BAGUIO CITY – The yearly Mandeko Kito has returned to UP for the time bringing merchants closer to the city center to engage in commerce once again. While this artisan fair is how it was years ago, this run of Madeko Kito is extra special.
“… we were deciding whether to discontinue Mandeko,” Dr. Raymundo Rovillos mentioned in his speech on the opening day of Mandeko Kito.
This decision came about because of the situation at the Baki Board, where they see that it’s difficult for them to conduct the artisan market. Despite initial concerns, the Baki Board, in consultation with merchants and artisans, continued with the 8th run of Madeko Kito this year. The merchants and artisan mostly organized this run of Madeko Kito with the Baki Board, taking a step back as an advisory team. This is the first time the Baki Board held less influence in the artisan fair, thus this run of Mandeko Kito is a pivotal moment that will decide the future of Madeko Kito.
Mandeko Kito, from the Ibaloi word “let’s sell”, started as a response to the plight of local crafters and artisans that suffered a significant loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. The artisan market aims to give them an avenue to market and sell their products. And ever since their first run in 2020, Mandeko Kito helped merchants get back up.
And because of the success of Madeko Kito, it kept being run despite the pandemic ending and the merchants could go back to their regular business operations. It’s because of the community that was fostered by Madeko Kito, making the event more than just a market but a showcase of new and underappreciated art forms in the Cordillera Region.
The number of participating merchants also increased over the years when more and more are signing up to be part of Mandeko Kito, so it is easy to see why the merchants continue with hosting the event. And with the positive reception of the public with the 8th run of Mandeko Kito, we are likely to see more runs of it in the future. By Janine Laureta
