted items from collective weavers who were participants at the Ibagiw Festival 2019, hence the name. The Ibagiw artisans has displayed their own design of face masks, Cordilleran cloth necklaces, baskets, refrigerator magnets, eco-friendly candles, the tipsy wine holder, bamboo mugs, and so many more.
Pinegypsy and Roby’s Pick is also a local business designed by Cordilleran artisans. The products they offer are laser cut, laser engraved, and handcrafted to a precise design and finished unto tumblers, flasks, clocks, decorative items, and many others. Their designs vary from several ideas and interpretation of the Cordilleran culture and their surroundings. Customers can also have their own design engraved to completely make their products unique. Most of their products are made of plywood and bamboo, some items have also been recycled from scraps of their previous creations in order to be more eco-friendly and to produce less waste. Through a collaboration with artists and craftsmen in Sorsogon, they also have trendy bags with woven basket designs that is reminiscent of Cordillera.
Everything Is Pine has displays of different products that highlights the artisans’ origin which is Anteg-en, Loacan, Itogon. They have products that include baskets made of pine needles, earrings, accessories, and many more that highlights the culture of Benguet. Their community of local artisans in Itogon have also recently expanded to creating works and collaborating with artists from Baguio City.
The Succs and Cacs started with selling succulents and cacti plants as souvenirs, and recently moved to crafting baskets last June due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The baskets are outsourced from Albay families and are made in different colorful and creative designs. Each design is handcrafted by a specific family which makes the variations unique and vibrant. The baskets are also made with sturdy Abaka and Seagrass.
Inabel Ni Ina is a business made by a weaver named Cathy Ekid Domigyay from Can-eo, Bontoc. She promotes authentic woven textiles from a group of weavers from her hometown. Her stall has products that range from hats, face masks, bags, wallet, coin purses, headbands, and many more. Along with Inabel Ni Ina, is the business called Everything Baguio that also offers native cloth designs of visor and matching face masks.
Another stall to look forward to is Patis Tesoro, a renowned mentor in design. They feature wonderful craftsmanship with textiles and different designs from many cultures unto products such as placemats, bags, decorations, and many others.
Gaze on beautiful and inspiring artworks from local artists at the Pasakalye Art Exhibit located at the Upper Ground Level. The exhibit features art pieces that celebrates the Indigenous People’s culture and heritage of Cordillera. The artists featured are Richard Domirez, Howard Domirez, Roland Bay-an, Joseph Domirez, Salvador Cabrera, Camilo Santiago, Jeff Domirez, Oliver Abuan, Jherwin Libatique, Bein Villaluna, Mario Calub, Willie Teves, Sonia Oyam, Angelica Rosalin, Alex Pastrana Musni, Ryan Doyaon, and Nicole Joy Paleg. These Pasakalye artists come from Cordillera and surrounding regions. The art displayed are also available for purchase and can be bought directly through the artist, their title and contacts can be found on the cards above the canvas. This art exhibit is on display until October 09, 2020 to November 03, 2020.
Visit on the next weekend on October 17-18 to listen and show support in the music of Cordillera musicians who will be busking at the Sky Terrace and at the Upper Ground Sunset Terrace area from morning to afternoon.
“With new events like this of SM, we are actually moving forward. Aside from SM being known as a commercial space for business, at least now with their help they are showing that they are acknowledging Baguio as a creative city, that they have a significant role to play to preserve the title. In behalf of the participating artisans we are very thankful for this kind gesture being extended by SM, and hopefully in this new normal, especially for us being a creative city, we can work together to build our region as a really strong one with great hope to preserve and promote our rich culture and heritage through tangible products created by our artists and artisans and through showcasing our talents of our local performing artists.” Adivay Event Partner John Arvin Molintas said.
SM City Baguio continues to support the local communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), this includes the artists and artisans especially during these adversaries. Along with the free rent of the mall areas for the events, 100% of the proceeds and sales are for the artists and artisans to keep. This event also joins in with the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Month, as the event promotes the Cordilleran heritage and culture. By Jessica Joy Fernando