A recent trip to the beach made me think of a way to make money off of a material I have in my possession. Or at least have a group of people start a way of marketing this material. Typically “banig” are used as sleeping mats , but I thought of using it as my beach mat as opposed to the beach towel mats that are sold in dept. stores for more than the bargain I paid when I bought the mat at Talipapa in Boracay for $0.99. I was rolling my mat after sunbathing when this woman approached me. She had been eyeing my banig the whole time I was religiously getting my tan. She said she used the same mat to sleep-in growing up in Belize. She thought I bought it around town in Carlsbad. Of course I told her the whole schpill & suggested to check it out on her next trip to Mexico. I’m pretty sure they use the same mat for sleeping. I felt like a dumb-ass when I walked away. I thought what a way to educate people with Philippine Art & Culture. I didn’t even suggest to check out the Filipino stores they might have around town if they carry the material.
So I’m proposing this idea to some of you Pinoys out there who’s reading this that maybe know of a way to market the buri mats. And to think they come in patterns, and in different shapes, colors, and sizes. For better description and origination of this unique material I suggest you read this article I found on the web:
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about_cultarts/
