A fashion show featuring an amazing collection of native dress made by designer and environmental advocate James O’ Briant.
64-year-old Mang Soy shows his woodcarving skills which was most popular during the American presence in the former US Naval Base. Photos by Malou Dungog
OLONGAPO CITY — The 3rd leg of My City, My SM, My Crafts campaign aims to promote the culture of various host cities through craft, preserve dying crafts through workshops and contest, help increase livelihood potentials and create cultural exchange, stopped at SM City Olongapo recently.
The city, once the site of a US Naval Base, now home to the bustling Subic Bay Freeport Zone and a new SM Mall, is also a place where one can find innovative crafts that bring together indigenous and American influences.
A joint project of SM and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s Bureau of Domestic rade, in partnership with the local government unit, “My City, My SM, My Crafts” celebrates the creativity and innovative spirit of Filipino artisans who fashion crafts from indigenous materials.
It also highlights the many livelihood programs that make it possible to promote these crafts in the national and international market. The event was graced by Sangguniang Panglungsod Kagawad Noel Atienza representing Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino, SBMA Director Cynthia Paulino, Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce, SBMA Tourism officials, and SM Vice President for Marketing Millie Dizon.
Atienza lauded SM’s efforts to promote the “Gawang-Gapo” crafts not only in the city but to foreign markets. The weeklong exhibit howcased “Gawang Gapo” craftsmanship from wicker baskets made by the indigenous peoples, woodcarving, souvenir items made by street children and rescued women, beautifully designed curtains, woodcraft, footwear and other home accessories.
Exhibitors from Zambales showcased fossil stones made of Serpentinite rocks found in the foot of Mount Pinatubo. According to Iba Municipal Mayor Benjamin Farin, the individually handcarved gift items undertook a long and laborious process by man and machine formed million of years ago, gathered and carried by the native Aetas in Zambales and cut and polished to perfection by various Filipino artisans.
Highlighting the “My City, My SM, My Crafts” program is a fashion show featuring an amazing collection of native dress made by designer and environment advocate, James O’ Briant. O’ Briant has introduced his wonderful designs to Olongapo with a unique way of creating Filipiniana dresses out of indigenous materials like sinamai, banig and even sacks of peanut which showed his innate fashion sense. SM Olongapo Asst. Mall Manager Bong Garcia said the next My Craft campaign stop is in Tarlac City.
