When we started to intensify our efforts in assisting the communities through developing what they already have – pandan handicrafts, our goal in mind was to give them a sustainable means of living. We have seen great potential for the industry of weaving when we saw their art and culture of weaving. Aside from being a potential source of income for women, this part of culture of the islands in North Eastern Palawan should be passed down to the next generations.
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From there, we began to take a step one at a time in assessing their strengths, upgrading their skills and connecting them to the local market aside from the nearby Amanpulo resort in the island. Our idea was to basically empower men and women, strengthen their knowledge in handicrafts, inspire them to explore this kind of business and make them appreciate their skills and available resource materials. Little did we know, it will literally bring us to hard to reach communities and allow us to get a glimpse of the lives of people we usually do not know.
Barangay Diit has a population of 300 households or 1,530 individuals. It is the farthest island from the mainland of Agutaya which is classified as a Fifth class island-municipality. The island municipality is home to one of Palawan’s native tongues, Agutaynen. The main source of livelihood is upland farming aside from fishing and seaweeds farming. We finally met Rovilyn face-to-face in our first training for weavers in Diit island. We were amazed by her skills in weaving bags, baskets and boxes. We visited her house and found out that she is physically disabled. Timid and quiet, she shares her story to us while carefully cutting buri strips. |
When she was 16, she suffered from complications brought by Polio. Since then she wasn’t able to walk so she stayed at home. “Dati wala akong kumpyansa sa sarili ko kaya nagtatago ako sa ibang tao. Ayokong makita nila ako. (Before, I lack self-confidence so I would hide away from other people. I didn’t want them to see me.)”, she narrates. Her physical disability affected her confidence greatly. She even questioned her capabilities but later on found something to fight idleness. Most of the time, her mother and other relatives plant crops in the mountain. In their free time, they weave baskets and other handicraft products. Rovelyn being left alone in the house, observes them then later on learns and creates her own. Later on with her creativity, she was able to customize and make her own designs.
As time went on, she developed her skills and now she is known as a maker of bags, bento boxes and hats in their island. Usually, she gets orders from schools and her neighbors. Now, she is one of the weavers who are supplying boxes in Amanpulo resort. Instead of inspiring people like her but the opposite happened, we are more inspired by her motivation and hard work. She stood beyond her immobility and found purpose in weaving handicrafts. Every finished product gives her a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment which is far more valuable than what she earns. She has taught us a deeper lesson- do not let circumstances defeat you. Rise up above them and you will find purpose and happiness.
Brgy. Diit is one of several communities being assisted by The Andres Soriano Foundation through our Livelihood Program. They are being linked up to a nearby resort and other shops in Manila for marketing arrangements.
For inquiries on potential partnerships, email us at operations@asorianofoundation.org or send us a message through Facebook: www.facebook.com/asorianofoundation.org.