| Good Shepherd Sisters, Ibay, Capuyan |
Souvenirs from Baguio In the Filipino culture, having to go out of town is synonymous to carrying home some pasalubong from the trip the folks left behind. In the case of Baguio, three brands ring perfectly for worthwhile souvenirs: Good Shepherd, Ibay’s, and Narda’s.More than being a compassionate order of nuns, the Good Shepherd Sisters has since been known for harnessing their talents in serving the community through entrepreneurship among other charitable works. Good Shepherd has been very famous when it comes to producing well-known goodies from Baguio: strawberry jam, peanut brittle, and their guaranteed specialty the ube jam. They are also selling other products like ensaymada, raisin bread, cinnamon swirl, guyabano candies, and even hand-made greeting cards which are being exported to Germany and other European countries. “The good thing about us getting into entrepreneurship besides honestly selling quality products is that we’re doing it for a larger cause,” said Sr. Mary Suzanne Sinense. “See, once people buy our products, they are not only getting the finest taste Baguio has to offer but they are also sending students from the Cordilleras to school, as part of our earnings from selling are allocated for their education.” The leading silver jewelry company in the country’s summer capital, Ibay’s Silver Shop is also considered by many Baguio rovers as a trusted name when it comes to pasalubong. While Good Shepherd specializes on sweets, Ibay’s has its name engraved in Baguio commerce as a master of silver works.  Established in 1975, Ibay’s has developed a sterling reputation for its thousands of innovative, original designs and quality jewelry, which are recognized by its growing clientele not only in the Philippines but in many parts of the world as well.In it’s website (www.ibaysilvershop.com ), it is boldly stated that “a trip to Baguio is not complete without going to an Ibay’s Silver Shop to buy pasalubong,” and having tour companies include Ibay’s as part of their itinerary and one of their destination shops, the claim serves as a genuine silver-like testimony, which is not designed to fade. On the other hand, Narda’s, located at Upper Session Road, is well known for Narda Capuyan's original woven cloths that gained international prominence. Capuyan’s designs have been copied by other local weavers and are selling in the dry goods markets vibrantly. Beginning with blankets, Capuyan moved on to hotel furnishings, bedspreads, draperies and upholstery fabrics. Japanese and American designers were among her first buyers, making her creation as the first bag to get featured in Women’s Wear Daily in New York.  “I have revived the Ikat, which is a very old tradition of tying and dyeing segments of the thread before weaving, and that’s what gives distinction to my works,” said Capuyan, a family-planning nurse whose hand-knitting hobby attracted mothers to weave to keep them busy from making more babies.Narda’s has expanded to branches in Makati and the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. On July 27, Good Shepherd, Ibay’s, and Narda’s will be hailed by Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as an Inspiring Baguio Entrepreneur, an award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship as part of the Go Negosyo Teen Edition slated at Teachers Camp, Baguio City. Teen Negosyo is part of PCE’s latest campaign, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions in key cities outside Metro Manila. The Caravan has already visited Cebu and Bacolod. Teen Negosyo is a project in partnership with the Department of Education-Center for Student and Co-Curricular Affairs through the representation of its Executive Director Joey Pelaez. Teen Negosyo is presented by Philippine Airlines, PAGCOR, Globe, Hyundai, PLDT, Smart, Islands Souvenirs, DTI-OTOP, PTTC, and RFM Corporation. Other partners of the event include The Philippine Star, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Ideal Minds Corporation, The Master’s Lighthouse Foundation, and Full Circle Communications. |
