#CavEAT: Cavinti Eco-Adventure Tour part 3 --- I heard that we will be going to Kalakal, the first thing that came to my mind is junk trade, here in Manila, we call junk trade as “kalakal”, but here in Cavinti, Laguna, the word kalakal is much the same as “trade”, but the difference is that they have a product to sell, trade and export. The main product that they are proud of are the pandan straw hats or called as “sambalilo”, and pandan woven baskets, floor mat, banig and many more.
“Sambalilo” word for straw woven hats are much the same as the word we used in Sampaloc, Quezon, It’s the most convenient hat that can help you be protected and beat the hot sun and also the best head gear with ventilation. All of woven items in Cavinti are made from dried and iron on pandan leaves, these leaves can be found in the rain forest of Mt. Banahaw and nearby mountains.
Pandan trees are big and they are easy to spot in the forest because they have this large leaves with lots of spikes. I remember that I injured my leg with some small pandan plants during my mountain hike or “pagsaka” in the mountains of Sampaloc, Quezon, that’s why I avoid them whenever I see one.
I also spotted lots of Pandan trees in the mountain where Pueblo El Salvador Eco Park is located, and I know there are lots of these trees sprouting anywhere because the mountains are well moist and weather is good.
The Kalakal pandan weaving and handicraft center is located at the covered basketball court of Cavinti, it’s a covered court located before reaching the town proper of Cavinti. You can coordinate with a local tourism officer of Cavinti if you want to visit this site, or just drop by and see if there are people weaving some hats and basket. You can also purchase right away if products are available.
I heard that a weaver can make 2-5 hats per day. And these pandan sambalilo hats are sold at PHP 35 for the plain colored, PHP 45 for the colored and PHP 65 for the multi colored design sambalilos.
Here are some newly dried pandan leaf strips colored by dye. The process of weaving will not start yet, because they need to iron this strips and cut away the other part of the strip. They follow a standard size and thickness of the strip.
As for my experience, I tried weaving a thing back in Quezon, and I can say that its not that easy.All I can weave is some strap like or belt like item. In my town, we call this “linas”, but its made from a buri plant and not pandan.
Here’s one of the awesome product of Cavinti. its my first time to see a beanie bag made up from Pandan leaves….awesome!! I heard that this item is priced at around PHP 1500.
Inside the weaving center of Cavinti.
The weaving center is operated by a cooperative – the Kalakal Cavinti Atbp. Coop, they do the weaving here and also do seminar and workshop for people who want to learn the art of weaving. The art is passed to the next generation, so that their local art of weaving won’t die through the next generation of time.
Last 2013, the Cavinti weavers produced the biggest sambalilo in the world, although not yet blessed by the Guinness Book of World Records, but we might hear a news soon about the certification if the Cavinti people set a new record or break a record for the humungous straw hat in the world.
the common woven shopping bag, or we call it also as “bayong”
Our local tourism officer explained some info about the business of the town.
Here’s a cool banig, or mat, the weaver said that the whole thing is not yet finished. The final product will cost around PHP3,000 up
Local weaver showed to us on how to make a sambalilo. I know how they do this, but I don’t know how they visualize the color and design for the sambalilo.
Nearly finish sambalilo, they will have to close the edges of this hat or do a “lilip” just like sewing.
The sambalilo are big and its nice to wear it on a hot sunny day.
That’s me….standing on a banig or mat
Here they iron on the sambalilo in order to straighten up its shape
they use LPG to fire up and heat the metal mold of the sambalilo.
Me inside the Kalakal pandan weaving center.
I super love this hat..I should pick this on the first place.
but..
My heart goes to this simple one colored sambalilo
It’s a bit big for me..but I managed to weave a holder in order to transform it into a cowboy hat hahahah
here’s what it looks like.
the sad tale is… I left this under the seat of our jeepney and forgot to pick it up, I remembered it when we rode the bus going back to Manila..
here’s how we enjoy the day of wearing a Cavinti Sambalilo
starring:
the bloggers from Manila
Jennifer Lopez Gana of www.jlofied.com
Sherlane Fortunado of www.rakethub.com
Azrael Coladilla of http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/
Athena Martinez Tria of www.thelifestyleavenue.com
Dems Angeles of www.demsangeles.com
Mike Laagan of www.mikelaagan.com
Resly George Amador of http://cablayextraordinarylife.blogspot.com/
Mskathykenny PR-Blogger of http://www.lifeiskulayful.com/
Chino Pantua of www.juanderfulpinoy.com
Dennis Marco of www.traveltropa.com
Martin Andrade of www.theindecenttruth.blogspot.com
Ay Lin of www.thedailyposh.net
Ann Ville Purificacion of http://annvassadress.tumblr.com/
Stacy Lyn II Liong of www.traveltripsters.com
Ross Flores Del Rosario of www.wazzuppilipinas.com
Ivan Stewart Baco Saldajeno of stutraveled.blogspot.com
Leo Kevin Salazar Mendiola of http://ohohleo.blogspot.com/
Maiko Dungo of http://connectmanila.blogspot.com/
Clarissa A. Tubeo of http://footontheloose.blogspot.com/
Rom Factolerin of http://pelikula-padayon.blogspot.com/
Leo Kevin Salazar Mendiola of http://ohohleo.blogspot.com/
Dems Angeles of www.demsangeles.com
Mskathykenny PR-Blogger of http://www.lifeiskulayful.com/
Athena Martinez Tria of www.thelifestyleavenue.com
Mike Laagan of www.mikelaagan.com
Clarissa A. Tubeo of http://footontheloose.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Lopez Gana of www.jlofied.com
Chino Pantua of www.juanderfulpinoy.com
Martin Andrade of www.theindecenttruth.blogspot.com
Resly George Amador of http://cablayextraordinarylife.blogspot.com/
So we wear the sambalilo all the time when we tour and explore around Cavinti, Laguna. We’re so happy that we got first a souvenir for the first day of the trip.
Part 4 is up next..so stay tuned
ABOUT CAVINTI ECO ADVENTUR TOUR
The #CavEAT: Cavinti Eco-Adventure Tour is a Tourism Advocacy Campaign to help generate online buzz for the upcoming Cavinti Water Sports Olympics: 1st International Competition happening on February 8-14, 2015.
2015 Cavinti Water Sports Olympics: 1st International Competition
watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWEVHpaEylU
The #CavEAT: Cavinti Eco-Adventure Tour is organized by Herald C. Bebis for the Municipality of Cavinti headed by Hon. Mayor Milbert Oliveros. The event is fully supported by the Cavinti Municipal Tourism Office, DigitalFilipino, Pelikula Padayon, Caliraya Lake Mountain Resort, Camarin Resort and Lago Fishing Village.
HOW TO GET THERE IN CAVINTI, LAGUNA
1. Ride Sta. Cruz, Laguna bound DLTB Bus in Buendia Terminal, located below Gil Puyat LRT
2. Bus fare to Sta. Cruz, Laguna is PHP 140 (air con bus)
3. Drop off at DLTB Sta. Cruz terminal
4. Ride a a tricycle or jeep going to Sta. Cruz Market
5. At the market, look for the jeepney that will take you to Cavinti, Laguna
6. If you will go straight to Caliraya Lake, ride the Lumban-Cavinti Jeep
7. If you will go straight to Cavinti town proper, then ride the Pagsanjan-Cavinti jeep (this jeep will take you to Bumbungan resort, and also the Cavinti Municipal Tourism Office)
8. If you will go back to Manila, just go back to Sta. Cruz bus terminals, DLTB bus last trip to Manila is around 7:45pm
9. Other option: You can also ride a Lucban jeep in Sta. Cruz, you can drop off at Cavinti junction and just ride a tricycle going to Bumbungan Eco Park or to town proper
TOUR ORGANIZERHerald C. Bebis
www.facebook.com/heraldbebis
09055174371
