This town also has its own fairy tale that is as interesting and inspiring as any bedtime story.
Set at the foot of the green Sierra Madre mountain ranges and bounded by Laguna de Bay in the west, Paete was recognized as a town in 1850. According to historians, its name was derived from a tool used in the art of carving or shaping figurines – “paet”, which is Tagalog for chisel.
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| Paet or Chisel |
The townspeople thrived for years either perfecting their craft in woodcarving and carpentry, or growing lanzones and santol trees, whose sweet fruits are famous all over the country. Practically every resident knows something about “pag-uukit”. If they are not growing or harvesting lanzones and santol fruits from August to November, they will be busy in their own workshops giving life to wood or old paper.
One of their most famous inventions was the “bakya” or wooden sandals, famously worn to match the dainty “baro” and “saya”.
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| Bakya or Wooden Clogs |
However, during the Japanese period, the Paetenians encountered adversities that would effect their town and livelihood.
During the occupation, the colonizers burned down the whole town, badly affecting the carpentry industry. The entry of Japanese-made rubber “tsinelas” also killed the bakya industry during the post-war period. But the ingenious townsfolk knew better to rise from a tragedy. They shifted to another form of craft, using papier-mâché to give life to figures.
The Pinoy version of the horse piñata originated from this place, and has been familiar in fiestas ever since. After that, the townsfolk tried to revive the woodcarving industry, making both wooden and papier-mâché figures that would be known for their beauty and quality.
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| Papier-mache |
During the ‘70s though, a total log ban was imposed all over the country, so the scarcity of wood worsened. The townsfolk again concentrated on the papier-mâché business, but another Asian country, China, spoiled it by entering the market. Globalization and lowering costs of labor made things worse in the following decade.
(Article from Manila Bulletin; author: Christopher A. Datol; Date: November 19, 2001)
