Handicrafts in Baguio

If you are planning to give someone a gift or a great souvenir item while in Baguio, one of the ideas you can have is to give them some handicrafts. Because of the cozy yet simple aura achieved by handicrafts, most people nowadays have realized its potential in becoming a creative way of gift-giving. In Baguio, handicrafts are one of the most potent forms of livelihood relied upon by their locals. There are plenty of places where you can actually purchase these handicrafts. Sometimes you can even find yourself bargaining for cheaper prices and in the end, you’ll get the price that you have wanted to purchase these handicrafts for.

What are Handicrafts?

As the term implies, handicrafts are hand-made craftsmanship. It started as something which does not involve the use of machines. However, as its marketability increased, you will find that some handicrafts shops already use certain types of tools and machines to aid in making the products. But still for the most part, most of the handicrafts are creatively produced through the craftsman’s own hands.

Handicrafts are also made from natural products. In the Philippines, one popular ingredient in handicrafts is the Abaca plant. This plant is known for durability and strength which is why even furniture handicrafts can be made out of it. In addition, handicrafts also use other natural fibers obtained from plants like the pineapple to produce cloth-like materials needed.

Handicrafts as Gifts

Because handicrafts are very flexible, it has evolved from something that brings individual satisfaction into special types of gifts. When you travel, most of the souvenir shops you will visit have their own breed of handicrafts mostly bought as a token of remembrance for that special trip. In Baguio, most of the handicrafts which you will find are made out of wood. This tradition can actually be traced back to the Ifugao natives who inhabited the land.

Their fine wood craftsmanship can be displayed from something as complex as Catholic statues to ideas as funny and naughty as the Baguio-famous “Barrel Man.” There are lots of different options which you can choose from and in Baguio, you will be surprised with how cheap these handicrafts can actually be. You can even find big pieces of furniture for very affordable prices. This is also the reason why most people prefer to travel to Baguio with big vehicles because they already anticipate the possibility of buying handicrafts as they visit the place.