COVID-19 Pandemic Brings Baguio City Community Back to Barter

Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic that has gravely affected the livelihood and source of income of most of us, a group in Baguio City called the “Baguio Barter Community” has taken advantage of the use of social media to conduct a modern style of barter.

The Baguio Online Barter Community

Through the Facebook group named Baguio Barter Community, members can freely post a variety of items for trade or in exchange for other food and other items.

Here, the medium of exchange is through goods and items. Therefore, no cash, bank, or cryptocurrency transaction is allowed.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Artists too

Baguio City has long been known as a haven for budding artists and artisans. And in the year 2017, it has been declared as a UNESCO Creative City for crafts and folk art.

However, the COVID-19 Pandemic has not spared them too. Because of the coronavirus outbreak, the livelihood of many artists has been affected just like everyone else.

Thus, many of them have chosen to start trading their exceptional artworks in exchange for necessities that will sustain them during these trying times.

Here are some of the artworks posted by artists for trade at the Baguio Barter Community:

Artwork for a Cause

In the barter community, there are also items being bartered for a cause.

An example would be this artwork by Julian Julmir Almirol.

According to the post’s caption, 50% of the proceeds will go to a stroke patient named John Basilio. If you are interested in the painting, you can check more of the details on the said post.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3600369176644805&set=gm.685477228959821&type=3&eid=ARDivt5zpN8ZK7hPRc1qXPFdgr5Ljhd8z6s6-dowRpWLos2ZTreCH4O4fNnIsySNLK22EeKVMtn50xKq&ifg=1

Trading for necessities

On the other hand, here are some paintings by different artists that are being traded in exchange for necessities like groceries, sacks of rice and others.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3053210768058048&set=gm.684493549058189&type=3&eid=ARAy-yjNp5fWKkNbBNbfDw6WsG9M6ZfYw7nTniKZZIoTSKKL2cvTS9850sNhAWAOSOfFRGDww_RrAuMf&ifg=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3057751287603996&set=gm.685763592264518&type=3&eid=ARBsgTp3TZsuozRnXHFqP7FJ5MDL02l4wR7n5uyfp-_BFMM3YkHlx_n1gSaOXQiRa-whWi4IXIvQSUyi&ifg=1

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=309516983376386&set=gm.680745846099626&type=3&eid=ARATRkl1Mo3nKzJWDvLktUycPJkmXZtNe804a7fVjelCL9pDfaC0x-ObZUz_n9UgElav4jVwB3GlUN5K&ifg=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1131817920519608&set=gm.685101572330720&type=3&eid=ARDQTc8Rf4DXvV0LPUF-ODnBZcW9ORtM1oUOmBb9K9bdXjZ5CdTQKON71nbSRdrQfRqR3RN8d8FQoEA5&ifg=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=140041521023378&set=gm.685183235655887&type=3&eid=ARCqMrdNK5zHQn94lllqjLVoiNmA09SqSjr6_wTXUG4k1DRTlTJmvDHliEyireI1xnRuXiVvHubDLbys&ifg=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1634428406712481&set=pcb.685168848990659&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARAvK11XQDw5nVLg9gZVMwEpy3iOGf1r9JTVakJKVBMqldHPaqU6p99jZxCQzxZFnhaT2AXiD1i0i1Ff

Ready to Barter too?

Aside from paintings, a lot of other items like appliances, gadgets, accessories, plants, and more are also being traded through the Baguio Barter Community. So if you have things at home you want to barter as well, you can check Baguio Barter Community HERE.

We Adapt and Heal as One

Bartering communities are great venues where people can help one another, especially during times like this.

As we adapt to the ‘new normal’ brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and choose to be part of bartering communities, may we respect and see the real value in the items being traded for other goods.