NAGBACALAN LOOMWEAVERS
MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE, INC
PAOAY, ILOCOS NORTE
MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE, INC
PAOAY, ILOCOS NORTE
Loomweaving has been part of the tradition of Ilocandia since the pre-Spanish era. Yet, the loomweavers of Paoay, Ilocos Norte were able to band together only in 1992, and it happened, according to their leader, Charito Cariaga, "by accident."
One time, when she and her husband went to a wake, her husband asked on of the council members how they could help the community. The council member mentioned that somebody should lead the loomweavers because no one was willing to do it. "So I became their leader, and have been for 11 years," said Mrs. Cariaga. They formed themselves into an association first and upon the advice of the DTI, became a cooperative so they would be given more help by the government.
With an initial capital of only P5,300, the group started weaving traditional abel blankets and pillowcases, and then gradually expanded their product range. Now they are making placemats, table napkins, runners, bags, dress materials and all kinds of hand-woven items. "Whatever the people want us to make, we produce," Mrs. Cariaga said, showing the flexibility and responsiveness that all entrepreneurs must have to succeed-doubtless one of the reasons why the Nagbacalan Loomweavers MPCI is now a P2.2 million organization.
There are challenges, though, such as the lack of raw materials. Sometimes they get materials such as metallic thread from Taiwan, and this raises the prices of their products. "That's another problem," she said, "other weavers set their prices low to attract more buyers; but our products are more expensive because the quality, both of the craftsmanship and the materials. "There should be a spinning mill in Ilocos Norte because we are producing cotton," said Mrs. Cariaga, but that is beyond the financial capability of the organization. Perhaps another enterprising Ilocano will see the potential of a spinning mill and take up the challenge.
The group is grateful, however, for government assistance that came their way, in many forms. Their building, for example, was built through a P250,000 financial assistance from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). DSWD gave an interest-free P30,000 loan which the cooperative used to purchase raw materials. "The DTI gave a whole lot of assistance," said Mrs. Cariaga, and it came in various forms: financial, technical, national and regional trade fairs, seminars, market-matching, local study missions," and many more, which I can no longer recall." They joined the DTI-organized National Trade Fair 2003, through which they got a lot of orders. Although they do not export, some of their local buyers have buyers from other countries who buy their products.
Mrs. Cariaga plans to entice more members to join the cooperative. There are now 45 members, although they are not all weavers. She laments that not as many people in the community go into weaving now. Whereas before, children from the age of six learned loomweaving, now the interest is waning, and has to be revived. Keeping this tradition alive is among their priorities as an organization.
With a visionary leader and committed members, the Cooperative faces a bright future that bridges their people to their past made rich by the tradition of loomweaving.
Sulong Pinoy! Stoking the Fire of Filipino Entrepreneurship
2004. p70-71