Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Weaving artistry By Jenara Regis Newman
OUT in the sleepy barangay of Looc, San Remegio, is an unpretentious showcase of cane weaving artistry. It belongs to the couple Rufino and Annie Pelicano whose business is named A&R Hapao Basket Supplier. Hapao is a kind of cane weaving, and that is what the place is known for, though Rufino says they do other things with their kind of weaves like sinadyap, open weave and squash weaving.
Rufino was once a sample maker for an export company in Metro Cebu, as well as quality controller. He then ventured on his own, supplying baskets solely for one exporter. When that contract ended, he thought of quitting the trade. But when the mayor’s wife, Ada Martinez, came to buy baskets from him, he decided to continue with the craft. It has become a joint undertaking for him and his wife: she handles sales and marketing while he designs and oversees his workers and controls the quality of their output. For this, they put up a little showroom where one can see and buy samples of what the company can do: trays, baskets, placemats, coasters, tables and chairs, balls, boxes, hampers, dividers, planters. Most are done in purely hapao weave but there are articles with bamboo and laminated capiz shell.
Aside from what they have on display, the couple can also weave other things, other shapes as specified by their customers. They have done one table “cover” and hampers of specified shapes and sizes for one customer. For another, they have made a lamp shade inspired by a sample planter they have on display.
The hardworking couple’s main customers are exporters but walk-in customers are welcome, whether they buy an article or two, or a dozen or more. Annie will be glad to show any customer around.
(Anyone who wants to go all the way to San Remegio just for the baskets had better call for an appointment. Annie’s cell phone number is 0917-331-2443; Rufino’s is 0917-336-5762)
