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Lumban celebrates ancient craft of embroidery
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: By Jaser A. Marasigan
Date: 2004-10-02
 
LUMBAN, Laguna – Known as the “Embroidery Capital of the Philippines,” the municipality of Lumban in Laguna held recently its “3rd Burdang Lumban Festival,” showcasing once again this renowned ancient craft of embroidery and the Filipino talent and artistry.





“We should take pride of the craft that has been handed down to us from the past generations. For it carries not only the heart and culture of our people but also the artistry that we can all be proud of,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano.



Almost all of the local producers participated in the event that featured an array of different hand-made embroidery products including its famed “Barong Tagalog” made from piña cloth which were sold for as low as R2,000, terno, shoulder and hand bags, veil, scarf, wedding gowns and other ladies’ wear. Home accessories and decor made from jusi, piña cloth and chiffonille thread were also on sale like curtains, table cloths, napkins, handkerchiefs and bedsheets.



The intricate art of barong embroidery has, indeed, made a name for the skillful and artistic women of Lumban. In this rustic town, hand-embroidering barong is an art passed on from generation to generation.



Lolita Aquino, who is quite popular for her piña Barong Tagalogs worn by Philippine political luminaries including the late President Diosdado Macapagal, has been into hand-made embroidery for more than 30 years. Her business, Loly’s Lumban Embroideries, is the product of her many years of hardwork.



She revealed that it takes a few months to finish an embroidery for something elaborate like a wedding gown. And although there are machine-made products, hand-made are always regarded as special because a lot of work is put into it, thus, they are a bit more expensive.



The barongs from Lumban are the ones considered as authentic and original, and has already been a part of history, she said.



Durano added that the hand-made embroidery of Lumban has brought prestige to the province and the country as well “as it has find its way in the best stores in many parts of the world, eventually reaching the homes of highly appreciative owners and collectors.”



A few products from small cottage industries like “walis,” “bolos,” “yunot” and native bags were also displayed for sale at the town plaza. While local delicacies such as “kesong puti,” “ginataang hipon,” and “espasol” were a hit among tourists especially those made by Opring de Luna, who produces at least 450 pieces a day. Her “espasol” are considered to be the best-tasting here.



Adding spice and color to the event are the street dancing competition, beauty pageant and a fashion show.



With its proximity to Manila, Laguna easily lures the city dwellers who wish to escape from the urban jungle. It offers a convenient alternative for those who want to relax without going too far, just a mere two-hour drive from Manila.



Laguna might just as well be dubbed as the ‘Resort Province of the Philippines’ because of the abundance of hot springs, lakes and waterfalls. This is attributed to the fact that Laguna is the only province with ground water that flows at 300 million gallons a day.



With Southeast Asia’s largest fresh water lake, the Laguna de Bay, plus innumerable springs, the seven lakes of San Pablo, the famous Pagsanjan Falls and the regular blessings of rain showers, Laguna stays lush throughout the year.



Laguna has much to offer, having been successfully able to preserve most of its rustic beauty and appeal despite the level of industrialization that it has achieved. It managed to blend the best of both the agricultural and industrial worlds.



Its economy is still based on agriculture. However, in the recent years, agricultural development has been complemented by the proliferation of light to medium scale industries. Before, the processing of agricultural products and making light handicrafts were the major manufacturing activities here. Today, textile spinning, weaving and finishing, chemical, automotive parts, ceramics, wood and paper products industries have been established.





 

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