I’ve always admired my fellow Filipinos for the world-class skills they possess. Just from browsing the web, I can already come across some Filipinos who are internationally renowned web developers, web designers, web copywriters, software engineers, etc — and that’s just in the IT field. Steer your wheel in another direction and you’ll discover some more interesting facts about the capabilities of Filipinos here and abroad.
Last Monday, I had the chance to meet a bunch of Pinoys who belong to a not-so-well-known industry here in the Philippines: manufacturing hand-carved military, civilian and airline display models. I could tell you about some of the handmade display models and wooden model airplanes our company sells over the Internet (since my boss says he doesn’t mind us disclosing that fact), but I won’t really get into that. More than the actual finished products themselves, I am amazed at the talented Filipino artisans who are behind them.
I was told by the owner of one of our manufacturers when he came to visit us here in Makati last month that we have to go to Angeles City so we can witness first-hand the process of creating wooden model airplanes from scratch. I distinctly remember him saying that visiting their place “..will make a world of difference”. He’s right, it really did make a world of difference!
We were in Angeles, Pampanga from 9:00am to 2:30pm last August 6th (I like to call it our very own “field trip”, haha). I usually just go up to San Fernando where my relatives (from my mother’s side of the family) reside, so it was nice to be able to visit Clark, Pampanga again. They showed us (Donna, Tin, and I) around the two manufacturing sites, one for the warplane models, the other for the warship models. The three of us listened as each of the owners explained the processes. It was “raining men” (haha) at the warehouse because everywhere you look there’s a row of guys who are either carving, sanding, painting, coating, wrapping, or packing the display models. They have an organized assembly line with 10 or more QCs who make sure everything is done correctly. I wanted to take a picture of all of them while they’re working but I didn’t want to be the rude, paparazzo-like guest from Manila (lol!). I was able to capture this guy’s picture though:
Go, Kuya! Kaya mo yan! :D
The job they do requires intricacy and patience. I know I wouldn’t be able to master what they’re doing in a million years even if I try (though I do find the painting process enticing). All of the models we saw are made of wood, except for some of the small parts which are made of resin (or prepaid cards! How’s that for improvisation?). No machines are used in the crafting process, everything is done by hand. From the main body of the plane or ship, to the smallest details — It’s art I’ve never known before! It takes a lot of endurance, talent, and guts to be able to put together the exact replicas (scale models) of the actual airplanes, helicopters and ships. You gotta hand it to them. That’s 100% Pinoy, baybeh.
These display models are being sold worldwide. You would think that these little planes and ships (that seem like toys, but are really not!) shouldn’t cost that much but once you’ve seen how they are being delicately done, you’d have to admit that they should be worth way more than they are. I know I did when I left that place!
Like I said, more than just promoting the products we sell at work, I’m acknowledging the talented, hardworking Filipinos in Angeles City, Pampanga. *Kabiasnan nyo! Pagmaragul da kayu!
*I hope that one’s accurate (I am not a native Kapampangan speaker. lol.) It’s supposed to mean “Ang galing nyo! Pinagmamalaki ko kayo!”
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