On Purple Wings

Top 10 Locally-made Products I am so proud of

“Inspiration is hard to come by. You have to take it where you find it.” ~Bob Dylan~

I just noticed that most bloggers I follow creates top 10s of their own, maybe it wouldn’t hurt if I come up with my own list too. =) I think it’s just best that I start with my most favorite local products in our country, the Philippines.
I do not have the capacity to do it per category, this is just in random, those first things that came to my mind:

1. RINA DESIGN 

Photo grabbed from: https://www.facebook.com/rinadesignmanila/

I have been using her memo pads back since 2005, I was still working at a theme park then and I’m surrounded with every creative thing I could think of, I thought my memo pads should be fun and cute too. =)

2. MESSY BESSY                                           

Photo grabbed from: http://messybessy.com/

The moment I discover their hand sanitizer, I have been using it for the longest time. They’re not just very effective, sweetly scented, all natural, very handy, but they also
do their stuff with a cause. A portion of their sales goes to an institution and that means a lot to me. I have been using their linen sprays a lot too. Yes, because it’s lavender.

3. THEO & PHILO

Photo grabbed from: https://theoandphilo.com/

I discovered these unique chocolates from Gourdos, one of my favorite stores in ATC, and instantly loved it. Especially when I found out that it’s an all Filipino (owner & origin)product. They are neatly and casually packaged, if you’re going to get them as gifts, you can just easily tie them with a nice-colored ribbon and voila, the recipient will surely love it. You will be surprised by their flavors, that’s why they’re fearless:
– dark chocolate with calamansi
– dark chocolate with green mango and salt
– dark chocolate with chili
– dark chocolate with ginger & mint
– dark chocolate with pili nut and pinipig (rice flakes) to mention a few. You wouldn’t believe, there’s also “Turon” and”Adobo” flavor.

Turon is a famous and a favorite of most Filipinos for snack. It is like fritters: sweet bananas with some lancas wrapped in flour wrapper and deep fried with brown sugar.

While Adobo is also a famous authentic dish among us Filipinos, it is pork or chicken (or both) stewed in vinegar and soy sauce with lots of garlic. It is cooked slowly and what makes it special is when the timing of cooking is just so right. Some would include pork livers to make it more flavorful and tastier.

4. BLUE KITCHEN

Photo grabbed from: http://www.thebluekitchen.com/

I love breakfast. I love “tuyo” (dried fish) with tomatoes and sunny-side up eggs on fried rice. However, I’m having a hard time removing the fish bones. And when I discovered this, I’m now settled having it for breakfast anytime. =) And they have one of the best salted-chips I’ve tasted. =)

5. GOOD SHEPHERD UBE JAM

Photo grabbed from: https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdbaguio/

I think every Pinoy knows about this addicting Ube jam from Baguio. Each time I visit their place, the queue is usually that long. You can simply have it as dessert or you can also use it as bread spread just like what my late dad is doing. I tried it on pandesal too. =) Try the caramel Alfajor too, it is so heavenly.

6. NAMI LEATHER

Photo grabbed from: https://www.facebook.com/NAMI.leather/

There are a lot of artisans here in the Philippines manufacturing leather products. Nami is one, I like their design, the texture of their leather and their customer service, they’re very prompt in all your queries, does it in all professionalism, I think my next bag will be coming from them. =)

7. PILI-ANI
https://piliani.com/

Photo grabbed from: https://www.instagram.com/piliani/

The moment I saw Pili-Ani, I immediately and carefully read their page and I am very impressed with this new product, the substance that they put to use, the glam of its’ packaging, and not to forget, their choices of colors!

8. ENSAIMADA from UNIVERSAL BAKERY, SAN PEDRO, LAGUNA

Photo grabbed from: http://yerduaassenav.blogspot.com/2013/01/universalensaymada.html

I wouldn’t want to miss something that is originally made in my hometown. It is one of the softest I’ve tasted, with just enough butter, cheese and sugar. But there’s a tweak! It has bacon bits that amplified its’ over-all taste. I usually pair it with Coke (when I was still drinking it), or pineapple juice, it is nice with pancit and pasta dishes too.

9. PAPEMELROTI

Photo grabbed from: https://shop.papemelroti.com/

Papemelroti equates college days for me. My pen, my notebooks, my pouches, my stationery, my little boxes, knick knacks of all kinds, came from Papemelroti. By the way, It’s name was taken from the owner’s name – Patty and her children:

This shop exudes that country-feel by using recycled papers on most of their products, so that brown thing emanates the feel of rustic or rural or vintage, beautiful, feel-good stuff and yet simple. It is inspiring to see them not stopping to innovate through the years.

10. CARMEN’S BEST ICE CREAM    

Photo grabbed from:https://www.carmensbest.com/

When I learned eating frozen yogurts, it had really replaced the fire in my belly for ice creams. Not until discovering Carmen’s best. It is truly tempting. It is how real ice cream should be.

SARI-SARI STORE BOUTIQUE

This is where I shop when I as still studying in college. It is just sad that they weren’t able to flourish as expected or last like the other shops at the time. I especially loved the
theme. It is very classy, elegant, used black and white to dominate the whole interiors which extends to its’ products. I have bags, blouses, dresses, tops, wallets, name it, scrunchies, a lot.

They’re packaging is so lovely, it comes with a postcard showing off some of their products, the shopping bag is sealed with a very nicely designed sticker too. They actually came up with a sister shop too: The Black shop. I hope they
will resurrect or something like theirs will show up in the market soon. It’s like a local Kate Spade during the 90s.