PJ Aranador, the pride of the Ilonggos where fashion and creative designs are concerned, has an avocation so noble that caught our attention. He is the wonderful person behind the colorful square baskets featured here.
He teaches the young students of ESCUELA , the making of the square basket. It is made of fine handwoven bamboo strips. The process is quite intricate, from gusset to twining the corners, creating the spokes, upsetting the corners, weaving the side rows, splicing and finishing, cutting and tucking, rimming and finally lashing. He stressed further that he is not into perfection, but charm. Then refining the product as it progresses.
As a clincher, PJ says, "sure we will move on to more demanding designs on round basket. I'm so happy for these kids spending their time on crafts. I guess I am cloning myself on them to be a future craft- teacher too!"
If we have a hundred PJ's the world is a comfortable place to live in. Mabuhay ka PJ!
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