“It’s the thought that counts” as the old saying goes whenever we
give and receive gifts from our family and friends during the holiday season.
This however, doesn’t mean we would just slack off when choosing the gifts we
will buy for our love ones. Because, out there beyond the reaches of the usual
giant malls, are awesome items being sold online by various groups of people
and communities all over the country. These are local products that are not popular
yet as a gift idea – but appears to be the perfect ones to give out this
Christmas season.
Here are some wonderful local products that are perfect Christmas gifts.
Ecoheroes Collapsible Mug
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| Photo credit: Ecoheroes |
If you’re planning to gift
a coffee lover this Christmas season, there won’t be anything better to give
them than a reusable collapsible mug from Ecoheroes.
Choosing this as a gift not only help a small enterprise widen their business,
you also help with their advocacy in lessening the use of pointless plastics.
Since “Ecoheroes is a movement that
promotes mindful consumption and zero-waste lifestyle”, they also sell
reusable food container set great for ordering food outside your home and metal
straws. Such perfect presents for any environmental conscious citizens.
Artisan Langkit Weaving from the Maranao Collectibles by Salika & Jardin
Born from a social
enterprise aimed at rebuilding the lives of people displaced by the Marawi
Siege, the
Maranao Collectibles also managed to resurrect a dying cultural
art form. Today, with internally-displaced women and men who were trained to
create heirloom langkit weaving,
numerous kind of langkit products are now being marketed to the world. Aside
from gifting a special someone a beautiful hand-woven Maranao fabric this
holiday season, you also help in their advocacy of spreading and preserving the
cultural art of langkit weaving.
Bahandi Sandals
From scrapping floating
lilies in Agusan River to creating stylish and affordable footwear completed
the journey of a social enterprise group composed of artisan mothers in Butuan
City. “Bahandi slippers are made from the
water lilies that are found along the Agusan River. The water lilies that usually
clog the waterways are collected, dried, dyed, cut up and braided in order to
be made into slippers. Each pair of Bahandi slippers are carefully handcrafted
by the members. It makes the perfect “pasalubong” when coming from our city
because these water lilies are abundant in the region” explains Shayla Sanchez
of the Trading
Post PH – where you can also order Bahandi sandals.
BAYOD - Handcrafted Sustainable Eyewear
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| Photo credit: The Trading Post PH |
To provide an eco-friendly
eyewear in the market that is also affordable, is the vision of the people
behind Bayod.
Handcrafted from “responsibly-sourced
bamboo within the ASEAN Free Trade Area”, Bayod eyewear dishes a very
durable eye accessory along with an edgy appearance. Since, every pair of Bayod
eyewear isn’t the same, you’ll be sure to be giving your love one this holiday
season with a unique present. In style – check. Affordable – check.
Eco-friendly – check. Perfect gift – check.
Super Lumba’s “Palapa”
Here is a wonderful gift
idea for foodie friends and family members who wants to spice up their eating
experiences. Super
Lumba’s “Palapa” is
a traditional Maranao dish made of native shallots, chili and ginger. Preparing
it involves mixing it all together and beating it to a pulpy texture before
cooking it on a low heated pan. It is a popular side dish to rice and almost
every viands. Once you taste it, you might not want to eat anything else
without a small serving of it on the table.
Hammock Republic
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| Photo credit: Hammock Republic |
Wondering what to give to
a backpacker friend? Then this might solve your problem. Hammock Republic
is founded by backpacker and popular travel blogger James Betia, and it sells
what else: Hammocks. When Betia went on a 100-day journey around the
Philippines and another hundred more around Southeast Asia, he mostly slept on
a hammock, which later on turned out to be his small company’s maiden product;
the “Duoyan”, a hammock that
transforms into a travel neck pillow. Proven to be durable and created from
recycled materials by a few artisan community mothers, you can’t find anything
better than this to give to your traveler friend.
Siklo Bags
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| Photo credit: Siklo Pilipinas |
Continuing with the
recycling theme of our list, Siklo Pilipinas’
collection of stylish bags and accessories made from upcycled inner tube rubber
is becoming popular among the environmentally conscious crowd nowadays. Aside
from helping in the reutilizing movement of tire scraps, you also get a sturdy
product because these materials are known for its durability. Plus, it’s
waterproof. I bet anyone who receive this gift from you this holiday season
will be very pleased.
Laksoy Nipa Palm Liquor
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| Photo Credit: The Trading Post PH |
This is a homegrown drink
in Butuan City called laksoy and
whose process of making is slowly dying. Thanks to the initiative of local
entrepreneurs, the art of distilling Laksoy has resurrected and has found a
steady market among those who have tasted it. Sold for 220 pesos per bottle
(from recycled ones), the Laksoy Nipa Palm Liquor is a finely distilled 100
proof. Tasty and smooth on the throat, it delivers just enough kick perfect to
pop open and pour on a shot glass to celebrate life with family and friends. You
can order online at the Facebook Page of The
Trading Post PH.
Woven PH has also come up with a millennial-friendly banig-woven items. “Bags and wallets were already being sold as souvenirs for tourists. So, we came up with gadget sleeves first because millennials today are never without their phones, tablets, or laptops,” Lim said.
Woven PH
This
article first appeared on Windowseat.PH
