While roaming around the AMLAG 2023 Agro-Tourism Industrial Trade Fair as part of the Gotad ad Ifugao in Lagawe, Ifugao, a Philippine eagle-shaped booth stands unique that easily catches many’s attention.
This is the booth of Ifugao Local Artist and Crafts Men Organization that showcased and featured the skills of the artworks made from recycled and indigenous materials.
Some of the recycled materials are plastic bottles. While, the indigenous materials are bamboos.
The aim of this indigenous booth is to showcase the importance of the Philippine eagle as it is one of the most important wildlife animals that need to be preserved since it becomes extinct.
Showcasing the artworks of the local artist aids in collecting customers feedback and creates good relationship that would increase their popularity for future career.
Andres Ordillo, one of the local artists, shared that their locally made artworks can be compared to the Philippine eagle which also needs to be preserved and conserved.
“The purpose of this booth is to show the skills, develop and inspire the aspiring local artists of Ifugao to continue honing their talent and ability to create using recyclable and indigenous materials”, he added.
Various products were displayed inside the booth such as paintings made by various local artists, Labba, T-shirts, piggy banks, wallets made of rattan, wood carvings and others.
Santos Bayucca, an artist from Uhaj Banaue Ifugao, elaborated that Philippine eagle was his concept for making the booth since it symbolizes the “Tayo” dance of the Ifugao people.
“Philippine eagle represents the importance they give to the Ifugao culture. So as with Ifugao culture and the Philippine eagle, it deserved to be preserved and conserved so that it does not disappear”, Bayucca explained.
For the next AMLAG, Bayucca encourages all the municipalities of Ifugao to have an indigenous booth to better reflect the culture of Ifugao and will serve as a reminder to young people that they should know the tradition, culture, and rituals of their place of origin.
The AMLAG serves as a platform in showcasing the artworks of the local artist in Ifugao. Indeed, booths are often used for tourism purposes, sell artwork and other events for display.
A well- designed booth aids a local artist to stands out and will be imprinted on the people’s memory. Hence, the eagle-shaped booth serves as an outstanding method for promoting the local artist artworks of Ifugao as well as the tourism of the Ifugao province. By Charm Reich B. Liwangen