Bayong evolves from traditional to modern design

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 20 (PIA) -- The next time you see somebody using a bayong (reed bag), take a closer look. He must be in!

Soon at the Market Week Philippines, a bayong-special setting will feature the Best of Bayong from all over the country, which means all regions that are into bayong development will showcase three of their best bayong.

It has developed into various kinds and designs. From bayong pamalengke, pang opisina, pang eskwela, to bayong pang fashionista (From a bayong for marketing to office use to school use, it has now become a bayong with fashion sense).

Director Jocelyn LB. Blanco of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office here said that Bicol, being the bayong champion, will feature the three best bayong products from each of the six provinces.

The regions under the program are Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, and SOCCSKSARGEN.

Blanco said that the bayong special-setting will reveal that the bayong has evolved from traditional to high end use.

With the product developments, new markets both domestic and international are reached, she noted.


Why bayong?

Natural resources like karagumoy, pandan, buri, bacbac, abaca, tikog, sabutan and romblon - all native grown - abound in the countryside. It also conveys the green advocacy by making a shift in the use of the traditional, non-biodegradable plastic materials to the use of eco-friendly raw materials.

According to Blanco, the program indeed contributed significantly to the local economy aside from its role in protecting and preserving the environment.

The Bayong Development Program was conceptualized with the two-fold benefit of boosting the economy and diminishing ecological imbalance.

Market Week Philippines, a trade fair and showground of home, food and fashion products from all the regions of the country, is held at the MegaTrade Halls of SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City on Sept. 19-23. (MAL/JRBerango-DTI5/PIA5/Albay)