TRECE MARTIRES CITY, CAVITE — In a vibrant showcase of grassroots artistry and cultural pride, the Office of the City Tourism Officer successfully staged a two-day Pamaypay Making Souvenir Activity from September 28 to 29, 2026. Organized as a cornerstone event for Tourism Week Celebration 2026, the initiative transformed the traditional Filipino hand fan (pamaypay) into a canvas of local identity. It brought together multi-sectoral groups across the city to unleash their creativity while designing authentic, homegrown Treceño souvenirs.
A Beautiful Tapestry of Inclusivity
The workshop served as a powerful platform for community inclusion. It gathered talent from highly diverse local sectors, empowering them to cooperate, design, and co-create. Key participating groups included the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Trece Martires, the Solo Parents Association, the Group of Empowered woMen (GEM), the LGBTQIA+ Community, Senior Citizens, and various local non-government organizations. Using resourcefulness and raw talent, these participants handcrafted unique hand fans that proudly mirror the colorful heritage, resilience, and stories of their respective communities. This inclusive approach to cultural preservation ensures that the city's tourism initiatives are not just about promoting destinations but also about empowering the people behind the craft, creating a sense of ownership and pride among all sectors of society.
More Than an Accessory: A Symbol of Filipino Resilience
In the Philippines, the pamaypay is far more than a simple tool to beat the tropical heat—it is a deeply rooted cultural artifact. The local tourism office highlighted that the hand fan symbolizes Filipino practical ingenuity and adaptability, especially when facing modern environmental challenges like the shifting patterns of El Niño. "The pamaypay is a timeless piece of our cultural identity. It reminds us of our ability to find beautiful, practical, and sustainable solutions to environmental challenges," the Trece Martires City Tourism Office noted during the activity. The pamaypay has long been a staple in Filipino households, used not only for cooling but also as a fashion accessory and a symbol of traditional craftsmanship. By elevating this humble artifact into a creative medium for community expression, the city is preserving an important aspect of Filipino heritage while adapting it to contemporary tourism needs.
Empowering Tourism, Building Identity
Through targeted cultural programs, the City Government of Trece Martires continues to prioritize inclusive tourism. By involving marginalized and specialized sectors in sustainable souvenir production, the city is actively building a creative economy where everyone has a stake. The beautiful hand fans produced during the two-day seminar will serve as official tokens that embody the genuine Tatak Treceño (Treceño Brand)—proving that true tourism development begins by keeping local culture, heritage, and people alive. This initiative follows a series of Tourism Week 2026 activities that included the Takbo Para sa Turismo fun run, which gathered over 1,000 runners, and the Tourism Cares for Children outreach program at Forest Park, demonstrating the city's comprehensive approach to celebrating tourism while investing in community welfare and cultural preservation.
