Weaving with hope, creating brighter future

Inhabitants in the hinterland communities are most often uncared for. The educational status of the people is quite low. And, the residents are used on slash and burn culture as there is no economic activity for them, other than employing as sugar workers.

Father Brian Gore saw how these communities were “neglected.” Infrastructure and economic developments remain elusive in communities in far-flung areas, causing most of the people to leave their places.

“It is beautiful to live in the mountains. Why would you live in a slum just to earn a few pesos?” the retired priest asked, referring to those who would seek for the so-called “greener pastures” and prefer to work and stay in the urban centers.

Located some 24 kilometers from the city proper, residents of Sitio Bantulinao, Brgy. Tan-awan in Kabankalan City would endure at least two hours in trail to reach the mountain especially during rainy days. Or, they would spend P150 to rent a habal-habal to reach the village or the highway.

Gore is an Australian Columban missionary priest who lived and worked in Kabankalan and neighboring towns since the 1970s. In 2000, along with some of his fellows, they established Negros Nine Human Development Foundation, Inc.

It was in 2011 when the City of Kabakanalan, DTI, Department of Labor and Employment and the Fiber Industry Development Authority approached the Foundation to pioneer abaca weaving, which became an economic opportunity for the people of Sitio Bantulinao.

DOLE provided the looms and initial funds for marketing of their abaca products.

The weaving business did not have a smooth start due to some problems encountered along the way, most particularly the deficiency in the required volume of abaca for creation of by-products.

“If the weavers have no work to do, they are going someplace else to look for work. You may lose your trained people. Maintaining your staff is a big challenge,” Gore said. The only problem in the mountain areas is employment, the retired priest emphasized.

Nonetheless, the Foundation put up and improved the facilities in the area.

Further, the DTI trained the weavers on weaving and fiber dyeing, with series of trainings on product design and enterprise development. The weavers converted to the use of polyester threads integrated with abaca fiber and other materials in their placemats, table runners, shawls, handkerchief and headband.

“Weaving is not everybody’s choice. We encourage them to be creative and upgrade their skills with advance designs,” Gore said. Gore shared that he would likewise bring some of the products and sell it to his friends here and abroad.

The Foundation displays their products at the city center and they have continuously joined DTI-initiated trade fairs, including the 2016 Panaad sa Negros where they were able to generate P27,000 in sales receipt.

Marialyn Abria, a third year college, hopes to finish her degree in education with the income she earns from weaving. The third among the four siblings, she is the only one who had reached college level.

She earns P150.00 for each piece of shawl.

Like Abria, Jelyn Sualog was also trained on weaving and product design and works as a part-time weaver. She is now in her fourth year taking up a degree in information technology. “I use the money for my school needs,” she said.

Elena B. Tabo-tabo, 75, recalled that prior to the establishment of the facility and the introduction of weaving in their community, most of them would work in sugar cane farms or haciendas.

Tabo-tabo added, “We could now eat three times a day and can afford to hire a motorcycle.”

At present, there are nine full-time weavers and two-part-time weavers, with three male weavers.

The presence of the facility at the mountain has given prominence for the community. The local government unit has even put up new school facilities in the area. And, the seven-kilometer ascending road going up the community has been paved by the local government unit of Kabankalan City making transportation and mobility easier for the people and their produce.