By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
PINILI, Ilocos Norte—Once used as a hideout and training ground of the Sandatahans formed by rebel priest, Monsignor Gregorio Aglipay who founded the Aglipayan Church, this town now also boasts of a new garlic museum.
The opening of the garlic museum solidifies this historic municipality’s place as the garlic industry center of the Philippines.
Located along the national highway at Brgy. Darat, or about 38 kilometers from Laoag City, the Pinili Garlic Center houses a new museum featuring the multiple uses of garlic acclaimed for its medical benefits and a main ingredient in various culinary delights.
Adorned with baskets of harvested garlic as the centerpiece of the museum, other arts and crafts and memorabilia that describe the traditional Ilocano way of life are also on exhibit.
Freshly-harvested garlic, onions and other high value crops and processed agricultural products including garlic chips, salt, vinegar, bagoong (fish sauce) are also neatly arranged at the right corner for sale.
At the right corner is also a display of binakol [an Ilokano term for twill] loom weaving materials where visitors can actually see how the intricate geometric design likened to an optical illusion are made.
Pinili residents also take pride of its master weaver Magdalena Gamayo, a national living treasure, whose works up to this day are admired by many. Her works are also available for sale at the museum.
Evay Aguinaldo, a long time garlic vendor of Brgy. Darat here, said the new museum is an added tourism attraction in their municipality. She added that the museum also allows them to earn more as visitors would stop and buy their products for take home and pasalubong to family and friends.