Try your hand at two of Cebu’s oldest handicrafts still widely in use today. Come with your curiosity and willingness to learn something new; no prior experience or expertise required.
by Joanna Cuenco
Cebu is an artisanal hub for all things locally designed and handmade. For generations before it was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Design in 2019, Cebu has been the furniture capital of the Philippines, renowned for its handmade guitars, and famous for puso, an ingenious little pouch for rice woven from coconut leaves. People have a renewed appreciation for distinctly Cebu crafts, and there are two experiences you can also get your hands on.
SHAPE AND THROW
Even those with zero experience with pottery are welcome to learn from industry veterans at Yuson Ceramics in Liloan, which has been producing pots, plates, jars, vases, and all manner and sizes of pottery for over 50 years.
The factory began offering pottery workshops in early 2026 with the encouragement of AJ Mallari, a designer and professor of the University of the Philippines. Thanks to word of mouth and positive feedback on social media, the workshops have become popular on the weekends. On the Saturday we went, excited groups like ours occupied all the potters’ stations, so reservations are recommended.
The pottery lesson is an exercise in workmanship and mindfulness. In a world numbed by digital distractions, the clay demands your full presence. Changes in pressure from the hands and the placement of the fingers can quickly warp your project if you’re not paying attention to what you’re seeing and feeling.
The expert potters keep the wheel turning and are incredibly patient as they adjust students’ hands to guide the clay into being: pointing out where the clay is still thick, advising movements to achieve a certain form, and smoothing out the shape. They are so accommodating and passionate that it’s a true joy to experience this, no matter how simple your vase or bowl may be.
It takes up to one month for creations to fully dry and bake in the factory’s enormous tunnel kiln. Travelers may not be in Cebu for long, so you can have the experience but purchase a ready-made piece as a souvenir to take home.
As of this writing, lessons are only P500 per person, including full instruction and supervision, 1.5 kilos of clay (enough to make two items like a mug and bowl), and the use of an apron. Lessons run about two hours per group. One potter is assigned for every five students; other fees apply for additional materials, polishing services, smaller groups, or longer session times.
Yuson Ceramics, Fatima Road, Liloan, Cebu. Message their Facebook page for inquiries.
WEAVE AND HANG
The pusô (hanging rice) is an icon of Cebu. Unfortunately, pusô weaving is a skill not many Cebuanos, especially those who grew up in the metro, are familiar with. Experience Cebu’s culture and heritage through a Make- A-Puso Weaving Workshop at Making Space in Mango Square Mall and learn how to fashion strips of fabric into a puso that you can take home. After the workshop, participants don’t just leave with a puso they wove themselves, but with a deeper appreciation for the story, ingenuity, and everyday beauty behind the tradition. The workshop is open to locals and tourists alike.
You can also buy the kit without going to the workshop. Designed for everyone, the kit comes with pre-cut weaving strips and easy-to-follow visual guides and instructions that make the traditional craft approachable for all skill levels. (with Carla Adlawan)
The Make-a-Pusô DIY Kit is available at Cebu Making Space, Mango Square Mall, Gen. Maxilom Avenue; the National Museum of the Philippines Cebu, Casa Gorordo, and Siyam Atua Midtown. To join the Pusô Making Workshop, book via Klook.