Global Granary

Growing up in the Philippines in the 80s, the last thing you would want was a bayong as a school bag, or as an accessory. It would have been such a reputation suicide to be seen carrying a bayong. 😉

In the 80s, a bayong would have been a shout-out and a label of being someone prom da probins (from the province); as being provincial and definitely lacking in sophistication, which was the last thing you would want when meeting loads and loads of new people for the first time.

Students, during my time would have opted for fashionable and, if available and affordable, something made from abroad, stateside (i.e. from the USA or abroad). Never mind that some of these foreign made bags can be rather inferior, to say the least.

Having said that, I suppose, the old style bayong was not very attractive. They were of natural fibres from palm trees. Though woven beautifully, they were not prettified. No ribbons or embellishments were added, no buttons, intricate handles and the bayong did not come in different colours. They were just ordinary box-type bag, useful to carry when going to wet markets to buy fish, fresh meat and vegetables.

Bayong was just too native and screamed naivety and even ignorance of life, the life in the neon-lit and cosmopolitan Manila.

But when I went back home a couple of years ago, I fell in-love with the bayong and can’t get enough of them. I bought five of various sizes home and would have gotten more if I could carry them back to London without paying excess luggage at Manila airport!

I bought my first bayong in Tagaytay. It was raining at that time and as we did not bring umbrellas, we thought we would treat ourselves with those funny, cute hats which were proudly and snazzily displayed in vivid colours, designs and sizes in the mini-shops in Tagaytay. As I was doing a bit of rummaging in a shop, I found a beautiful bayong, half the size in height of the classic bayong. Unfortunately, one of the handles had come off so I did not buy it, but at that moment, I knew I had to possess a bayong. With my entourage of my beautiful Filipino family, we went from shop to shop, buying souvenirs after souvenirs, but I couldn’t find a bayong 🙁 Luckily my Auntie Glor, with her keen eyesight, saw a bayong and that was that, I had to  get it. My family were so lovely indulging me but I got the feeling, they didn’t really understand nor get my desire & feelings about the bayong.
Call it nostalgia if you like 🙂

A few days later we went to Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, where Hannah’s beach resort is located. A fantastic place, I have to say. Lots to see and even a lot more to do. Little tinderos (mini merchants) would walk the street selling their wares. One was selling bayongs. I have to say I was able to get four bayongs for P1400 (pesos) which is about £20 because of my great bartering skills, LOL. Seriously, a good buy & great value for money.

I don’t really use them much in London, only once in a while, not because I think they are not sophisticated or well made but because I have so many bags. One day they will see the light of day in London again when it is their turn! So many bags, so little time.

My favourite story about bayongs was that of Carlos Bulosan, who was an Ilocano born in 1911. Apparently at the age of 17, he migrated to the USA with just a bayong (filled with Filipino delicacies such as bagoong, fermented fish and burong talanka, pickled small crabs) and a small matching tampipi (suitcase woven from palm leaves)

Many say that Carlos Bulosan was barely literate when he first arrived in America, but he went on to publish important and influential books written in English in America!

In fact Carlos Bulosan said it first part of one of President John F Kennedy’s iconic speeches did a few decades later.

“But we must not demand from America, because she is still our unfinished dream. Instead we must sacrifice for her: let her grow into bright maturity through our labors. If necessary we must give up our lives that she might grow unencumbered.”
– Bulosan (America in the Heart 1943)

“Ask not what your country can do for your. Ask what you can for your country.”
JFK, Speech 1960