Best products to buy in the Philippines

7 Best products to buy in the Philippines: best things to buy in the philippines, What to buy in the Philippines. If you’re looking to purchase intricate handicrafts, home furnishings, jewellery, embroidery, and baskets, the Philippines is a great place to shop.

Purchasing traditional crafts like silks and sculptures inevitably contributes to the support of a fragile and still-expanding economy.

Best things to buy in the philippines

There are plenty of handcrafted, excellent products available in marketplaces all across Manila and the neighbouring islands if you’re looking to purchase something a little more locally created.

Antiques

Best products to buy in the Philippines: It should come as no surprise that a significant quantity of porcelain is available in stores across Manila, given that the Philippines was once part of the Chinese commercial routes.

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However, if you intend to buy any antiques, exercise caution and ensure that the objects you buy are certified. Interesting saint statues, or santos, can also be found in the smaller stores in the older Ilocos towns like Vigan, as well as in the antique shops in Ermita and Makati.

Baskets made by hand

A variety of natural fibres, including bamboo, rattan, nipa, and other palms, are used to weave handwoven baskets. With a wide range of regional styles showcasing distinctive craftsmanship, the Philippines’ basket industry thrives and exports a lot of its products outside.

7 Best products to buy in the Philippines

These handmade baskets are valued for their decorative and practical qualities. They can also be found around tourist attractions and most markets, and they are available in a wide variety of sizes.

Brass objects

Best products to buy in the Philippines: Because the first Filipino smiths were situated in Mindanao (Lanao Del Sur), brassware is a speciality of the region.

Gongs, bed frames, betel nut boxes, jewellery boxes, and canon reproductions are still made by local artisans. Be cautious when buying brassware,

just as you would with antiques. The stores that sell these items also sell ceremonial canopies for feasts and weddings that are embroidered and sequined.

Embroidery

There are numerous variations of the barong Tagalog, ranging from pricey, formal styles to the short-sleeved ones that are frequently seen on tourists.

You have the option of using the more affordable, machine-embroidered ramie or the translucent pineapple fibre known as piqa,

both of which can be embroidered with exquisite handiwork. Women can choose from a large variety of embroidered clothing items, including the lengthier barong dress, embroidered kaftans, and jelabas (loose-fitting robes), as well as matching scarves, purses, and handkerchiefs.

Jewellery

The most common types of jewellery found in the Philippines are shell and silver, which it has traded for centuries. Mother-of-pearl is probably the most popular, followed by coral and tortoise shells (though we don’t recommend buying these materials).

The best place to shop for silver jewellery is in Baguio, where training from St. Louis University has produced skilled students to preserve the fine craftsmanship of creating jewellery.

mats

Best products to buy in the Philippines: The majority of mats made in the Philippines are vibrant blends of woven pandan leaves, and they are frequently utilised as interior décor in many residences and hotels.

The majority of pandan mats in Luzon are coloured naturally, although those from Leyte and Samar in the Visayas have more intricate patterns.

The geometric patterns on the mats from Basilan and Sulu result in an intriguing final product. You may find these affordable folk art pieces in Cebu, Davao, and Zamboanga.

Carvings in wood

When travelling to the Philippines, woodcarvings are a must-buy. Ifugao Province in North Luzon is home to the Ifugao people who carve exquisite wood.

Best products to buy in the Philippines: Some of the woodcarving artefacts offered at Ermita’s tourism area include religious carvings and animal totems from Palawan.

If you want to learn more about the local way of life and find some great deals, you should make it a point to visit the market. Additionally, you’ll discover that most traders speak English fluently, so haggling for a lower price is always an option.