I told myself my trip to Brgy. Malawig should include a total community immersion (well, as much as possible). With the help of my friend, Sir Moises, I met Ate Melinda. She is a 40-yr old member of the Tagbanua community that grew up weaving mats and other stuff made of Pandan (not the one that we put in our rice, as I was mistaken). During my short conversation with her, she told me that right now she would still learn and try weaving bags and other smaller products for she was educated to weave only mats of different sizes and designs, back before she reached her teenage years. I ordered one mat from her, smaller and something that could be used for travel and even yoga. I believe, as I have observed and seen that these products of theirs are really well-crafted and therefore should be patronized and supported by anyone...in any means. Aside from that, they are the ones that should be patronized first before those highly-commercialized entrepreneurs. I also think they should be protected from the detriments of commercialism. Kudos Ate Melinda! βΊπππππ #PandanWeaving #TrueCraftsmanshipOfFilipinos #IndigenousCrafts #IndigenousTreasures
