Monday, May 26, 2008

Tabih weaver


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 27, 2008) – Tabih weaver Arsenia Vicente, 48, shows her mastery of weaving the tabih cloth made of abaca fiber at the Capitol lobby Tuesday, May 27. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Indigenous showcase


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 27, 2008) – Helen L. Lumbos, 38, keeps in touch with her family in the Malungon uplands as her group of women artists showcase indigenous handicraft at Capitol lobby Tuesday, May 27, to celebrate the National Heritage Month. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Heritage keeper


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 27, 2008) – Masinden Tumandan, 68, a Blaan master culture mat weaver from Upper Lasang, Sapu Masla, Malapatan weaves mats in keeping the tradition alive for future generations of the indigenous people and not for the monetary value the handicraft could bring in this showcase Tuesday, May 27, at the Capitol lobby in celebration of the National Heritage Month. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Heritage month


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 26, 2008) – Governor Migs Dominguez mingles with Capitol employees and the Blaan and Tboli tribal groups, the largest tribal groups in Sarangani, during the flag ceremony Monday, May 26, as the province celebrates May as the National Heritage Month. The theme for this year is "Philippine Epics" and the events are being held under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. (Photo by Romina Rabina/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Kids with Gov.


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 26, 2008) – Tboli kids of Badtasan tribal dancers from Kiamba town usher Governor Migs Dominguez to the front row before the group makes a dance number during the flag raising ceremony Monday, May 26, at the Capitol. (Photo by Romina Rabina/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Philippine epics


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 26, 2008) – May is the National Heritage Month. The theme for this year is "Philippine Epics" and local events being held under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts are celebrated by Capitol employees with Tboli kids from Badtasan village of Kiamba town. Different tribal groups join the flag raising ceremony Monday, May 26, at the Capitol. (Photo by Romina Rabina/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Tribal dancers


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 26, 2008) – Capitol employees enjoy watching and taking pictures as a group of young Tboli girls from barangay Badtasan, Kiamba town, performs at Capitol in celebration of the National Heritage Month. (Photo by Romina Rabina/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Villagers pin hope in baskets

ALABEL, Sarangani (May 22, 2008) - After months of perfecting their craft, members of Sitio Ihan Livelihood Association (SILA) have sold out their first baskets to telecom giant Globe which initiated a nito and rattan weaving project in barangay Datal Anggas in December 2007.

"This is a dream come true. We now have a livelihood project for the people living in this remote barangay," said barangay chairman Caris Salimama in a press conference Tuesday (May 20).

SILA members sold 17 baskets to Globe which used it for corporate giveaways and displayed various products made of nito, rattan and bamboo at the press conference.

Jones Campos, head of Globe public relations, said that Globe is bent on helping communities develop entrepreneurial and livelihood skills across the country.

Sitio Ihan was a former rebel stronghold during the height of the communist movement.

At the village last December, 75 of its residents participated in a livelihood training of weaving baskets and other ornaments made of rattan and nito conducted by Globe Bridging Communities (Globe BridgeCom) program, Alcantara Foundation Inc., the Cottage Industries Training Center (CITC), and the provincial government. Ten of the trainees were former members of the New People's Army.

"The provincial government of Sarangani will help in linking their products to potential markets," said Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon.

Globe has also committed to buy some of SILA's products and even find a market for them.

"We want them not only to learn how to weave but also become entrepreneurs as well," said Fernando Esguerra of Globe's community relations office.

Esguerra, with representatives from ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation, Alcantara Foundation, Sarangani provincial government and CITC spent two nights and three days in Ihan last year.

"Their products will not only be sold but the story behind it will also be told," said Cecile Dominguez, executive director of Alcantara Foundation.

Globe had brought some of the weavers to Metro Manila for further enhancement of their skills.

"I realized in there (Metro Manila) that what we throw, burn and treat as garbage has value. The nito and rattan in our community will now be protected," said Salimama who added that they burn or cut rattan, bamboo and nito to give way to other crops.

"SILA has still a long way to go but they have partners who are willing to support them in this endeavor. We believe that with everyone's full cooperation, SILA would eventually reach its goal of becoming a fully-established woven handicrafts business," said Esguerra in a press statement.

"Hopefully, this genuine desire to progress from conflict and poverty would motivate others to follow suit and use what we have done in Datal Anggas as an inspiration," added Esguerra. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RIO)

Weaving


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 22, 2008) – Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (left), Alcantara Foundation Inc. executive director Cecile Dominguez (right) and Mayor Corazon Grafilo of Alabel (2nd from right) learn how to weave a nito basket from members of Sitio Ihan Livelihood Association (SILA) during a showcase of their products Tuesday, May 20. SILA members are creating handicraft made of rattan and nito through the program of Globe BridgeCom, Foundation Inc. and the provincial government of Sarangani. Sitio Ihan in barangay Datal Anggas is a former stronghold of communist rebels. (Photo by Bobby Saya-ang/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Products


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 22, 2008) - Cecile Dominguez, executive director of Alcantara Foundation, Inc. (left) and Fernando Esguerra of Globe community relations office appreciate the various handicraft made by members of the Sitio Ihan Livelihood Association (SILA). Sitio Ihan in barangay Datal Anggas is a former stronghold of communist rebels. (Photo by Bobby Saya-ang/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Nito baskets


ALABEL, Sarangani (May 22, 2008) - Members of the Sitio Ihan Livelihood Association (SILA) show guests the process of making nito baskets during a showcase of their products Tuesday, May 20. SILA members are creating handicrafts made of bamboo, rattan and nito through the program of Globe BridgeCom, Alcantara Foundation, Inc. and the provincial government of Sarangani. Sitio Ihan in barangay Datal Anggas is a former stronghold of communist rebels. (Photo by Bobby Saya-ang/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Globe, gov't. & ex-rebs as weave partners

ALABEL, Sarangani (May 22, 2008) – The Globe Bridging Communities (Globe BridgeCom) program has credited the efforts of the local government of Alabel for partnering with Globe in training former combatants to make a living.

Globe BridgeCom, the integrated corporate social responsibility program of Globe Telecom, has trained 40 residents of Sitio Ihan in basket-weaving.

The project kicked-off in October 2007 with Alcantara Foundation Inc. as Globe's local partner.

Sitio Ihan of Datal Anggas village is a former rebel-infested area. Scores of New People's Army rebels from Datal Anggas have pledged allegiance to the government.

In the plaque of appreciation awarded to the village, Globe conveyed its gratitude to Alabel for sharing in the "mission of transforming and enriching the lives of Filipinos thru corporate social responsibility program."

Globe said in the citation it would "continuously bridge hope to Filipinos by enhancing education, strengthening entrepreneurship and sustaining the environment."

Alcantara Foundation Inc. executive director Cecile Dominguez said the project is "really to give opportunity to the residents of Sitio Ihan, Datal Anggas."
She said the opportunity that comes along with it is the message that "when there is peace, there is progress" which depicted the transformation of Sitio Ihan from a formerly rebel-held area. "Ang magandang nangyayari po dito sa Ihan ay nagpapakita na kung may kapayapaan ay may dumating na kalambuan. Sigurado kami na after this marami pang magagandang mangyayari at dumadating na progress sa ating bayan sa Datal Anggas kung sama-sama tayong magtutulungan," Dominguez told barangay and municipal officials at Alabel's flag ceremony Monday (May 19).

The basket weaving project, according to Dominguez, is a long-term engagement that would not only provide new skills to the residents of Sitio Ihan but would also provide them experience and learning on entrepreneurship.

"It bridges a community towards greater opportunities and newer opportunities," She said.She said after ten of the 40 beneficiaries went to Manila for an intensive training last month, they are now back to Sitio Ihan to start developing their products.Dominguez said when their products are ready, the Alcantara Foundation will then start marketing their products outside the province. "Right now we're at skills perfecting component. When they have perfected their skills then we are ready to market their products," Dominguez added. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/BCP)