CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – Locals of Cavinti, Laguna breathed new life into its once-thriving pandan-weaving industry through their Sambalilo festival.

Crispin Sanchez, Cavinti Tourism Operations Officer, said Sambalilo is a native handicraft made of pandan leaves by weaving flattened dried leaves.

To preserve the industry, the local government continuously coordinates with other government agencies to help the town’s local weavers.

“(Nabibigyan) sila ng financial assistance mula sa pamahalaang bayan at sa national, sila ay nabibigyan ng (Department of Trade and Industry) ng mga machine para yung kanilang mga tinatahing sombrero at mga pandan bag ay magkaroon ng kalidad,” Sanchez added.

From August 2 to 6, the local government invited small businesses from their town to introduce their products and services. Several vloggers and social media influencers from nearby places were also invited to help boost Cavinti’s tourism industry.

As part of the celebration, various programs and activities such as pandan tree planting, best pandan woven bags and hats, street dance competition, trade booth competition, vlog competition, Agri Day, brass band competition, 4x4 Cavinturismo and many more were conducted.

From August 2 to 6, the local government invited small businesses from their town to introduce their products and services. Several vloggers and social media influencers from nearby places were also invited to help boost Cavinti’s tourism industry.

As part of the celebration, various programs and activities such as pandan tree planting, best pandan woven bags and hats, street dance competition, trade booth competition, vlog competition, Agri Day, brass band competition, 4x4 Cavinturismo and many more were conducted.

In 2016, the town with the help of local weavers made it to the Guinness Book of World Records by creating the largest Sambalilo hat in the world.

The sambalilo hat measured 13.05 m (42 ft 9.7 in) in diameter, with a height of 2 metres and a width of 3 metres in the central dome.

Every year during the celebration of Sambalilo Festival, locals replicate the largest Sambalilo hat to promote the success and quality of their handmade products.

“Kung may magbreak dun sa aming Guinness ay yun yung time na magpalaki pa ulit ng sambalilo para isali ulit sa Guinness,” Sanches said. (CAO/PIA-4A)