• Follow Me on Twitter!
  • Like Me on Facebook!
  • View My Channel!
  • View My Snapshots!

Main menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • No Access
  • Shop
  • About Me
  • Archives
  • Bucket List
  • Links
  • Contact Me

I Support Localism

Posted on July 22, 2013 by journeyingjames 14 Comments
Share
Tweet

In surfing, there is an unwritten code of conduct, “Surf instructors can only teach surfing in their local spot.” This is practiced in every surf spot I know here in the Philippines, especially in Borongan, Mati and Liwa. In fact, this is one of my first lessons when I got interested in surfing 3 years ago. They call it “localism.”

Little did I know that this should be applied to my everyday life too- in my travels and in my life as a whole. This is one of my realizations after visiting the T’boli Dream Weavers of Lake Sebu last was how hard it is to craft something which you don’t know if this would be bought.

Be' Lang Dulay

Be’ Lang Dulay. National Living Treasure Awardee, Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, 1998.

I would zero in in their local woven fabric called the T’nalak. The T’nalak fabric is a traditional cloth used by the T’boli tribe. It is made of abaca fiber and dyed with red and black.

I have learned that a 5-meter woven cloth is finished after 3-4 months of hard intricate work. The work is done by atleast 5 families (farmers, dyers, processing, designer and weavers). It’s not easy because they don’t have a standard design since they can only make this cloth after the master weaver dreams of a particular design.

“T’boli women believe that the patterns are bestowed on them through either their own dreams, those from their ancestors or ones granted specially through “Fu Dalu,” the spirit of the abaca.” 

I tell you, I got goosebumps when I learned about this. I said to myself, WTH, and I can earned this money in a week. A 5-meter T’nalak cloth is sold for Php4,000 or more, depending on the design and the weaver.

I tried doing the math (yes, I love mathematicians too):

Let’s say they sold a 5-meter T’nalak cloth for Php4,000.

Php4,000 divided by 5 families = Php800

Php800 divided by 3 months = Php 266.66/month

Php 266.66/month = Earning per family.

How the heck a family would survive on that income?

Of course, T’nalak weaving is not their only source of income but I can’t justify getting Php266 after working for 3 months. Php266 is my budget for having coffee with friends.

So after the tour guide’s discussion of this, I bought a piece of T’nalak cloth and promised to go back and buy some more. This is the most expensive travel memento I bought up-to-date and I don’t mind paying more because in doing so, I support local tourism and local businesses.

And it doesn’t end there. I would go back there and document more. It is also but fitting to do a lifestyle check.

And these will be my guidelines starting today:

I WILL BUY LOCAL. 

I would avoid buying imported products.

I WILL EAT LOCAL.

Local eateries, carinderias, small-scale restaurants and small food businesses. If you would invite me for lunch or dinner, please remember this. Less of fastfoods too. This also goes to my addiction to coffee. I would avoid Starbucks and CBTL and patronize kapeng barako and Arabica from Benguet and Kalinga.

I WILL ENJOY LOCAL.

This means more traveling in the country than abroad for me.

 

Yes, I know this is hard. But I want to effect change right now. Will you join me in starting the LOCAL TREND? I think It’s time!

T'boli dream weaver

That cloth she is weaving is already sold to journeyingjames. 😉

A fitting end would be a quotation from Elie Wiesel:

“The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference.”

___ ___ ___

Localism describes a range of political philosophies which prioritize the local. Generally, localism supports local production and consumption of goods, local control of government, and promotion of local history, local culture and local identity. –Wikipedia

 ___ ___ ___

Blog Carnival LogoThis is my piece for this Month’s Pinoy Travel Blogger’s BLOG CARNIVAL entitled, “Memorable Travel Souvenirs, Objects and Mementoes,” hosted by Jun Baris of Galang Pusa. You can check the previous carnivals by clicking the logo on the right side:

Related Posts with Thumbnails
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged I Support Localism, Lake Sebu Weavers, Lang Dulay, Localism, T'boli Dream Weavers, T'nalak Dream Weavers, T'nalak Weavers, T'nalak Weaving. Bookmark the permalink.

Post navigation

← Camiguin Travel Guide
Dolphins Love Freedom in Mati City, Davao Oriental →

14 thoughts on “I Support Localism”

  1. judy said:
    Reply
    July 22, 2013 at 7:16 am

    naman! this is one way of showing our love for our country

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      July 22, 2013 at 8:31 am

      yes, patriotism in its easiest form.

  2. Harly Limlingan Marcuap said:
    Reply
    July 22, 2013 at 11:25 am

    Thank you so much for this article. Lalo ako nagkaroon ng dahilan na tangkilikin ang sariling atin. I bought a T’nalak din when I went to Lake Sebu pero 1 meter lang ang na-afford ko. I’ll go back next time to buy more. Let’s enjoy local! 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      July 25, 2013 at 6:43 am

      at least you bought one. thanks for supporting localism too!

  3. Carlo said:
    Reply
    July 22, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    Yes, I’ve been doing these for some time already. Local food always! I do tend to buy less when travelling, though, so I will have to make it a point to buy at least one locally-made memento on future trips!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      July 25, 2013 at 6:42 am

      that’s great! hope many will follow

  4. jho VD [mountains&beyond] said:
    Reply
    July 25, 2013 at 4:02 am

    well said 🙂
    i mentioned the t’nalak weave as my fave in my entry as well…
    let’s support PH products… proudly PINOY.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      July 25, 2013 at 5:51 am

      yep, i saw it nga. its really nice noh? im not a fan of buying souvenirs talaga dahil nga super tipid ko sa mga byahe ko. but now na medyo maluwag na sa budget, i try to buy form them na.

  5. sarah | travel journal said:
    Reply
    July 26, 2013 at 1:57 pm

    Also my most expensive piece of souvenir, pero super worth it. Especially pag nakasama na si Lang Dulay at mga dreamweavers mismo yung magkukwento ng hirap, beliefs at tagal ng prosesong pagdadaanan para makumpleto ang isang roll. In 2010, they’re selling it for Php1200 per roll and 8 meter ang per roll. Prioir to the visit, I had no plans of buying pero after seeing the intricacies, art and quality ng mga gawa, I know I want to own one.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      August 7, 2013 at 8:46 am

      yep, i dont have a plan of buying to until i learned how they arduously make it. respect to the dream weavers!

  6. Mai Flores said:
    Reply
    July 28, 2013 at 10:14 am

    An impressive cause, as always James! When are you going back to Lake Sebu? I would really like to see and support their fabrics firsthand.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      August 7, 2013 at 8:44 am

      i think i will go there before sept ends. or early october. yes you should see for yourself

  7. Melissa Ramo said:
    Reply
    July 29, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    I enjoy reading your blog. This article is so encouraging. I’ve been telling myself to patronize local for a good couple of years now and I never really get to be consistent. This is an eye-opener and very inspiring. Keep on writing and God bless you in your travels! 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      August 7, 2013 at 8:37 am

      thanks melissa! yes, i understand you that its really hard to be consistent. but atleast there is that thought at the back of your mind. together, we can!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA Image
Refresh Image

*

Search

Like Me?

PRESS & MEDIA

Back-to-Back GMA News TV Interviews
Cebu Pacific's Featured Article: Around the Philippines for 100 Days
Manila Bulletin: Around the PH for 100 Days
TV 5: ISANGDAAN Journey Interview
ABS-CBN News Channel: ISANGDAAN Journey Live Interview
GMA News To Go: ISANGDAAN Journey Live Interview
Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho: Hidden Paradise Feature
ABS-CBN Southern Mindanao: Short Interview
Living Asia Channel: Watch Me Dancing
Radio Guestings
Cebu Pacific’s Smile Magazine: Bacolod on a Budget
Cebu Pacific’s Smile Magazine: Zamboanga City on a Budget
PAL's Mabuhay Magazine: Tacloban on a Budget
PAL's Mabuhay Magazine: Not Your Ordinary Palawan
PAL's Mabuhay Magazine: Iloilo and Guimaras Travel Guide
8 Travel Tips to Save Money While on the Road
How to Start Your Own Backpacking Trip

Top 25 Posts

  • No To Mining in Palawan- A Petition Letter (313)
  • 100 Days of Backpacking the Philippines- The Cheapest Way Possible (240)
  • My Top 10 Philippine Travel Destination (167)
  • ISANGDAAN: The Most Epic Travel Challenge in the Philippines- A Success! (138)
  • Calaguas Islands Trip Guide: The Cheapest Way Possible (125)
  • Puerto Princesa City to El Nido Travel Guide (114)
  • Do-It-Yourself Puerto Princesa City Tour (86)
  • No Money, No Honey or Why I Travel Solo? (84)
  • Hundred Islands Travel Guide (83)
  • Cheap Accommodations in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (81)
  • Panampangan Island: Tawi-Tawi's Finest White Beach (80)
  • Why You Should Date a Traveler? (79)
  • Surigao Nature Fuck: The Most Depressing Road Trip Ever (76)
  • Dear Reader, I'm not a snob... (75)
  • Wrap Up of Mindanao 400 Challenge (73)
  • Cheap Accommodations in Camiguin Island (71)
  • Puerto Princesa City: Benchmark Of What Paradise Is (70)
  • I’m on TV! Thanks Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Summer Special (70)
  • Boracay Cheap Accommodations and Rates (68)
  • September-October Travel Plans in Bicol, the Visayas, and Ilocos (62)
  • 10 Travel Secrets of JourneyingJames (61)
  • 10 Things to Do in Quezon Province (58)
  • GMA News To Go Interview about ISANGDAAN Journey (58)
  • How to Fund Your Wanderlust? (58)
  • On Pursuing My Passion (58)
Copyright 2012 | Journeying James Designed by: Regine Garcia