There are so many things in Filipino culture that I find uniquely beautiful. Because I didn’t grow up here and am coming across different handicrafts or even everyday items for the first time they carry a wonder and magic they otherwise wouldn’t. You already know of my love for inabel. Another example is, the bilao. The bilao is a woven flat plate with a shallow rim used to clean rice or serve pancit (or many dishes) on. However, for me it is the most diverse beautiful household product. I like to use them to decorate. In my dreams I imagine a rainbow installations made up all of bilao. And of course, we can’t forget the bayong. The bayong, a traditional market bag that has 100 different versatile uses. It wasn’t seen as glamorous but it is at the peak of its hey day. Being sold at high end markets, it is even being painted on and used as a canvas creating a one of a kind wearable art. You can save yourself a few bucks and just pick one up at your nearest palengke. Speaking of palengke, the home of the prettiest brooms: a woven walis ting ting/tambo. To be honest, they don’t sweep excellently but they look excellent while doing it. A woven walis will tickle my heart every time. Kamuning Market has beautiful walis, an array of bayong but is also home to the most beautiful of every day items: alpombras. 

Can you find the 1. Inabel 2. Bilao 3. Alpombras in this photo? You’ll also find embroidery work form Nica Cosio, Freida painting by Carrie Griggs and photography by Sheila Catillo.

walis for life!

You might be familiar with the house shoes or your Lola or tita but have you stopped to admire the luxury of these house slippers? They are often made of faux velvet or velour and hand embellished with beaded needle point. Alpombras caught my eye because of the bright color but the beading and sheen of the velour fabric intoxicated me. I bought two pairs but could never bring myself to wear them. They felt too luxurious to wear only around the house. These babies needed special attention and care but more importantly, recognition. So I did what any normal person would do and had them framed in a shadow box to be put on display. 

please take a moment to admire the incredible details work of these house slippers, alpombras

woman painting by Inday Cadapan

my motto in life as of late…this was sent to me by my pen pal Pinay kapatid who lives all the way in Germany #perskfopinas

One of the gifts of living in a country unique to ones own is the daily gifts of our world view being expanded. Everyday I learn something new. Im grateful to live in such a vibrant culture and see the every day beauty. What a wonderful life it is. 

Kita Kita,

Amber