Northeast Asian delights

These are really cute figurines. Left to right: wooden peg dolls from Korea; a Japanese girl in blue kimono, given to me by Dr. Maria Laosunthara; a pair of Chinese dancers I bought from an Antique shop along Chulia St. in Penang, Malaysia.

Memoirs of three geishas

These Japanese dolls are really pretty and graceful.

Sakura

Hiroko

Osei-san

Working girls

These barrio lasses show typical Filipina peasant dresses. At left is a Tagalog costume called "balintawak", at right is a Visayan costume called kimona & patadyong. They both wear a native salakot.

Santacruzan

The Santacruzan in the Philippines is a religious activity but has turned into a virtual fashion show with all the girls dolled up and dressed in couture gowns if not the Maria Clara. They have a procession around town. The prettiest girl is crowned Reyna Elena and escorted by the handsomest young man.
This doll is made of corn husk. The hair is corn hair too. But the dress is embellished with cheap frills. I got this at a souvenir shop in front of Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte. There were many dolls like this on display but only this one looks fashionable. The rest were like fashion victims, so I did not buy them. Hahaha. I suspect they were factory rejects. Mean, huh.

This is another cloth doll showing the Philippine Maria Clara. Her name is Maruja.

This couple are Barbie imitations and really kitschy, but what the heck, they are still dolls anyway. And I got them very cheap. They are glued to each other, and the girls dress is like a cone, it can stand on its own.

Philippine wedding 2

This is a sculpted bride and groom figurine designed by Robert Alejandro of Papemelroti. I think they're made of resin.

These are not bride and groom. Let's say they are the bride's parents. These are taka or papier mache dolls from Paete, Laguna. Paete is well-known for papier mache. I have two more bigger taka dolls but they are on exhibit at the Museo Antiqueño right now. Will post them here when I getthem photographed.