In the sunduan, a centuries-old custom unique to Parañaque, a gentleman fetches his lady love at home to bring her to the church or town plaza. To impress his lady love and her parents, the gentleman brings with him a marching band that accompanies the couple on their walk to the church. The romantic tradition dates back to the Spanish colonial period when the very first sunduan was recorded in 1876 in Barrio La Huerta in Parañaque, a practice that later spread to nearby barrios.
SM City BF Parañaque celebrates Parañaque’s City’s rich cultural tradition and craftsmanship with a Sunduan Dolls Exhibition.
Sunduan dolls are dressed in elegant and delicately hand sewn costumes using local fibers and intricate embroidery.
Each Sunduan doll is meticulously crafted taking up to 33 days to complete.
Sunduan Dolls preserve a centuries old tradition as well as showcase the craftsmanship of Parañaque’s artisans.
The Sunduan Dolls exhibition is inspired by the Sunduan tradition where men, dressed in barong escort the community’s loveliest ladies dressed in elegant Filipiniana in a colorful parade.
As part of its limited edition, the Sunduan Dolls exhibition features Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez and wife Janet.
Behind the scenes at the Parañaque Livelihood Resource Management Office shows how delicate embroidery work for one of the Sunduan dolls is done.
The chivalrous tradition is kept alive today with the city’s Sunduan Festival where men, dressed in barong, escort the community’s loveliest ladies dressed in elegant gowns in a colorful parade.