BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – – The best arts and crafts, gastronomic delights and other creative products of local artisans will again be featured at the Mandeko Kito Artisans Fair that will be held in four weekends at the University of the Philippines – Baguio campus.
The weekend fair will be held from November 17 to19, Nov. 25 to 27, December 1 to 3, and Dec.r 8 to 10 at the UP Baguio Museo Cordillera grounds. It will serve not only as a marketplace for artisans but also as a celebration of creativity and resilience in the heart of Baguio.
“Mandeko Kito”, an Ibaloi term that means “Let’s Sell”, was initiated by the Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective Inc. (BACCI) and is now on its sixth edition.
There will be 50 booths in this year’s Mandeko Kito, most of which are focused on the UNESCO Creative City pillars of woodcarving, silver crafts, weaving, textiles, and tattoos.
To formally launch Mandeko Kito 2023, the Council for Baguio Creative City (CBCC) hosted a Kapihan Forum at UP Baguio with CBCC Co-Chairperson Dr. Raymundo Rovillos, BACCI Executive Director Rommel Marcelo, UP Baguio Chancellor Corazon Abansi, Department of Trade and Industry Information Officer Glonica Favorito, and Museo Kordillera Director Jennifer Josef as resource persons.
The forum also featured live demonstrations of weaving by Inabel ni Ina, Silver Handcrafting by Pilak Silver Shoppe, traditional tattooing by Wilma Gaspili, and bamboo handcrafting by Upland Souvenir.
There was also food tasting by Cheche’s Gourmet and Café De Angelo.
“If you want to try something unique but homegrown, I think, the tiny red truck, which is gypsy wagon, is one of the food trucks to watch out for. It’s very relatable ‘yung taste niya, at the same time, it doesn’t shortchange you with the taste,” Café de Angelo chef and owner Ro Quintos said.
Also joining the fair is tattoo artist Wilma Gaspili, also known as Ate Wamz, who is not just an artist but also a tattoo advocate, reviving fading patterns and promoting the cultural heritage of Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and beyond. Each tattoo is a commitment and a piece of land on your skin, using pine tree ink collected from different provinces.
“I’m promoting traditional tattoo from the Cordillera, revival sa mga patterns na nawala. Ang tattoo rin kasi is commitment ‘yan, pag-isipan muna bago magpa-tattoo pero ang kagandahan kasi ng tattoo natin is traditional,” Gaspili shared.
Rovilllos affirmed that the Mandeko Kito, through the years, has greatly helped artisans and creatives in promoting and selling their crafts, with an average gross income of P1.5 million.
Favorito lauded the great contribution of the Mandeko Kito, not only in promoting and helping Baguio and Cordillera artists as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises that are into arts and crafts.**CCD-PIA CAR with reports from Jackielyn Ursais/SLU intern
