BY BELINDA SALES
LUZ ALTRECHA, a passionate empowered woman, desires to empower other women through sewing. With her relentless and untiring efforts, the Samahan ng Kababaihan sa Pangkabuhayan (SKP) was organized, received support, registered, and continues to empower other women by way of productive work! She deserves recognition, and Sweet Things Café, owned by couple Emma Concepcion Ingking and Luisito Ytol, did just that during their pastry shop’s Christmas Party on December 14, 2024, held in Villa, Villanueva.
As a gender and woman advocate, I was inspired to hear their story. These are the tales that truly tug at the heartstrings; worth telling because they motivate and make you appreciate the resilience and power of women.
The SKP, now composed of twenty-one sewers, has built a strong collaboration with Sweet Things by producing and supplying the pink square bags that snugly fit the sturdy boxes preserving the shape, taste, and artistry of Sweet Things’ creative and delicious cakes.
Their humble beginnings informally started in 2014 via meetings that Luz called in her own home until they were officially registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Region 10 in 2020. However, their partnership with Sweet Things started in December 2019.
This is their story.
In 2014, Luz Altrecha, was sewing and selling round rags (retaso) to earn a living. In her economic activity, she thought about teaching her friends how to sew, so they, too, can become productive.
By 2015, she began inviting and organizing a group of women influenced by what she saw on TV – a DOLE program that helps to empower the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers through livelihood undertakings. “We started our meetings, conceived, and coined our name,” Luz said.
It will be recalled that DOLE has an Integrated Livelihood Program that aims to provide better livelihood opportunities to reduce poverty and uplift the lives of marginalized and vulnerable workers. SKP belongs to the marginalized sector of our society.
“In 2016, we found it complicated and difficult to comply with the requirements of DOLE that we lost steam,” explained Luz. “However, in 2018, we had a breakthrough when Oliver Ello of the local government unit (LGU) of Villanueva, introduced us to the management of Steel Asia Manufacturing Corporation, located in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, to request for electric sewing machines. Thereafter, Steel Asia donated two units to our group,” Luz disclosed. That same year, SKP was registered with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Sangguniang Bayan of Villanueva.
In 2020, the group received full help from Kent Mark Teok of the Public Employment Service Office-LGU Villanueva, to comply with and satisfy the requirements of DOLE. “We were so happy to receive complete assistance,” Luz enthused. Following their DOLE registration, SKP received twelve sewing machines and assorted spools of thread worth P250,000.00.
Women stories
In a conversation with sewer Gilda Dacutan, she recounted, “In 2014, Luz invited me to a meeting to organize a group of sewers to produce rags as a form of livelihood. In the beginning, we only had one manual sewing machine, and since I did not know a thing about sewing, Luz mentored me. Luz challenged me by saying, ‘you won’t learn how to sew unless you sit down and start using the machine.’”
“Right now, I have become adept at sewing, and this trade has helped our family enormously especially by sending my kids to school, finishing high school, and senior high. Presently, they are enrolled in college,” she added.
For her part, sewer Catherine Itum explained that she only joined the group this year. “I’m happy to be welcomed into the group and taught the rudiments of sewing. Sewing has become my stress reliever; I’m enjoying it, especially because I learned a new skill.”
Meanwhile, Tessie Tadena, another sewer said, “Life was so difficult before I became a sewer. We cannot even afford to buy medicines; I had to borrow money, even a measly P20.00, to cover for our needs. Thankfully, Luz kept on urging me to learn how to sew offering me her own sewing machine for my use. She told me that there is money in sewing. It became true for me! The first items I produced were the flag lets of Villanueva. I was glad that I finally had my own income.”
“During the pandemic, we were able to produce masks that reached as far as Metro Manila enabled by Mayor Jennie Uy-Mendez. We were also provided a building which serves as our workstation and center. For now, so many home-based mothers desire to sew but we lack machines.” Tessie disclosed that in the past, this was the common scenario: “I just stay in the house, sometimes visit the neighbors for the usual “marites,” and when the husband arrives, quarrel with him. But now, life has totally changed because I already have my own income – huge thanks to Luzviminda Altrecha.”
The following women comprise SKP: Luzviminda D. Altrecha, president, Tessie T. Tadena, Fe R. Zamayla, Connie C. Jabien, Sheila I. Delacerna, Catherine H. Itum, Marycris Estanio, Elsa H. Hernane, Florencia C. Padillo, Marygrace D. Bahade, Hacny T. Tacandong, Cecelle P. Villotes, Rosalie R. Tampus, Gilda G. Dacutan, Mercedes C. Robles, Rose Marie B. Cadiom, Annie Rose R. Aquiman, Alma M. Badilla, Lecilda M. Waga, Gertrudes Lood, and Ponciana R. Eduria, members.
SKP, forging ahead, is indeed an inspiring story of grit, determination, and women empowering other women. Their journey is worth writing and emulating.
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The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales every Saturday, 10 a.m. at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City. Momentarily, Woman Talk is taking a short break. Email at belindabelsales@gmail.com. X @ShilohRuthie./PN
