Creative Cagayan Valley crafts in Cauayan

Isabela, the second largest province in the Philippines, is part of Cagayan Valley, a land of beauty and rich natural resources — fertile farmlands, forests and grasslands, and marine resources.

Located at the northeastern portion of Luzon, the region is bounded by three mountain ranges: Sierra Madre on the east, Carballo on the south, and the Cordilleras on the north.

The Cagayan region consists of five provinces: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. It is said that the Cagayan Valley, with its undulating valleys, azure waters, verdant jungles and pristine waterfalls, is a condensed version of the Philippines. It is here that we find Spanish colonial churches, Chinese temples, Muslim mosques and different people living in harmony.

With its vast agricultural lands and abundant harvests, the region’s natural resources play a big part in its craft culture.

Mallgoers recently had a glimpse of the crafts of Isabela, as well as those of the rest of the Cagayan Region, when My City, My SM, My Crafts 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 NCCA, My City, My SM, My Crafts is a celebration of traditional arts and modern design in the cities where SM has malls.

Isabela’s local government officials led by Vice Governor Tonypet Albano, Cauayan Mayor Bernard Dy and Angadanan Mayor Lourdes Panganiban gave their full support to the event. Isabela Vice Mayor Victor Callangan, Cau- ayan Vice Mayor Bartolome Mallillin and City Council members Bagnos Maximo, Salcedo Foronda, Marco Meris, Eugenio Asirit, Jr., Gil Guzman and Edwin Lucas also graced the event; as did DTI Isabela provincial director Salvacion Castillejos and Nueva Vizcaya provincial administrator Maybelle Sevillena.

SM officials led by SVP for marketing Millie Dizon and SM City Cauayan assistant manager Ian Balao welcomed guests.

The event was highlighted by a performance by the winners of the Bambanti Festival Dance Competition, as well as the awarding of the Fossilized Flower Making Contest where Liwanag Ancheta got the judge’s nod for the top prize, for which she received P5,000 in gift certificates.

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 crafts in the region, and was an instant hit among SM City Cauayan shoppers.

The Craft Market brought together some of the most amazing crafts from the Cagayan Valley Region including Espacio Interior Design of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, which specializes in the manufacture of wooden and bamboo fine furniture and handicrafts; Madella Fossilized Flowers of Quirino Province where guyabano, guava and avocado leaves are transformed into beautiful blooms; and Silya of Nueva Vizcaya, which crafts reclaimed wood into one-of-a-kind conversational pieces.

Isabela was also a treasure trove of crafts: butaka chairs in all sizes from Vicky’s Narra Wood Products; puzzle-like wall art and décor from VGC Wooden Artickles; creative abaca and rattan products from Merlyn’s Family Collection; bamboo lamps and sound boosters from Gakit Handicrafts; elegant and eco- friendly Karigo Corn Husk Bags; stylish hats and bags from Sabutan Handicrafts; and crafty and chic fashion accessories from Andrea’s Paper Beads.

My City, My SM, My Crafts is a takeoff from the previous My City, My SM campaign, which promotes tourism, and My City, My SM, My Cuisine, which highlights 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 of Philippine crafts in each host city, providing livelihood opportunities, as well as a platform for cultural exchange.

The SM City Cauayan stop is the 15th in the second season of the My City, My SM, My Crafts roadshow after SM City Clark, SM City Masinag, SM City Lipa, SM City Calamba, SM City Baliwag, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Bacolod, SM City Tarlac, SM City Olongapo, SM City San Pablo, SM City GenSan, SM City Rosales, SM City North EDSA, and SM City BF Parañaque.

The first season made stops at SM City Santa Rosa, SM City Lucena, SM City Batangas, SM City Davao, SM City Naga, SM City Cagayan de Oro, SM City Marilao, SM City Dasmariñas, SM City Taytay, SM City Pampanga, SM City Cebu, SM City Iloilo, and SM City Baguio.

Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Dy (third from left) with DTI Isabela provincial director Salvacion Castillejos (center), DTI Quirino provincial director Lucy Guerrero, Madelane Bulan, DTI Region 2’s Leovida Tumaliaun and Desiree Sera, and SM SVP for marketing Millie Dizon

Rattan lampsfrom Merlyn’sFamily Collection Bamboo lamp from Gakit Handicrafts in Angadanan, Isabela

Abaca chairs from Merlyn’sFamily Collection, which offers a focused yet flexible and fundamental approach to abaca and rattan manufacturing in Isabela.

Cornhusk bag of Karigo Corn Husk Bags and Fashion Accessories of Quirino, Isabela Winners of the Bambanti Festival Dance Competition performed their Tinikling dance number during the event.

Winners of the Bambanti Festival Dance Competition performed their Tinikling dance number during the event.

Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy and Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Administrator Maybelle Sevillena with SM’s Millie Dizon and SM City Cauayan Mall Manager Ian Balao

Gariel Peros and Manolet Africa of Silya produces creative crafts and eco- friendly craftsmade from reclaimed woods of Nueva Vizcaya.

VGC Wooden Artickles works, like that of Manny Pacquiao, requires not only creativity, but also engineering skill to assemble it delicately.

Jessa Andrea Gonzales of Andrea’s Paper Beads of Quezon, Isabela creates elegant fashion accessories using paper beads.

Isabela Vice Governor Tonypet Albano (center) is welcomed by SM City Cauayan’s Aika and Jen.

Emilia Fernandez of Maddela Fossilized Flowers. In Quirino Province, one can find fossilized flowers whose petals are made from guyabano, guava, avocado and alugbati leaves, which are dried for up to two weeks, scoured, and dried.

Victoria Maddawin of Vicky’s Narra Wood Products in Isabela produces well-crafted butaka chairs — lounge chairs with long arm rests — in different sizes.

Angadanan Isabela Mayor Lourdes Panganiban with Yolly Alog

Imelda Andam of Sabutan Hats and Bags makes use of sabutan plant, transforming it to finely woven and vibrantly colored bags, hats and fans.

Victor Emmanuel Callangan of VGC Wooden Artickles in Isabela produces wooden wall art and décor rendered intricately like puzzle pieces.

Lucky eggs from Espacio Interior Design, which specializes in the manufacture of the finest wooden and bamboo furniture and handicrafts in Tuguegarao in Cagayan.

A gown made of fossilized flowers

Liwanag Ancheta, winner of the Fossilized FlowerMaking contest