Dabawenyos' pride at Chimes Store

DAVAO City's exclusive specialty shop is now offering proudly-made Filipino products.

On June 13, the Filipiniana Section was launched on the third floor of Chimes Specialty Store along Sales street.

The venture is in collaboration with Davao Ecocrafts Association and the Department of Tourism Region 11.

"This is the first extension of Davao Ecocrafts since it opened at the Aldevinco Shopping Center last August 2011," Mary Ann Montemayor said in an interview during the launch.

The section showcases not just high-end products but affordable items as well.

"We are happy with the partnership with Chimes since we have been looking for a place to extend. There are a lot of producers in the Davao Region who want to sell their products and our space has been limited," she said.

All products in the Filipiniana Section and the Davao Ecocrafts in Aldevinco are produced by micro-small- medium enterprises from the Davao Region. The venture supports SMEs of the region, encouraging and cultivating the multi-faceted creativity of the Davao and Mindanao crafters, weavers and food producers.

"We hope to bring in more producers in the future and provide ample space for them," she said.

The section showcases house ware, decors, bags, fashion accessories, notebooks, shawl and other ethnic products which are 70 hand-made, she said.

"We can do what other countries are doing by promoting their own products. Dapat hindi tayo mahiya na suot natin ay gawa natin. We need to patronize our own," she said.

Montemayor adds that the quality of Philippine made-products now is far different from before and its quality is at par with global standards.

"This section gives tribute to the hands of artisans," she said.

Participating in the Filipiniana Section are core members of Davao Ecocrafts, namely: Le Mar Arts & Crafts by Montemayor, Crystal Seas by Mae and Carmela Alcantara, Tadeco Livelihood Training Centre by Maricris Floirendo-Brias and Juvey Fernandez, Great Gifts and Souvenirs by Leny Castillo; and Tanoy Furnitures by Mercy Tanoy.

"This is the first time in Chimes to have a section like this. If you notice in all department stores in all malls, they have a Filipiniana Section," Chimes owner Cindy Yap said.

The primary objective of the partnership is to showcase the best of Davao and Mindanao products, highlighting the handmade novelty items that the artisans of our region proudly produce, according to its press statement.

The new section hopes to boost the sense of pride of Filipinos knowing that our artisans can produce items that are exceptionally creative, unique and of superior quality.

The new destination for shoppers indeed highlights the creativity of Filipinos to buy our own and use our very own products.