Ulog Entry #4 | Silver Shopping

"Where there is gold, there is silver". This is what miners say, and the reason why Silver became a thriving industry in Baguio. In the early 1900's, Baguio City became associated with Gold and Silver due to the mining sites that opened in Benguet. It is said that Baguio was developed to support these mining companies. It was then when silver shops started opening in the city. During the Marcos Regime, then First Lady Imelda Marcos promoted Baguio and its products, including their silver. Shops who made quality silver works were able to export their products. One of these shops is Pilak, which opened their first store in the 70's. During the height of popularity, they were able to open shops all over Baguio and even in Manila. With the drop in sales, they now only operate 2 branches. They have a booth in Mines View Park, while their main branch is on a property right in front of Botanical Garden.

We visited their main branch after spending some time exploring Botanical Garden. I wanted a souvenir from Baguio and silver crafts would be perfect; Sam lost a pair of earrings while on vacation in Davao. Also, Red ordered silver rounds last week and it's just fair that I bought some silver too. lol.

The shop is hard to miss. It has a massive sign that says "Pilak", a Filipino word which means Silver. It looks more like a house that has been transformed into a shop. There's a flight of stairs from an opened gate towards the main entrance.

Stepping into the shop, I realized it offered more than just silver. It had the vibes of an antique shop. Quite old but elegant. The two pictures below remind me of a Studio Ghibli movie entitled Whisper Of The Heart. It's just like when the protagonist Shizuku Tsukishima first entered the antique shop where she saw The Baron and met the grandfather of her would-be love interest Seiji.

When I looked closer, it turns out they also offered cultural products, not just from the Philippines but also from Japan. It is known that one of the biggest clients of Pilak at the height of their popularity was Japan. They might have formed a bond with their Japanese clients through their transactions. Could that be the reason why they offer these in their store?

But of course, they also feature Philippine culture and even have a Kulintang in display. It is a musical instrument composed of a row of gongs laid horizontally. From what I remember in my History classes, it was first used to signal certain events within a tribe before evolving into an instrumental form of music.

Now back to silver. Aside from jewelry, they also sell silverware. I caught Red eyeing these babies and I asked him if he wanted anything. He declined and said he's going to wait for his two silver rounds from @steemsilverround.

When I asked Sam what she wanted to get, she pointed to a dainty looking earring shaped like a flower. It looked exactly like the one she lost, which we bought from the mall. Only, it was just half the price. It looks lovely on her, won't you say?

As for me, I got a pair of earrings and a ring. The two items looked like they were from a set because of the matching Onyx stones, but I bought them separately. The nice lady showed me the sets that were available and I found them too extravagant. I really just prefer the simple designs. I'm not even used to wearing earrings and this would be the first time I'm buying a pair. The ones I own were given to me and I rarely use them because I feel like they don't suit me but these black stones caught my eye and when I tried them on, it felt right.

It is said that these stones can absorb and transform negative energy. Onyx is know to help calm fears and reduce stress. I look forward to enjoying those benefits but I really just find these black stones pretty that's why I chose them. There are a lot to choose from too!

I'm not used to buying jewelry but I'm really happy I bought some from Pilak. Neither Sam and I had any allergic reactions and the store is known for high-quality silver crafts. Our experience at the store was also delightful. People manning the store are accommodating but not pushy and let us take our time deciding on what to buy. They also have the cutest way of packing purchased merchandise.

How about you? Have you ever been to Baguio and visited this shop? Do you like silver or do you prefer gold? Have you ever been to a place that felt like it's from a movie? I hope you enjoyed reading my Ulog. Ulog is are blogs about YOU and this is just another one of @surpassinggoogle's awesome initiative. He believes that "There is nothing as fresh (in terms of content) as pieces of us." and it is worth celebrating. Create your own Ulog today!

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