The Handmade Business Story

27/09/2025

Hindi laging bad si “nega”.

I meant sa graphic design.

Yung NEGATIVE SPACE.

Yung parte ng canvas na walang laman- design elements man or text.

Minsan, kailangan paliitin ang subject at palakihin ang negative space to emphasize the point.

Less clutter.

Less noise, the greater the impact.

Yung parang taong nagsalita ng mahina pero ang diin ng bigkas at tipong mapapatigil ka to pay attention.

That’s what NEGATIVE SPACE does in design- it clears the room and leaves that one significant message to speak the loudest.

Without screaming. 😱

16/09/2025

I had been thinking long and hard if I should talk about the latest issues on corruption that fill the airwaves and various media platforms. This page after all is all about handmade business- crafts, designing and creating and building a business from the work of hands.

Bumigay din ako.

I couldn’t help myself.

When one works in the development sector, one is hard put to answer the what-ifs that pop up when staggering amount in trillions of pesos lost in corruption do invade one’s head.

I had forgotten how many digits a trillion has and I had to google it pa.

According to Greenpeace Philippines, Php 1.089 TRILLION of “climate-tagged expenditure” by the government got lost to corruption since 2023. Wala pa dyan yung sa previous years.

A few months back, I was teaching digital marketing to micro business owners in the BARMM areas in Mindanao.

My worries of not being understood either because of the literacy level or the language barrier or the interest in the subject were all wiped out by far bigger obstacles:

Hindi lahat ay may smartphones kahit na no-brand.

Wala ding signal.

Madalas mag brownout.

Yung ibang matyaga, bumabyahe pa sa bayan at tumatambay kung saan may signal to do their online marketing.

Many kids had also stopped going to school and were forced to eke out a living to help the families.

Psyche and self-confidence were low because that’s what lack of education and poverty does to people who have less in life.

So I tried computing the Php 1.089 trillion in 3 years- how much per year were lost to corruption.

Na-windang ang calculator at binigyan ako ng sagot in exponential form dahil hindi magkasya ang zeros sa calculator! 😵‍💫🥴😵

( Akala ko ako lang ang nahihilo sa math…😁).

So in the last 2 years and this year, Php 363 BILLION per year ang nawala and this amount only accounts certain climate-related projects.

Dahil mahirap maarok ang ganitong halaga, I tried to put a visual representation for the magnitude of the amount.

Here goes:

P363 BILLION is equivalent to:

☑️ 330 classrooms that can fit 50 students per room

☑️ 7.2 Million of laptops for students (P50k priced laptops)

☑️ 4.5 Million Starlink internet, equipment and paid monthly fees for a year, that can be distributed in 4.5 million places and islands in the Philippines!

☑️ 181 houses at 100 sq. Meter size for Filipinos

☑️ 2.4 million decent solar panel system for far-flung provinces and places

☑️ 2.9 million sacks of premium rice at 50 kilos per sack!

☑️ Or P3,103 added to the pockets of every single Filipino for the last 3 years!

Whew!

Ang dami pang pwedeng I-compute on how this humongous amount could have served common Pinoys. 🥺

Sayang.

Sana may pag-asa pa.

Meron pa.

Basta walang bibitiw in making those accountable pay the price.

Forget about political party affiliation.

Iisang bansa tayo. 🇵🇭💜💪🏼

01/09/2025

🍫 Your packaging is your silent salesman.
This local chocolate bar shows how it’s done—sharing its story, values, and benefits in every fold. 🌱✨

It is not just a cover—it’s a canvas for your brand’s story.

🔎 Take this local chocolate bar: in just a glance, it tells you about its Halal certification, the health benefits of dark chocolate, and even the farmers’ journey behind every bar.

That’s more than packaging—it’s storytelling that builds trust, connects with values, and inspires people to choose consciously. 🌱💛

Remember: every word, image, and detail on your packaging is part of your marketing. Make it count.

👉 What’s the story your packaging tells?

____

Thank you Shim of TMI for the chocolate bar! 😋

28/08/2025

✨ Great products deserve great presentation! ✨
Visual merchandising is more than just arranging items — it’s about telling a story, guiding the eye, and creating an experience that invites customers to stop, look, and buy.

Here are 5 tips for eye-friendly displays (for both food & non-food):

1️⃣ Create focal points – Highlight bestsellers or new arrivals at eye level.

2️⃣ Group by theme or color – Make it easy for the eyes to scan and connect products.

3️⃣ Balance abundance & space – Avoid clutter, but don’t make shelves look empty.

4️⃣ Use textures & heights – Mix levels, props, and surfaces to add visual interest.

5️⃣ Keep it fresh & clean – Regularly rotate stock and ensure everything looks inviting.

Remember: a well-arranged display isn’t just pretty — it builds trust, communicates quality, and drives sales. 🌟

👉 Want to learn more about merchandising that sells? Follow us for more tips & inspiration!

25/08/2025

I had sent my proposed designs to my client a few days ago. It was seen, I know, indicated by the double ticks at the corner. Since then everyday, I would check for a reply.

Nada.

No message.

My impatient self is starting to complain.

“Nabasa na, ‘di pa nag-reply!”

This morning, I followed up again and I got so guilty with the reply. 🫣

Just because things look fine on the surface from where we stand, we assumed that it is so. Truth is, we aren’t privy to the going-ons inside other people’s lives.

Including the pain they bear when wrestling with their own struggles. Or worse, loss.

Even if the relationship is business in nature.

Sa sobrang remorse ko sa pagkulit sa kanya, I even told the client not to reply anymore. 😁

The lesson for myself?

There’s not only one reason when we don’t get answers right away- hindi tayo laging ini-snub ( May self-esteem issue ba dito? 😏😅).

Sometimes, it’s bigger than us, heavier even for the others.

👉🏻 Do you have a similar story to share?

21/08/2025

👀 Wat hafen, entrepreneur? Why u crying agen? Because your posts don’t go viral?

I saw this banner while driving on the stretch of Marcos Highway in Marikina. 🙂

✨Here’s the thing:

Brilliant Skin’s billboard works because it latched onto a trending phrase + cultural moment. People stopped, laughed, shared—and suddenly, a skincare brand became the topic of the day.

✨ Handmade business tip:

You don’t always need a big budget.

You need timing + creativity. Ride on trending events, memes, or cultural conversations—but twist it in a way that connects to your product or story.

That’s how you get noticed.

🚀 Anong trending idea ang pwede mong i-latch para mapansin ang brand mo today?

12/08/2025

Breaking down the assignment. 🫡

Design Brief:

1. Showcase the various weaving, macramé, and rope making skills of Aklan.

✅ 𝙄 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙖 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 ( 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙖 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨), 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙢é.

2. Incorporate the handpainting skills by the youths of Kalibo.

✅ 𝙔𝙪𝙥, 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨.

3. While doing the above, keep costs at a reasonable rate.

✅ 𝙄 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙪𝙢 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚. 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙪𝙢 𝙩𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙.

4. Design should be functional, should make sense to the customer.

✅ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙖𝙜 “𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜”. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙢 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜.

5. Tap the abandoned community of makers of Gifts and Graces Fair Trade Foundation that had closed shop.

✅ 𝙎𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙜, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙞ñ𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩.

6. Quality of workmanship should match the premium materials to be used.

✅ 𝘼 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚!

𝙏𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙬𝙧𝙖𝙥 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙩. 𝘼 𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙖 𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙜, 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙.

7. Should be executed in a month’s time. 😅

✅ 𝙈𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙩. 😅

For the opportunity to express creativity though product development, salamat Candelario! 🙏

04/08/2025

During the the last workshop I attended and conducted by Ms. French and Ms. Reginairene, I was asked on what to do with people who bad-mouth businesses on pages.

In brief, I think I suggested just blocking off the commenter and hiding the comments.

However, I had another answer that I failed to share because I didn’t want to take up too much of the trainers’ time in the already tightly-packed schedule.

This is my 2nd answer:

If you’re in the right ( the business owner) , respectfully counter the bad comments made by someone in your page. Provide clarity by taking each issue and replying to it.

𝙂𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙠𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤 𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙖𝙜-𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

Just hiding the comment is not an assurance that someone hasn’t read it already.

False claims left unopposed may be construed as true.

It may take up much energy to counter such, but small business owners who had staked so much with their livelihood can also lose business in a snap when reputation gets tarnished.

As in real life, we dismantle falsehood by fighting with TRUTH.

👉🏻 Anong gagawin mo pag nangyari ito sa iyo?

24/07/2025

I had been quiet for a while in this page, may nilalabanan lang po na inner turmoil. Pero tuloy ang work kahit tahimik sa social media po. ☔️🌂☔️

04/07/2025

Sa uulitin. 🙂

25/06/2025

Food for thought.



https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19WEWa6URv/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Palawan has everything. Gubat, dagat, ganda.
​
Pero tanungin mo ang kahit sinong Pinoy: "Anong pagkain ang kilala sa Palawan?"
​
… tahimik lahat.
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Sa Five300, napapaisip kami, hindi lang sa "bakit kulang," pero sa "paano kaya kung meron?"
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This isn't a lecture.
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It’s a reflection. A mix of cultural observation and branding insight, mula sa mga taong araw-araw iniintindi kung paano nagiging kwento ang isang lugar.
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NALILITO KAMI AT 'YUN ANG HINDI BIRO
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When you're in branding, silence is a red flag.
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Trabaho naming unawain kung paano nagiging brand ang isang lugar.
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Paano nagiging kwento ang kultura. Paano nagiging pangkabuhayan ang identity.
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Pero sa Palawan? Parang may nawawalang piraso.
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Sobrang lakas ng nature branding pero kapag pagkain ang usapan, parang walang malinaw na kwento. Hindi pa kilala ang Palawan bilang food destination. Kahit tayo mismong mga Pilipino, bihirang makaisip ng lutong Palawan na iconic.
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At kung branding ang lens mo, alam mong sayang ito. Kasi may pwedeng buuin pero wala pang gustong magsimula.
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HINDI KASALANAN NG PALAWAN. KASAYSAYAN NIYA 'TO
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Most iconic Philippine dishes came from places that became cultural crossroads.
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Pampanga? Colonial hub at US base, kaya naging fusion heaven.
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Iloilo? Port city, sugar capital, Chinese-Spanish-local influences, kaya may batchoy.
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Pero Palawan? Lagi siyang nasa gilid.
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Hindi naging kabisera. Hindi naging trading center. Frontier siya, buffer zone, backdoor ng Pilipinas.
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So while other places evolved their food identity through intense cultural mixing, Palawan stayed on the periphery, independent, diverse, and somewhat disconnected from the usual patterns of culinary fusion.
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DIVERSE FLAVORS, WALANG COMMON THREAD (YET)
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Tingnan natin closely:
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May Tagbanua, Palaw’an, at Batak—forest-based food systems, with deep ancestral knowledge of plants, preservation, and foraging
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May Cuyonon culture sa Cuyo—indigenous roots with layers of Spanish colonial history and maritime exchange, resulting in dishes shaped by ritual, practicality, and seasonality
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May Muslim communities sa southern Palawan—with rich halal traditions and spice-forward cuisine rooted in Sulu and Mindanaoan heritage
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May migrants from Luzon at Visayas—bringing lowland Filipino staples that adapt over time to local ingredients
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Ang dami, ‘di ba?
Lahat may sariling kwento pero wala pa tayong narrative na nagtatahi sa lahat ng ito bilang “lutong Palawan.”
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Baka hindi dahil kulang.
Baka dahil wala pang gustong buuin ito nang buo with sensitivity, storytelling, at disenyong marunong makinig.
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KAPAG SOBRANG GANDA, MINSAN NAITATAGO ANG TAO
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When nature is the headline, the people become footnotes.
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Palawan is world-famous for its nature. “Last Ecological Frontier.” Underground rivers. Jagged cliffs. Turquoise waters.
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But in that narrative of untouched paradise, culture sometimes gets sidelined.
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Not intentionally. Pero kapag binebenta mo ang “pristine,” minsan nagmumukhang istorbo ang lutong bahay, ang tradisyon, ang kwento ng komunidad.
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At dito lumalabas ang tension:
How do you honor nature without erasing the people who live in harmony with it?
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MAY MATAMIS, MAY ASIM, PERO LAHAT MAY KWENTO
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From the soil to the stove, every flavor has a root.
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Sa Cuyo, kitang-kita kung paano nagiging buhay ang pagkain. Hindi ito fancy. Hindi pang-display. Pero may lalim, may ugat sa lupa, sa oras, at sa ugali ng tao.
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Meron silang mga panghimagas na gawa sa kasoy:
Sinanlag na Kasoy, Bandi, Cashew brittle, Cashew candy, at Cashew salted. Simpleng treats, pero matibay ang ugnay sa kalikasan at komunidad.
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May mga kakanin din na hindi sikat sa labas, pero bahagi ng pang-araw-araw:
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* Boti-Boti – processed rice grains na binalot sa caramelized sugar; superb as snack or dessert
* Kombo – delicacy made from banana, best for snacks
* Cuyo Island Langgaw – vinegar made from coconut
* Latong Cuyo – seaweed salad na isinasama sa lutong-isda o pagkaing dagat
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Samantala, sa El Nido, Cashew Chicken has found its place on restaurant menus, served in several eateries and embraced by locals and tourists alike.
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Hindi man ito heritage dish gaya ng mga nasa Cuyo, pero it proves one thing:
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Kapag may ingredient na iconic sa lugar, may puwesto siya sa kwento.
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These aren’t just recipes, they’re regional expressions.
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At kung bubuoin natin ang “lutong Palawan,” baka hindi ito isang dish lang, kundi koleksyon ng kwento, panlasa, at paraan ng pamumuhay mula iba't ibang sulok ng isla.
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PUWEDE BANG I-DISENYO ANG KWENTO?
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Design isn't decoration. It’s direction.
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Bilang isang design studio, alam naming mahalaga ang kwento. Pero mahalaga rin kung paano ito ipinapasa.
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Kaya tanong namin: paano kung i-design natin ang “lutong Palawan” bilang isang cultural experience?
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- Typography for food packaging that reflects indigenous patterns
- Menus and signage that tell stories, not just prices
- Farm-to-table setups that double as learning spaces
- Wayfinding or food trails connecting dishes to geography
- Community-based cookbooks with bilingual explanations and illustrations
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Kung ang mga kwento ay sangkap, ang disenyo ang kalan.
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Wala sa “ganda” lang ang hinahanap, nasa intensyon at direksyon.
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DOCUMENTATION NA WALANG DISTRIBUTION
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Kung may dokumento pero walang nakakarinig, parang nilutong hindi naihain.
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May mga gumagalaw na siguro.
Heritage programs. Recipe research. Ingredient mapping.
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Pero kung nananatili lang sa archive o exhibit, kulang pa rin.
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Documentation is only half the story.
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Kung walang audience, kung walang experience, kung walang platform, hindi siya branding. Hindi siya memory. Hindi siya identity.
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PAGKAIN: PINAKAMADALING CULTURAL ENTRY POINT
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Before they see the museum, they’ll try the food.
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Food is the most accessible cultural bridge.
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You don’t need a degree to appreciate flavor. You just need curiosity.
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Kaya lang, sa Palawan ngayon, parang:
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Tourist menus are globalized
Tours are landscape-focused
Culture feels optional, not integral
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And that’s not a failure.
It’s a missed opportunity.
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Pero puwedeng ayusin.
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SIMULAN SA ISA
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Start with one dish. One ingredient. One story.
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Hindi kailangang i-brand agad ang buong lalawigan.
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- Connect it to place
- Tell the story visually and emotionally
- Let communities share it in their own voice
- Build experiences around it: cooking demos, food walks, farm visits
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Mula roon, puwedeng mag-expand. Mag-evolve.
Maging alon, hindi alingasngas.
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REFRAME, HUWAG PALITAN
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Nature-first branding can still spotlight culture.
Palawan doesn’t have to drop its nature-first identity.
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But it can show that:
Nature and culture are not opposites, they’re partners.
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"Where pristine nature meets ancient flavors."
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Kung ang kalikasan ang stage, ang kultura ang kwento.
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Kung environment ang bida, ang food ang proof na pwedeng mamuhay ng may respeto sa lupa at dagat.
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HINDI 'TO KUSANG LALABAS
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Branding doesn’t happen by accident.
It takes intention. Design. Community buy-in. Infrastructure. Documentation. Distribution. Time.
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Palawan has the ingredients. The people. The story.
What it needs now is the platform and the push.
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BOTTOM LINE: MAY LAMAN KANA. IKAW NA LANG ANG MAGKUWENTO
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Palawan is already one of the strongest place brands in the country.
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But it still has room to grow deeper.
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This isn’t a criticism, it’s an invitation.
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Let’s build a food identity that reflects who Palawan truly is:
Diverse. Rooted. Resilient. Masarap. Makabuluhan.
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Ikaw naman.
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May alam ka bang luto, kwento, o tao na puwedeng maging bahagi ng cultural brand ng Palawan?
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At anong klaseng suporta ang kailangan nila para maikwento ‘yon sa mas marami?
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24/06/2025

Do not throw out all those kraft paper bag packaging you get when you shop!

Cut them into sheets and transform them into fun, gift wrappings! 😄

You are helping Mother Earth and you’re unleashing your creative powers! ✨

👉🏻Check out below what I did with my own stash.😊🎁💝