BAMBUHAY

AS sturdy as the bamboo tree, the people of Sitio Kiwit, Busuanga, Palawan rose from Typhoon Yolanda’s trail of devastation through traditional bamboo weaving.

Sitio Kiwit lies in the northern part of Busuanga wherein major source of income comes from selling organic vegetables and bamboo handicrafts. Busuanga was one of the areas heavily affected by the typhoon when it struck the country in 2013 wrecking homes and livelihood.

In 2016, the Caritas Philippines, a non-profit organization, led a livelihood development program which includes the revival of bamboo weaving industry in Busuanga. This organization formed a group composing of bamboo weavers thus the creation of Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay – Social Action Center Bambuhay Palawan Association. It was later renamed to “Bambuhay Handicrafts” after the group decided that they can stand on their own.

Majority of the locals of Sitio Kiwit are engaged in bamboo handicraft production. Because this wood is abundant and readily available to the locals, it is crafted into various household items/commercial articles for the local and foreign (tourists) market.

Bamboo stands out among woody plants because it possesses unique qualities and offers a wide array of uses. The bamboo culms have long been tapped as an inexpensive source of housing materials, furniture, handicraft, banana props, fish pens and other innumerable products.

Although the demand of bamboo products decreased in the last 30 years due to the proliferation of plastic wares and destruction of Typhoon Yolanda, Bambuhay Handicrafts finds their way to make it back to the market. “Kaya Bambuhay ang na­ging pangalan ng grupo dahil ang mga bamboo o buho ang muli naming naging hanapbuhay matapos ang ilang taon.” (We named our group Bambuhay because after many years it became our main source of income again.) explained Maribel Grezo, the President of Bambuhay Handicrafts.

After the group was formed in April 2014, the Design Center of the Philippines conducted basic skills training and provided new designs for their bamboo products. Though the training was helpful to the group, Maribel admitted that they have not used the designs because of its “complicated patterns”. They also received various trainings and consultancy from DTI, USAID, and DOST.

In January 2017, the DTI-Mimaropa thru the Recovery Assistance for Yolanda Project and Caritas Philippines led a five-day training for skills upgrading of bamboo handicraft in Sitio Kiwit, Busuanga, Palawan. The activity aims to provide means of livelihood to the locals by upgrading their skills in producing more globally-competitive products.

The DTI-Mimaropa collaborated with Mr. Cesar Pasco and Mr. Renel Batralo of Sarilikha to assess the skills upgrading intervention needed. The acitivity were attended by 24 Bambuhay members and among them are Pedencia Igbal, a senior citizen, and Mauro Angulo, a PWD, of which both are experienced bamboo weavers.

During the training, the designers measured the knowledge and skills of Bambuhay weavers in transforming the bamboo or buho to a finished product. After determining practices to be improved, Mr. Pasco provided the weavers with the technical knowhow on preparation and manipulation of bamboo that is geared towards producing export quality bamboo by-products. This includes bamboo stripping, dyeing up to creation of layouts and pattern designs.

“Malaki ang naitulong ng training na ito dahil inalalayan talaga kami step-by-step. Natuto kami ng mga techniques kung papaano pa namin mapagaganda ang produkto namin,” said Grezo. In their past production, only 10% of the bamboo were utilized but after the training, almost of 80% of wood were turned into new products. From simple baskets and cabinets, Bambuhay were able to produce new sets of products such as wallets, fans, multipurpose baskets, handbags, trinkets, mats, and placemats. These will be brought to their store located in Coron, Palawan where they can sell their products to the local and foreign tourists.

The group is also assisted to various DTI-organized trade fairs which helped them showcase their products to a wider market. These fairs also linked them to exporters and big companies such as Rustan’s Commercial Corporation.

To date, the group still receives skills and organizational trainings.