This bilao costs P14,000, same as 14 party size pancit Malabon trays
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An American furniture store listed this bilao as 'Round Bamboo Wall Art.'
Filipino netizens were confused and amused after discovering that a US-based furniture company is selling what looks like a bilao for $299 or PhP14,291.
A Twitter user posted the item featured on Pottery Barn's online store. Labeled as “Round Bamboo Wall Art,” the basket is part of its Wall Art collection.
ROUND BAMBOO WALL ART IM SCREAMING pic.twitter.com/pm2DqO1Ksq
-- harry cameron protector (@zourrymilf) May 12, 2021
The website describes it as “handcrafted from bamboo” and sells it as an accent piece.
“Round out your accent wall with this impressive woven art piece made from bamboo. Reminiscent of open-air market selling baskets, with a slightly concave shape and shallow rim, it adds warmth, texture and eclectic style wherever it's hung,” it says.
In the Twitter thread, the comments came mostly from Asian users since the bamboo basket is very common in the region.
In the Philippines, a bilao is a shallow weaved basked made from bamboo.
It is commonly used as a food vessel. It is used to serve kakanin (rice cakes) and pancit (stir-fried noodles). This type of bilao is usually disposable.
Pottery Barn's 'Round Bamboo Wall Art' / Source: potterybarn.com
Another, sturdier, type of bilao is used as a kitchen tool, specifically for winnowing rice grains or pagtatahip.
While the said bamboo “art” piece does look pretty and well-made, Filipinos can't help but wonder why the steep price?
In comparison, a set of 10 18-inch bilao can be purchased online for PhP400, that is PhP40 per bilao.
One can buy 350 pieces of bilao for PhP14,000. One can also buy 14 party size (for 20 to 25 persons) pancit Malabon trays priced at PhP950.
However, this is not the first time a mundane household item made rounds on social media after getting a ridiculous price bump.
In 2019, Japanese retail shop, Muji, dropped a new product called bath dipper or locally known as tabo.
Priced at P365, the plastic bathroom item was mocked online for being too expensive. A regular tabo is priced between P30 to P50 a piece.
For more content like this, head to the GMA Lifestyle page.
During the pandemic, even luxury brands are putting out expensive products based on regular items like face masks.
