PH - HANDCRAFTED PANDAN BAGS (Traditional Craft-Making)

The group traveled to a remote barangay of Ilungan City called Cagawasan. This barangay has been the center in manufacturing and producing eco-friendly pandan bags in the city. We did enjoy the view and met friendly folks along the way. Upon reaching our destination, we were fortunate enough to meet someone harvesting pandan leaves. She taught us how to get and process the needed materials out of this pandan leaf in order to create products made out of it. She even showed us how to add colors on these materials to enhance the product's marketability and face value. After processing the pandan leaves, these materials were then given to the craftsmen to create the designs and patterns for the bags, wallets, and other products. Pandan bags has become the bread and butter of the natives in this barangay. How to make one from scratch has become our goal in this quest. When everything is ready, these products were delivered to a shop in the city to make it available for buyers. According to the folks of this barangay, occasionally they receive orders from neighboring towns, especially during festivals. Some of these products are not only used as shopping bags but are also used as props for presenting a dance number during special occasions. This adventure, even though exhausting, yet it is indeed very rewarding for the group learned the essence of hard work in shaping one's life and the beauty of one's passion in building one's dream.