Tags: Entrepreneurship, Handicrafts, Livelihood Programs
By Anna Valmero
ZAMBOANGA CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR— Weaving mats from pandan leaves provides hope for the members of the Sama cultural tribe.
This is the reason Maria Olibeth Millares, proprietor of Kaholatan Mat Products named her business after the Sama tribe’s word for “hope”.
A former member of a non-government organization (NGO) who saw the lack of access of the Sama community to regular income-generating jobs, Millares decided to start a business employing tribe members and tapping their craftsmanship in weaving pandan mats.
“The Sama community members are usually looked down upon by other tribes in the area because they are sea gypsies so they are normally fishermen or pearl divers. The danger of living in the seas for months is that the Sama people are exposed to pirate routes who usually steal their harvest or kill them,” Millares said.
Aside from being sea gypsies, the Sama people have excellent weaving skills so Millares thought of turning that into a steady source of income. Using 50,000 pesos as seed capital from international grants, Millares set up the Kaholatan Mat Products in 2007.
The first year was devoted to developing the skills of the Sama tribe in terms of weaving and gathering quality pandan leaves. The group partnered with the local Department of Trade and Industry for free seminars on the mat production and other skills such as soap making.
To date, there are four sewers and ten weavers who are regularly employed by the social enterprise. Other Sama natives are also part of the production process, from gathering pandan, gluing the materials together and as extra weavers in case they have bulk orders.
“What is good about this project is that they regained their self-esteem as well and with their earnings, now they have more purchasing power to buy necessities,” she added.
The handwoven pandan mats are also crafted into different products including pen pouches (60 pesos), cellphone pouches (P150), wallets (P125), netbook or laptop cases (P150 and above), and passport holders (P60), pillow cases (500 for set of two), and paper folders (P200). There are also keychains of the made into small slippers (P25).
Looking at the finely woven products, one can see the potential of the Sama people to drive growth for this business. Through bazaars and referrals from previous customers, orders for the products are continuously coming in.
Millares is also encouraging Filipinos to patronize products like the pandan mats because it helps the Sama people and it is also an eco-friendly consumer habit that would help decrease the importation of plastic or faux leather that pollutes the environment.
“Let’s be proud to carry Pinoy-made craftsmanship such as these handwoven pandan products. By using them daily, we continue to give livelihood and save lives of the Sama people and they too, can hope to share their culture,” she added.
Get more information about Kaholatan Mat Products
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