BEAUTY is not found in one’s appearance alone, but it is found beneath the surface as well. That beauty comes with stories to tell. That kind of beauty is found in Tahum, a Pop Up Festival.
From Feb. 22 to 24, Tahum exhibited a wide array of local products in the Iloilo Business Park Showroom at Megaworld. From food to apparels to furniture to jewelries, and a whole lot more, anything you could ask for is found in the festival.
Tahum does not only showcase local products alone, but in every purchase a guest makes is a huge impact to a life of a scholar deserving of an Assumption education.
Around 60 exhibitors from Iloilo, Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Antique, and Capiz showcase local items that scream the meaning of beauty. Creatively crafted and beautifully designed, these local products are indeed worthy to be described as ‘matahum’. But what makes these products more beautiful than they already are, are the stories behind rendered by the exhibitors themselves.
STORIES TO TELL
Panay News gathered beautiful stories from four exhibitors of the event:
Mr. Reggie Joey Benliro, owner of Pinearts Crafts shared the wonderful stories of the workers behind the beautiful items made out of shells.
“We are focused not just on our business but on helping people especially those who are damaged by their situations. One of my workers is a solo parent who takes care of her sick father, Grade 6 daughter, and autistic child. Another worker had her home totally damaged in typhoon Yolanda and after recovery a fire damaged her home. We also have another worker who suffered from depression because a few years back, his 12-year old daughter committed suicide.”
He added, “Their lives were wrecked so we were there to support and help them.”
Another exhibitor, Miss MM Cusi of Tickled Tripper shared their story. According to Cusi, Tickled Tripper started in 2013 with the aim to help the livelihood of Gawad Kalinga communities in Negros. The community is very skilled in sewing, so they made tote bags and souvenirs.
Moreover, their brand is inclined with helping communities, so they didn’t hesitate in joining Tahum since the festival’s purpose is to help a scholar.
Also, Mr. Adante Leyesa was one of the exhibitors. Leyesa himself told Panay News, “We support communities around the Philippines. If you see our products, they’re fusion of different communities, from Luzon to Mindanao.”
He further shared, “Tahum is our way of helping. We are supporting the cause of Tahum (which is to support a scholar deserving of Assumption education).”
Of course, Iloilo’s very own Panaderia de Molo shared their own story too. One of the owners and Assumption alumna herself, Miss Anna Maria Nava said, “The company started in 1872. It started with the building of the Molo de Plaza. Before, they use egg whites to cement the blocks. They didn’t know what to do about the egg yolks so they made it into biscuits.”
She added, “Our biscuits date back, it’s all by hand even up to now . . . There’s never a dull moment. Everything is done by hand.”
More than the crafts are the stories to tell—stories of the exhibitors and the stories of scholar who are working hard for their privilege of an Assumption education.
Tahum truly lived up to its name as beauty was found in those successful three days./PN
