Handmade Filipino fashion made a colorful impression in China, with Angeles City-based brand Pidayit drawing strong interest at the China–ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) 2026.
Representing Angeles City and Pampanga at the international exhibition held September 17–21 at the Nanning International Convention & Exhibition Center, Pidayit brought a distinctly Kapampangan creative voice to one of the region’s major platforms for trade, business and cultural exchange.
For founder, designer and creative director Philip Dizon Torres, the experience has offered an unexpected discovery: Filipino handmade products can connect deeply with a contemporary Chinese audience.
“It is certainly a wonderful experience to discover a new market that finds Pidayit quite fascinating,” Torres said, noting that the brand’s handcrafted pieces appeared to evoke nostalgia among visitors accustomed to China’s highly modernized and industrial environment.
The response was particularly noticeable among female visitors of different generations, who were drawn to Pidayit’s colorful, tactile and distinctly handmade creations.
Torres jokingly described the reception as a “box-office hit” among the ladies, young and old alike, as crowds gathered at the Angeles City booth.
At times, the visitor traffic was so heavy that the booth required several interpreters to accommodate conversations between the exhibitors and Chinese guests.
Among the notable visitors was Philippine Ambassador to China, Mongolia and South Korea Jaime Adriano Florcruz, whose visit added a diplomatic and cultural dimension to the Philippine participation.
Where Tradition Meets Modernity
The appeal of Pidayit in Nanning lies partly in a striking contrast.
On one side is a rapidly developing Chinese commercial environment defined by advanced technology, manufacturing and global trade. On the other is Pidayit, whose creations are rooted in the slower, more intimate traditions of handmade craftsmanship.
Yet the contrast appears to have become part of the brand’s appeal.
Rather than treating traditional craftsmanship as something confined to the past, Pidayit presents handmade Filipino creativity as a living expression of culture—one that can find a place in contemporary global commerce.
Its work reflects the ingenuity of Filipino and Kapampangan artisans, drawing on resourcefulness, craftsmanship and design to transform materials into pieces that are both functional and expressive.
For Torres, the international marketplace is therefore more than a venue for selling products. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate how local heritage can travel beyond borders without losing its identity.
From Angeles to Nanning
Pidayit’s participation was made possible through the support of the Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO) and the Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (ACEDIPO) under the leadership of Mayor Carmelo “Jon” B. Lazatin II, through the initiative of Louie Anjeanette B. Lazatin.
The Angeles City delegation also includes Regine Ann Keele and Annie Lao of ACTO.
At the CAEXPO, Pidayit’s presence puts Angeles City’s creative economy on an international stage, showing that locally rooted design and handmade craftsmanship can speak to audiences far beyond Pampanga.
