Stories of Filipino Artisanship

It’s time we take the matter of our culture and heritage into our own hands. These brands can show us the way

- MICHAELA TIJAM

As Filipinos, we take so much pride in being good English speakers. Foreign luxury brands are what’s reputable when it comes to standard and quality. Our measure of success is global recognition. Although our soul remains rooted in our homeland, we crave to speak the language of the world. Zooming out of these things, they seem acceptable. Harmless, even.

But in retrospect, we need our country and our country needs us now more than ever. Our languages—the code of our identity—comes in several forms and are found in different facets. With the emergence of pushing Filipinos for a global mindset, we are lost in translation on how to uplift our own languages, our own culture, and even ourselves. And with the global economic decline we are facing, whose hands should we hold but our own?

The good news is, we are not starting from scratch. Several brands have been actively doing their part to raise awareness and to support our language, culture, and our local artisans in their craft.

Here are some hands extending their help to uplift the craftsmanship of Filipinos, up from the north down to south.

THE PURPOSE THAT IS ZARAH JUAN

Her trip to Japan in 2005 was the serendipity that then flight attendant Zarah Juan needed to begin acting on her purpose. On that trip, she noticed canvas and foldable bags being used and sold in stores to carry items— instead of the plastic bags. That was her light-bulb moment.

From fulfilling the orders of her fellow flight attendants and then supplying souvenirs for the baptism of her friend’s child, the name of the woman behind the designs has grown into a powerful brand itself.