My City, My SM, My Crafts: Wood crafts of Cagayan Region in Cauayan City

 Cagayan Valley – with its undulating valleys, azure waters, verdant jungles and pristine waterfalls is said to be a condensed version of the whole Philippines. Cagayan Region consists of five provinces – Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.

With its vast agricultural lands and abundant harvests, the region’s natural resources play a big part in its craft culture. Being one of the best resources of quality timber, the woodwork industry is continuously booming. In recent years, modern artisans have transformed traditional and ingenious crafts into wonderful world-class pieces that have made us truly proud to be Filipino.

Mallgoers recently had a glimpse of crafts from Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino Province when “My City, My SM, My Crafts” recently made a stop at SM City Cauayan. A joint project of SM, DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Trade, and the Philippine Star with support from CITEM and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, it is a celebration of traditional arts and modern Philippine design in the cities where SM has malls.

No less than Isabela Vice-Governor Tonypet Albano, Isabela Board Members Karen Abuan, Rolando Tugade, Kit Bello, Chistopher Calderon, Manuel Alejandro, Edward Isidro, and, Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Dy, Vice-Mayor Bartolome Mallillin together with the City Councilors attended the event. Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Administrator Maybelle Sevillena, Angadanan, Isabela Mayor Lourdes Panganiban, Isabela DTI Provincial Director Ma. Salvacion Castillejos, Quirino DTI Director Lucy Guererro and DTI Regional Office Desiree Angoluan also graced the event.

SM Officials led by SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Marketing Communications Group-Publicity Ms. Millie Dizon and SM City Cauayan Mall Manager Ian Ezekiel Balao gave guests a warm welcome.

Guests enjoyed the program, which included a video presentation featuring Isabela and Cagayan Region’s world-class crafts.

Amazing and innovative crafts of Isabela and the Cagayan Region was showcased in the event. Representing Cagayan is Espacio Interior Designs of Tuguegarao City which specializes in the manufacture of fine furniture and handicrafts from wood, bamboo, and other materials. 

 Isabela’s crafts showcased include Vicky Narra Wood Products, among of the best crafters of butaka in the province, VGC Wooden Artickles produces one of the finest woodworks in Cagayan Valley. It focuses on the production of wall art and decors rendered intricately like puzzle pieces, Merlyn’s Family Collection which highlights the versatility and many possibilities of abaca and rattan, Gakit Handicrafts for its Bamboo crafts, Karigo Cornhusk Bags with its amazing bags, Sabutan Handicrafts of Palanan, Isabela’s finely woven and vibrantly colored sabutan hats, bags and fans, and, Andrea’s Paper beads crafty and chis fashion accessories.

Quirino Province’s Maddela Fossilized Flowers and Nueva Vizcaya’s Silya featuring its crafts made from reclaimed woods was also showcased in the event.

Highlights of the event was a dance number of the Bambanti Dance Competition Winners showcasing the wonderful crafts of Isabela and the Cagayan Region, as well as the awarding of the winner of the Making of Fossilized Flowers contest with workshop where the participants made their exquisite creations.

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 the province, and was an instant hit among SM City Cauayan shoppers.

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 where 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.

Now in its second season, “My City, My SM, My Crafts” has had series of roadshows around cities where SM has malls. The next stop will be in SM City Cabanatuan. (PR)