ILIGAN CITY (PIA) — The three-day art market here featured various handicrafts, including jewelry, crochet products, handwoven products, paintings, and other items made from indigenous materials.
The Hulma Iligan Creatives Collective and the Lanao del Norte Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) spearheaded this event as part of the celebration of the 74th Iligan City Charter Day.
The Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, also known as Republic Act No. 11904, aims to promote and develop the creative industries in the Philippines, particularly to enhance the growth of sectors such as arts, design, media, and cultural heritage.
With this, social enterprises, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and crafters expressed gratitude for the opportunity to showcase their products.
One of these is Tienda Pakigdait, a social enterprise of the Mindanao Tripartite Youth Core, which was established to cater to people’s needs for local products and is pro-people-centered, ecologically responsive, inclusive, and sustainable. Orders can be made through their Facebook page.
“This opportunity has given us the space to market our products, which are made especially by volunteers here in Mindanao. This has provided us with earnings and a kind of livelihood that actually supports our causes, which involve youth peacebuilding, interfaith, and interreligious dialogue,” said Jana Jean Dacobor, general manager of Tienda Pakigdait.
Moreover, she emphasized that this opportunity allows artists and crafters to continue creating handmade or homemade products. They also seek more promotion and support, as their goal is not just sales but also for people to understand and appreciate the presence of local crafters in Iligan City. She also thanked them for their MSME DTI accreditation.
Meanwhile, another small business named Afternoon Creations showcased their products at the Art Market. Their crochet line features earrings, bag holders, Christmas decorations, and others, while their macramé collection includes candle holders, plant hangers, coasters, backdrops, and even clothing items like hats and slippers.
Rosalie “Pie” Yanong, Maria Theresa “Mitos” Siao, Angeli Echiverri, and Celina “Linlin” Torres-Jo have been friends since grade school. During their free afternoons, they started Afternoon Creations as a casual gathering to cook, bake, and set up tables in a garden-style setting. Their journey into crafting began when they created macramé napkin ring holders for Siao’s daughter’s wedding about three years ago, learning the art through YouTube tutorials. Yanong, who has been crocheting since grade school, also added crochet to her creations.
“This started as a hobby for us, and we began receiving orders. I would like to show women that it is very possible to earn at home with very minimal cost,” she said.
Yanong shared yarn can be purchased for as low as P200. She shared that she crafted baby dresses as keychains for baptismal giveaways, creating up to 100 small keychains. Selling each for P50 could potentially yield earnings of up to P5,000.
She also shared that their mission is to train women to be productive at home and promote their handmade items. Their creations, which are showcased on Instagram, also attract orders from across the Philippines and even other countries.
The Art Market aimed to promote cultural development and provide economic opportunities for local artisans by connecting them with potential clients and markets. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
