Pukpok Na Nga Ba Sa Limot?: Assessing the Heritage Significance and Safeguarding Culture on the Traditional Craftsmanship of Paete, Laguna, Philippines

Abstract As proclaimed by the former President of the Republic of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the municipality of Paete in the province of Laguna is declared as the “Carving Capital of the Philippines” under the Presidential Proclamation No. 809, s. 2005. It was given to the municipality because of the local community’s strong tradition of carving using traditional (wood) and conventional (e.g., soap, ice, fruits, and vegetables; metal) mediums. But in history, cultural, and communal contexts, the town and its community also offer other traditional craftsmanship. Unfortunately, some of these are about to be neglected and forgotten due to commercialization, modernization, and rapid development. This paper assessed the heritage significance and safeguarding culture on the traditional craftsmanship of Paete, Laguna, Philippines. The paper’s main objective was to identify the different traditional craftsmanship of the town, determine the current situation on safeguarding and developing the traditional craftsmanship, and analyze the stakeholders’ perspectives on safeguarding and developing the tradition. As part of the findings, the researchers documented 16 traditional crafts of the Paeteños, each of which is individually significant, especially in its historical, aesthetic, economic, technological, social, and symbolic aspects. It was also identified that the commonality in promoting sustainable development for Paete’s traditional craftsmanship relies on the stakeholders’ initiative for livelihood opportunities, promotions through commercialization and tourism, sociocultural identity, and conservation of natural resources.