From an ordinary bamboo weaver from Brgy. San Rafael, Tigbauan, 54-year-old Helen Triste started to make a name in Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) industry in Iloilo Province after discovering her potential to go beyond just weaving “kararaw” or rice tray and “balaon” or basket.
Helen was one of the bamboo weavers, locally called “manugrara”, whose livelihood was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opportunity opened for them when the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-6 and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-6 through its Negosyo Center-Tigbauan, and the Municipal Tourism Office extended assistance.
Helen started joining trainings improve her weaving skills and output.
Her crafts, along with those of other “manugrara” of Tigbauan, such as bamboo rice trays, baskets, food covers, laundry baskets, and others bamboo products became in demand in the market.
Eventually, she was of the beneficiaries of DTI-Negosyo Center Tigbauan, granted with tools/machines to enhance her crafts.
“Daw na-touch man ako kay na appreciate sang tanan ang akon product. Hanggod nga bagay nga may machine nga gin-provide sa akon,” Helen told Panay News.
Her income improved and she was able to put up a shop beside her house in Brgy. San Rafael that also assits her fellow weavers. Her business “Lenskie” was officially registered with DTI in 2021.
She was also one of 181 MSMEs in Western Visayas who joined the week-long 2022 Panubli-on Trade Fair at SM City Iloilo last month where all her crafts, especially the bamboo Christmas Tree, were sold out.
Now that she has already made a name in the bamboo weaving industry, many are tapping her to produce customized bamboo products for them.
“Kon kaisa daw indi man ako ka-arapal,” she quipped.
Helen’s craftsmanship is indeed something that must be passed on, just like how she inherited the skills of her father, who, aside from being a farmer and carpenter, was also a manugrara.
As early as in Grade 6, she and other siblings helped their father in weaving.
“Ja gid kami kara nabuhi. Hanggod nabulig kang pagpangrara,” she shared.
Weaving bamboo baskets and trays, ‘purogwan’ (nest basket), ‘amakan’ and ‘tabongos’, put food on their table and sent them to schools.
She expressed that she did not expect to excel in weaving at this time. Nevertheless, she considered it a blessing.
Currently, Helen is assisted by his brother Camilo in her business while also assisting other fellow weavers in the barangay.
For Helen, it takes lots of determination and interest to improve one’s skills. Just like the items made of bamboo, Helen shows resiliency and resistance when placed under stress./PN
