My City, My SM, My Crafts: Crafts as culture at SM
MANILA, Philippines - SM’s partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has made it possible to celebrate not only modern Philippine design, but traditional arts as well in My City, My SM, My Crafts series of roadshows around SM Malls.
During its first season, mallgoers were given a rare glimpse of the beautiful Tinubok creations from the Panay-Bukidnon community in Iloilo; exquisitely hand-woven Bagobo costumes with embroidery, shells and metal discs from Davao; and ethnic necklaces from the seven tribes of Northern Mindanao in Cagayan de Oro. Woven wonders from the Cordilleras from the Easter Weaving Room were also highlighted at SM City Baguio.
The events also honored NCCA’s Manlilika ng Bayan or National Living Treasures who NCCA chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr. describes as “masters of their crafts and bearers of our cultural gifts. The NCCA recognizes them as cultural treasures and it is high time that their creativity and skills be given utmost appreciation, recognition and respect by the Filipino people.”
The My Crafts stop at SM City Iloilo paid tribute to National Living Treasure Federico Caballero of the Panay-Bukidnon community, who continues to preserve the oral tradition of his people. Caballero, along with his siblings, is a strong advocate of the preservation of their traditional hand-woven costume called the Tinubok.
The SM City Davao stop, on the other hand, honored another Manlilika ng Bayan, the late Salinta Monon. Salinta built a solid reputation for the quality of her work and the intricacies of her designs in traditional Bagobo textile weaving.
Indigenous groups like the Bagobos, Panay-Bukidnon, Tigwahanon, Higaonons, and Talaandigs likewise awed mallgoers with their cultural performances.
A celebration of traditional arts and modern Philippine design, My City, My SM, My Crafts is a partnership between SM, the Bureau of Domestic Trade of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine STAR with support from the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
It is a take-off from the previous My City, My SM campaign, which promotes tourism, and My City, My SM, My Cuisine, which highlights the culinary specialties of the regions where SM has malls.
My City, My SM, My Crafts features the best of the best in Philippine crafts, as well as the OTOP program in SM’s host cities; aims to preserve dying crafts through workshops and contests; and provides opportunities for livelihood. It also aims to create a vibrant cultural exchange between the various cities.
During its first season, the project partners brought together the best of Philippine craftsmanship — from the Cordillera highlands to cultural communities in Mindanao, from the workshops of artisans to studios of contemporary world-class designers. And the partners are delighted to collaborate again for a second season.
“NCCA, the prime government arm promoting arts and culture in the country, extends its sincerest appreciation and gratitude to the My City, My SM, My Crafts campaign for its concerted actions in mainstreaming indigenous crafts and the stories behind their creation,” says NCCA chairman Felipe de Leon Jr.
“It is our distinct honor to partner with SM for this truly worthy program to re-introduce the artistry of our people to the younger generation. Through their crafts, we also learn to appreciate their beliefs, rituals, traditions, which Filipinos can be proud of,” he adds.
The campaign’s first season began at SM City Sta. Rosa, and made stops at 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 Iloilo, SM City Baguio and SM City Cebu. It unearthed a treasure trove of traditional arts, which can be seen on these pages.
My City, My SM, My Craft’s second season roadshow features SM City Clark, SM City Masinag, SM City Lipa, SM City Calamba, SM City Baliwag, SM City Bacolod, SM City Lanang, SM City Olongapo and SM City Tarlac until the end of the year. In 2015, the campaign will make stops at SM City San Pablo, SM City General Santos, SM City Rosales, and SM City Cauayan in the provincial areas and at SM City North EDSA and SM City BF Parañaque in the Metro area.
