Dolls in traditional ‘sunduan’

In the sunduan, a centuries-old custom unique to Parañaque, a gentleman fetches his lady love at home to bring her to the church or town plaza. To impress his sweetheart and her parents, the gentleman brings with him a marching band that accompanies the couple on their walk to the church. The romantic tradition dates back to the Spanish colonial period when the very first sunduan was recorded in 1876 in Barrio La Huerta in Parañaque, a practice that later spread to nearby barrios.

The chivalrous tradition is kept alive today with the city’s Sunduan Festival where men, dressed in barong, escort the community’s loveliest ladies dressed in elegant gowns in a colorful parade.

To celebrate Parañaque’s 23rd anniversary of cityhood, SM City BF Parañaque recently showcased the city’s rich cultural tradition and artistry with a Sunduan Dolls exhibition at the ground level, BDO Wing at SM City BF Parañaque. The exhibition, which is part of “Para Anya: Parañaque Arts and Culture Festival,” features the iconic sunduan dolls from Parañaque’s Livelihood Resource Management Office.

The ornamental dolls are fitted with delicately handsewn barong Tagalog and Maria Clara costumes using local fibers and intricate embroidery style. What makes the sunduan dolls unique and creative is that their faces are designed distinctively from one another; no two dolls are alike. Each sunduan doll is meticulously crafted, taking up to 33 days to complete. As part of its limited edition, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez and wife Janet are also featured as sunduan dolls in the exhibition.

SM malls in the south metro area celebrated Parañaque’s cityhood anniversary with exhibitions. These include SM City Bicutan’s “Para Anya” photo exhibit showcasing Parañaque’s dynamic and rich culture through the years; and SM City Sucat’s “Obra,” a group art exhibition presented by one of the city’s leading art groups, Visual Artists of Parañaque.

“Para Anya: Parañaque Arts and Culture Festival 2021” is presented by SM City BF Parañaque, SM City Bicutan, and SM City Sucat in partnership with the Parañaque City Government and Tourism Office.

SM City BF Parañaque celebrates Parañaque’s City’s rich cultural tradition with a sunduan dolls exhibit featuring the limited-edition Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez and wife Janet dolls.

Each sunduan doll is meticulously crafted, taking up to 33 days to complete.

Sunduan dolls preserve a centuries-old tradition, as well as showcase the craftsmanship of Parañaque’s artisans.

An artisan from the Parañaque Livelihood Resource Management Office shows how delicate embroidery work for one of the sunduan dolls is done.

The Sunduan Dolls exhibition is inspired by the sunduan tradition where men escort the community’s loveliest ladies in a colorful parade.

Dolls are dressed in handsewn costumes using local fibers and intricate embroidery.