The city’s premier artisans market, Mandeko Kito, will start its 25 day run at the Berkeley School starting Friday, November 19, featuring the works of 58 artisans, crafters and food entrepreneurs.
The fourth staging of the artisans market, which is part of the Ibagiw 2021 Creative City Festival, will have more participants actually double from the third staging last June.
When it opens tomorrow, it will feature several new innovations for guests and visitors to enjoy, the organizers, the Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective, Inc. (BACCI), announced on its Facebook page.
The BACCI said that along with bringing home some of the best crafts and locally made products, guests will also enjoy several art installations by three creatives, namely visual artist Olie Olivete, crochet artist Adel Guia, and artist Marge Gomez.
Another exciting feature is Vivistop, a creative hub for children, teens, and adults where they can tinker with 3D printers, laser cutters, and button makers and learn how to design and create while learning at the same time. They will occupy the basement area at Berkeley School during the event.
At Gallery Ninety, located within the school grounds, another Baguio artist will be holding his first solo exhibit. Architect Dulthe Munar and his exhibit is a true demonstration of innovation, by using local and ordinary materials and turning them into extraordinary works of art.
BACCI said that another purpose of the event is to mobilize support from other important stakeholders such as the government and the private sector.
It has drawn support from government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Cordillera, which provides, among other things, technical assistance for selected creative businesses. From the private sector, it has Converge ICT Solutions which is another major event partner and provides connectivity during the event.
Mandëko Kito was first conceptualized by the in June 2020 which was a pro-active response to the needs of artisans and crafters who were heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
BACCI said: “It brought together both established and new creative entrepreneurs and showcased high-quality locally made products.”
BACCI added: “Since then, it has helped participating entrepreneurs sell their products and earn even during these challenging times. It also proved that when given the opportunity, artisans and crafters can level up the quality of their products while at the same time, come up with new and innovative products for the market.”
The award-winning agency Gigil, the all-Filipino owned agency, and the only Philippine agency to win gold in both Campaign Agency Of The Year (AOY)’s Philippine Creative Agency of the Year and Indie Agency of the Year, is behind the logo and tagline: ‘Encouraging Innovations, Disrupting Imaginations’. The lead creative behind the logo design is JR Bumanglag, who is from Baguio City.
