Samar is a hardship post. Many typhoons pass through this island each year. Most areas are upland, difficult for farming staple crops like rice and corn. Some would say people there are either fisherfolk or they tend huge coconut plantations owned by only a handful of landowners. Scores have also migrated to urban areas or become OFWs to find that elusive pot of gold. Yet the other end of the rainbow has set foot in Samar and not many people knew this.
In recent years, the hardy Samarenos have seen the potential of our lowly “banig” or traditional mat, enhanced its design and has built a cult of avid user and collectors. I’ve seen these mats when I went there and the infatuation was instant. But I was terribly dismayed… As in many fascinating Philippine-made products, they are not to be found in your local shops. Yes, there they are in those swanky home decorating ateliers—a few locals but mostly, abroad—tagged with prohibitive values.
It took three years for a chance to get hold of one or two... And when it came, thinking was out of the question. Let me show you some of the loot—
It takes a month or more to finish one piece.
This is one of their gaudiest designs.
Understated elegance...
This large piece with matching floor pillows took much longer to make because the design and color are more arduous to the eyes. According to my supplier only her mother can weave this pattern and has yet to teach one of her siblings the technique.
The same mat with small colored pillows of the same material.
What I have seen in Samar created this ardent fascination for Philippine crafts. I love them for their beauty but more than that the rich heritage imbued in each piece is truly invaluable. Fanatic as I am, you can only imagine the pains I have to go through in getting hold of them as well as in ensuring they come with us when we moved here in Singapore.
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