MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Local artisans from the municipality of Tugaya in the province of Lanao del Sur expressed their joy over the opportunity given to them to showcase their products during the recently held Meranaw Artisan Summit.
Alirasul Panompang of the Tugaya Bros & Sisters Cooperative conveyed that the event was a big help in promoting and making their brasswares known to the public.
He recalled that their business was stable years ago but with the eruption of siege in the city here in 2017 followed by the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic, they were drastically affected, thus, their sales dropped down.
Panompang stressed that with the provincial government leading the summit, the constituents were reposted of their existence and struggle for survival.
“Okay ni sa amoa para sa promotion ug mahibaloan sa nasud nga naay produkto didto sa amoang lugar sa Mindanao, sa Tugaya, nga mga antique,” he said.
[This is okay to us for our promotion and so the country will know that there are products from our place in Mindanao, in Tugaya, which are antiques.]
Panompang added that if this summit would urge more customers to patronize their products, more Meranaws would likewise be encouraged to venture into the same field.
On the other hand, Master Artist Lantong Pangcoga also from Tugaya town showed his happiness, stating that the summit gave them a chance to reintroduce themselves to the people.
“Actually, hindi kami masyadong napapansin pero ngayon, napakasaya. Pagkakataon namin itong mga artisan. Matagal namin itong hinihintay,” he said.
[Actually, we are not really given attention but now, we are happy. This is our time, artisans. We waited for this for a long time.]
Pangcoga is looking forward to the provincial government's continuing support as they would need it to survive. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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