S.C.

Bayong

Brief History and Development of Bayong

Philippines is known to have two weather climate, warm and wet climate
and has been known to have an abundant soil and a variety of plants flourish (e.g.
buri tree) here that’s why Spaniards and other conqueror sought to obtain and
conquer the natural resources of the country. Buri palm tree is huge plant that began
to flower once in its life. After it produces a large amount of fruit, it will die. Buri
tree can turn into a whole range of products such as fans, hats especially the most
popular is the Bayong.

Bayong refers to bags made by weaving dried leaves traditionally from Buri
tree in Visayas and Pandan Luzon, commonly used in Spanish era. It is a hand-
woven native mat bag made of buri palm leaves in the Visayan areas. The very first
ever bag made by tagbanwa people, one of the oldest ethnic groups in the
Philippines that can be found in central and northern Palawan. Baskets and
woodcarvings are the most notable products of Tagbanwa artistic crafts today. They
excel in the number of designs they apply to their tingkop (harvest basket). Bayong
created immense impact to the Philippines since it is known to be the one of the
export product of the country. The Bayong that is usually used by local people
when going to market has evolved into a more fashionable style. Environmentalist
and local designers come up with an idea of giving Bayong a new twist by dyeing
the leaves and adding fashionable designs that suite to the fashionable taste of
younger generations. Also Bayong is now popular souvenir to those foreigners
when visiting the Philippines.
Evolution of Bayong, from traditional to a fashionable one