THE FISH SYMBOL, THE FISHING INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES AND MY FISH SERIES HOME FURNISHINGS

Posted on July 6, 2011 by jojo vito

REPOSTED FROM   WWW.THEHAPPYTRIP.COM

“Vito’s Panong #8 Fish Series. A seven pieces “Tilapia Fishes” made of fiber glass and mounted on a rustic Molave base.”

Fish symbol.  You see them on the back of automobiles everywhere. Occasionally, you see them worn on necklaces or bracelets. I used t have a fish symbol as key chain and pins .
Those little fish symbols. Just what are they? What do they mean? What are they suppose to symbolize?
FISH SYMBOL TO THE CHRISTIANS
Ichthus (ikh-thoos) or ichthys is the Greek word simply meaning “fish”.
The Greek spelling for ichthus is — Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, and Sigma.  The English translation is IXOYE.  The five Greek letters stand for the words meaning, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” The Greek rendering is, “Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter”.
This symbol was used primarily amongst Christians of the early church years (1st and 2nd century A.D.) The symbol was introduced from Alexandria, Egypt; which at the time, was a very heavily populated seaport. It was the port in which many goods were brought over from the European continent. Because of this, it was first used by the peoples of the sea as a symbol of a familiar deity, in this case, Jesus Christ.  The symbol was later used as a means of identifying or acknowledging a fellow believer in Christ without the need for any verbal communication being exchanged.


” Vito’s Golden Carp, also available in silver”
FISH SYMBOL TO THE CHINESE
To the chinese a fish represents wealth and prosperity . Twin golden carp swimming atop a golden yuanbao/ ingot/ coin is an even better sign. Not only wealth, abundance, but love, domestic felicity, partnership, tenacity, hence fertility, hence renewal is symbolised. Koi fish   either black or red, also symbolizes wealth and success. As with most Chinese symbols, the carp has a legend attached to it. According to legend, the carp is noted for its strength and bravery because it swims against the current, upwards, ‘mastering’ falls and ending up at a gate on the Yellow River called Dragon Gate. The carp turns into the revered Celestial Dragon when it makes a final leap over the last rapids.
FISHING INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Fishing is a PhP50 billion industry in the Philippines, contributing about 4% of the country’s GNP. With an annual production volume of 2.4 million metric tons of fish, it directly provides livelihood and employment to over one million Filipinos. Tuna is among the 200 or so species of fish found in the country that have high commercial value. The Philippines ranks 7th among the top tuna producing countries in the world, both in terms of fresh/frozen tuna and canned tuna.

“Vito’s Panong #1, a school of tuna fishes. Available in silver, and in red & gold combination.”

GENERAL SANTOS CITY: TUNA INDUSTRY
As early as 1970, General Santos City has been tagged as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines”. The total daily catch of adult and juvenile tuna unloaded in the city can surpass that of any other fishport or even the entire unloadings of all other fish ports in the country combined (Aprieto, 1995). The daily catch is easily disposed for foreign and local buyers. The city, being the sanctuary of seven (7) tuna canning factories with an average daily capacity of 750 MT per day and employs around 7,800 plant workers (GEM) the volume of catch on a per day basis is even insignificant as to the distribution of the market.
As of September of the previous year alone, the total catch has reached a voluminous 5,031, 866 kilos where ‘sashimi” grade adult tuna comprises 35 % or about 1,774,922 kilos. The locally distributed adult tuna for local consumption ate the largely 65% chunk and distributed to neighboring cities of Davao, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, South Cotabato and as far Japan and the U.S., skipjack for canned markets in Europe and North America.
“Vito’s Panong #3. A 3-panel wall decor, also available in green & silver combination and antique silver and gold.”
MY “FISH” SERIES HOME FRNISHINGS
Inspired by the fish, I designed a series of Fish inspired home furnishings which comes in the form of wall décor and table top home accessory. I called the collection, “Panong”. “Panong” is a vernacular term for the word “school or group”. The collection is basically a scholl of fish which comes in many forms.
These collection is available at the Negros Showroom in Bacolod and Sofamore in Davao. I have also made several version of these collections having the specs of the buyers.

“Vito’s Panong #4. Available in silver and blue combination and antique gold and silver combination”
VITO can be reached at (034) 433-5965. We do  custom made home furnishings.

VITO’S OTHER DESIGNS:

http://www.thehappytrip.com/2011/07/philippines-palay-rice-inspired-home-furnishings-by-vito/

References:
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/gold_fish.htm
http://askville.amazon.com/significance-fish-symbol-cars-Christian-religion/
http://www.gensantos.gov.ph/tuna-industry/

BLACK ONYX @ iNEGROS-THE 26TH NEGROS TRADE FAIR

Posted on August 7, 2011 by jojo vito

Reposted from www.thehappytrip.com 

ONYX WITH SMOKEY QUARTS

Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz.
The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (not
including shades such as purple, blue, or black). Commonly, specimens of
onyx contain colors of white, tan, and brown. Sardonyx is a
variant in which the colored bands are sard (shades of red) rather than
black. (www.sobrietystones.com)
I love to design fashion accessories using onyx as a material. When combine with other material such as crystals and pearls you can create a truly outstanding piece. One of my favorite combination when working with onyx is pearl. Black and white combination is very elegant.  Of course considering that onyx is black it can easily be combined with almost any materials and colors. Another outstanding pair for Onyx is the Red Corral. The combination of a rustic corral mixed with a shinny Onyx creates a dramatic piece.

ONYX NECKALACE BY VITO

In my readings onyx was popular during the Victorian era.   Rich women who are mourning would use onyx. They were made popular by Queen Victoria who used them to mourn the death of her husband for forty years. Because colors other than black were prohibited by the law at that time, it became very popular.

ONYX WITH CRYSTALS

Since black is a manly color, men usually prefer this stone for their jewelry.I remember to have one before but a very close friend told me to sell it since black brings bad omen. Huh! With my ignorance I sold it at a very low cost. A lot of superstitions revolve around black onyx. Today,  black onyx is a mainstay in men’s jewelry. These are simple pieces of jewelry that can make a difference in your everyday look. Because it is black, most men prefer this stone. Its solid color creates  a very manly vibe.

ONYX WITH RED CORRALS

The blackness of the onyx makes it extremely unique. However, they may be prone to scratches. I even notice that onyx scratch one another when stored together unwrapped. If this is the case, you simply have to buff out the stone. You will need some jewelry polish and some cloth. Just apply the polish to the onyx jewelry using a soft cloth, you can clean it with some water and let dry. Use a magnifying glass to examine the stone closely. Olive oil will help seal the stone and protect it from any more scratches.
Onyx I guess is a must have jewelry for women. Everybody can take advantages of the properties of black onyx jewelry as it is easy to match any outfit and colors. You will also find that it fits well with most tastes and never goes out of style, looks like black onyx is here to

ONYX NECKLACE BY VITO

stay.That’s why in the upcoming Negros Trade Fair, I will show lovely pieces that me and my sister designed to make your day a real Happy Trip.

CLICK TO SEE THE WHOLE BLACK ONYX