Local cottage industries take spotlight in R’Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Shopping and leisure mall Robinsons Galleria Cebu is leading the promotion of Cebu’s pride in products and services via its R’ Cebu program.

R’ Cebu! is a joint project presented by Gokongwei-owned Robinsons Galleria Cebu in partnership with the Cebu Provincial Government to support the local  cottage industries particularly farmers, fishermen, artisans and micro and small business owners.

The latest run of R’ Cebu, which opened on April 23 and culminated yesterday, April 25, 2021, showcased the best of  the 5th District delicacies, tourist spots and unique offerings from Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Compostela, Liloan, San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, and Pilar, and the City of Danao at Robinsons Galleria Cebu Atrium.

These products include Queseo from the Municipality of Compostela. A local cheese "queso" or "queseo" is a type of cheese made from fresh carabao's milk. Trivia: the queseo is the main theme of the annual festival of the town, the Queseo Festival; Delicious wine or "Tuba" from Borbon. A sweet, fresh, mildly fermented sap taken from tapping the young expanded flowers of the coconut. Tuba or Coconut Wine is served at gatherings and is one of the main livelihood of Borboranons; San Francisco’s banig made of "Soli-Soli" a kind of tall grass that grows by the lakeside in Lake Danao located in San Francisco; Nigo" made of Bamboo, is a flat woven basket traditionally used for winnowing ("mag - ayag", in Cebuano term) or separating corn grits/rice still contain lots of hulls that feel grainy and rough when cooked or eaten. It is made of bamboo skin strips woven from the center to frames; Thr Kabog Delicacies from Catmon. “Kabog” known in the municipality of Catmon is a small-seeded cereal plant known as MILLET in other countries. Millet grew wild and in abundance Catmon’s mountains, mostly in Barangay Agsuwao. Some kabog products: Budbud Kabog, Bingka Kabog, Kabog Grains and Butter Kabog Cookies.

Makers of Camote Delicacies from Poro, Camotes Island also displayed their Camotestiks (Sweet Potato Breadsticks), Baked Camote Polvoron, Tableya Camotekies (Cacao Sweet Potato Cookies), Mango Camotekies (Mango Sweet Potato Cookies), Camotetap (Camote Otap/Sweet Potato Puff Pastry).

The now famous, plant holder from Sogod also promoted their woven high quality natural rattan plant holders.

Likewise, Liloan’s eco-friendly Bamboo Products such as Water Tumbler & Cutlery set satisfied consumers demand for sustainable wares. Lilo-anons started up a business they call Eco Friendly PH that aims to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable living with their customized, eco-friendly products.

Kasahos from Danao City were one of the popular displays. This Uniquely Danawanon product is a beef or pork jerky that is sun-dried before it is sauteed and fried with a blend of different spices.

Other local products included; Carmen’s ice cream, sinamay, and native hats, Cassava Cookies from Municipality of Tudela.

Robinsons Galleria Cebu is set to hold a similar event on May 21-23, 2021 and June 25-27, 2021.