Ayala Malls Abreeza Bridges Opportunities to the Matigsalug Community Through Tree of Hope Campaign

Ayala Malls Abreeza stands as Davao Region’s premier shopping and lifestyle capital. With its people-oriented spaces, it served as a haven for community engagement and collaboration. Over the years, the mall has served as a platform for local entrepreneurs and became a pivotal partner for Mindanao Trade Expo, renowned for propelling Mindanaoan products into the mainstream market. Recognizing the imperative of connecting these Mindanaoan products to a wider audience, Ayala Malls Abreeza identified an opportunity to integrate the Matigsalug into this initiative.
Well known for their bamboo handicrafts, the Matigsalug community in the country’s south deeply intertwines craftsmanship into their way of life that largely contributes to their livelihood. However, the same community finds it difficult to embrace growth and development in the sector if business environments are not inclusive. When left as outsiders in the business circuit, the Matigsalug are only remembered as a novel cultural spectacle during local festivals instead of being an economic driver that can contribute to the long-standing need of the country to meet handicraft export standards.