BULUAN, Maguindanao (MindaNews / 13 Feb) – Presidential son Baste Duterte is pushing for Mindanao products, including Maguindanao’s “inaul,” a hand-woven fabric with intricate design that has been around for centuries.
Baste Duterte touring the inaul exhibits at the trade expo on Monday during the 2nd Inaul Festival in Buluan, Maguindanao. MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH CABRERA
Speaking on Monday as guest of honor at the cooking show during the Second Inaul Festival, the young Duterte urged Filipinos to be proud of their own culture. He was at the cooking show featuring delicacies inspired by the “palapa,” a local appetizer composed of onions, chili, coconut and ginger.
“I’m looking for my identity here as a true Filipino,” Baste said, adding that “we have to choose that we are Filipino” and not promote foreign influence.
He was invited by the provincial government of Maguindanao led Gov.
Esmael Mangudadatu’s son, Assemblyman King Jhazzer, to help them in the promotion of their local products.
The presidential son was toured in Buluan Lake and visited the women’s peace center building where production and exhibit of inaul products are managed by a group of women.
Baste was amazed of the creativity of the Maguindanaon women when he saw the different designs of the inaul, as well as inaul-inspired bags made from water hyacinth.
Tourism officials showed him inauls of the 18th and 19th centuries used by the women of the Moro royalty.
“If you want to do business in Davao, just tell me,” Baste said in his speech.
“We have to help one another. We will find a venue for your products there. We are just neighbors, let’s unite on this pursuit”, he added. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)
