FIVE years ago, Sally Ganal, 46, of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, was a full time housewife, whose world revolved around her four children. The family?s main source of living was her husband?s paltry salary as a construction worker.
Life could have been a tight squeeze for the Ganal family, but thanks to free livelihood training from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Ganal and fellow housewives like Rowena Ganitano, 41, and Carita Ganitano, 45, were able to hone their skills in sewing.
Like Ganal, the Ganitanos also feel blessed for their newly acquired skill, which they can now apply and enjoy with their families.
Both families are among those involved in the Sarrat Binakol Association (SBA) that was formed in 2004. The group, composed of at least 27 active members, promotes binakol, the loom weaving craft that has been existent in the municipality for years but which used to focus only on blankets and pillow cases. The fabric is inspired with geometric patterns using dark blue denim and white cotton threads as raw material, and accented with bright colored yarn. The design shows the serious and industrious personality of the Ilocanos and their penchant for festivities, which the bright colored yarn symbolizes.
The local government unit of Sarrat, in cooperation with the TESDA and the DTI, granted a minimum funding assistance of P20, 000 as a start-up capital for raw materials and loom-weaving machines.
With the fusion of Ilocano creativity and artistry, the product line has expanded to other craft innovations that include accessories, gift items and souvenirs. Among the bestsellers are tote bags, vanity sets, pencil cases, envelopes, sun visors, and leis.
Today SBA is gaining popularity not only in provincial trade fairs, which they always join to promote their products, but also as favorite giveaways and pasalubong (gifts) abroad. To date, bulk orders from balikbayans (returning Filipinos) and foreign tourists have reached as far as Singapore, Italy, Greece, and Hawaii.
Meanwhile, garlic, known to some in Ilocos Norte as ?white gold,? has found its niche in food processing as well. In Vintar town, about 280 hectares of land are planted to garlic.
Seeing the potential of this spice, a group of women, locally known as the Rural Improvement Club which also includes out-of-school youth, was trained by the Mariano Marcos State University-College of Technology to process garlic. Preserving garlic so they can sell it at a higher price became the next project of the group that eventually formed the Siwawer Garlic Food Products Association (SGFPA).
In demand in the local market, the garlic products have also found a fertile market in Hawaii and the mainland USA, said Melda Quilala, coordinator of the women?s association here.
The garlic food processing plant in Vintar town is equipped with a garlic peeler, slicer, mechanical dryer and a pulverizing machine, Quilala said. It is supported by the local government unit of Vintar town, with some financial assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment.
Barely three years since the group started processing garlic, the SGFPA has become the leading supplier of garlic food products, such as pickled garlic, flakes, chips, garlic powder, garlic cookies and even garlic-flavored pulburon and pastillas (traditional milk-based sweets).
Like a number of active cooperatives here, the SBA and the SGFPA exhibited their crafts and products during the three-day celebration of cooperative month at the Ilocos Norte Heroes Hall in October. Women?s Feature Service
For inquiries or orders, call Sarrat Binakol Assn. 920-9284982 or e-mail binakol@yahoo.com; for garlic food products, call Ms. Luz Tunac at 0919-3517289 or (077) 6705273.
