Buy Filipino, buy at Tutuban Mall

MANILA, Philippines - Being patriotic can easily be cited as a reason for buying all things Philippine-made. But surely that isn’t the only excuse to scour the countryside for novelty items, souvenir tokens and collectible trinkets, isn’t it?

An appreciation for beautiful things can only be the answer. Filipino handicrafts are painstakingly made by hand. In that aspect, Filipinos are among the best artisans and craftsmen in the world. Add to that the labor of love, attention to detail and charming touches put into the creation of each piece.

While it’s ultimately thrilling to visit each province in the vast archipelago to buy these unique products, you can look no farther than the Tutuban Mall in Divisoria. The historical landmark is a fitting venue for all the indigenous merchandise you can ever hope to find for your home and office, and for gifts and giveaways.

Wall décor to oversized mirrors to capiz shell clocks can enliven any household.

Household furnishings come in fantastic selections: baskets, sinamay wraps, scranch mats, capiz items, mail holders, wooden carved items, native curtains and rattan placemat sets. Fashion accessories made of pandan, bamboo and leather are there to complete your wardrobe.

There’s a whole display of wicker, a by-product of rattan from which baskets and hampers are made. Sinamay from the Visayas is transformed into clothing, curtains, table runners and pillow cases. Abaca from Bicol is made into handbags, pouches and placemats.

Britons may have their fancy hats but we have ours in buri, straw and banig designs. Jusi from Aklan and hablon from Iloilo are fashioned into long gowns and barongs Tagalog. Inabel from Ilocos is made into blankets and formal outfits. Macrame styles are seen on belts and bags.

Tribal sculptures and paintings from local talents are supported by Tutuban Mall, with their artworks getting prime space among the myriad displays. T’boli and T’nalak patterns from Mindanao are also in great supply.

The more eye-catching items are the fashion accessories. Handmade jewelry from the around the country are at your fingertips. They will be wonderful around your fingers, necks, chests, wrists and heads. Rings and earrings, neckpieces and chokers, bracelets and headbands made of shells, coco, bamboo, wood and stone are in great abundance. Place them in equally gorgeous jewelry boxes.

Handmade, handcrafted and laboriously molded, these native products are truly fantastic and can fit right in when displayed and worn anywhere in the world. Whether decorative or functional, you can never go wrong with organic and natural.