By Wenna B. Bendol

BUGASONG, ANTIQUE—“Maghirupay”(unite), “Ugwad” (progress) and Forward. Three different words, but when joined together means “unity towards progress.” These are the names of women’s groups in Barangay Bagtason, Bugasong town in the province of Antique. They are three different groups that are working together towards a common goal.

“Nagaburuligay kami. Indi bale kung lain-lain ang amon grupo basta para lang sa tanan (We help each other. It doesn’t matter which group we belong as long as it is for the good of everyone)” said Rosalina Valenzuela, 62, who heads the Forward-SKA (Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Association).

These women’s groups are engaged in making doormats and potholders out of used clothing. They are now slowly making a name for being a supplier of these products in their town and the nearby province of Aklan because of their good quality.

Since they started as Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, Rosalina claimed she had noticed a lot of changes in the attitude of her neighbours. Their regular attendance to Family Development sessions have taught them well how they can improve their family relationship and especially mould the values of their children. This was reinforced when Sustainable Livelihood Program was introduced in their area.

After their livelihood training in rag-making,residents of their place would meet almost every afternoon in one area not for ‘tsismis’ and talk about other people’s lives but how to improve their work and uplift their living condition.

From ‘rags to progress’

Rosalina’s family belongs to Set 1 of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. She is a Parent Leader and acts as grantee for her two grandchildren—Joemel, 10, and Maegan, 9, whose mother is working in Manila.

“Bahul gid ang nabulig kanamon kang 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilya) kay halin nga nangin myembro ang mga tawo rigya, nakita ko nga may disiplina run sanda, labi na gid pag-umpisa kang SEA-K (Pantawid Pamilya has helped us a lot because when the people here became members, I observed that they have become more disciplined, especially when the SEA-K was introduced), she shared.

Through the help of SEAK, now known as Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), the women in the area underwent training on rag-making in July 2013. With Php600 starting capital, they immediately put to use what they have learned during their training and started making doormats and potholders.

“Isa ka simana pagkatapos kang amon nga training, nag-umpisa kami dayun himo. Pag primero, indi pa kami gawa kamaan pay sa sige-sige daw okay raman (A week after our training, we started right away.It was quite hard at first, but as we continue, our work also improved), according to Rosalina.

Each of them would individually purchase their materials. A piece of doormat would need four pieces of shirt, which they buy in ukay-ukay, at Php 5.00. They would sell the finished doormat at Php 45.00 and the pot holder at Php 10.00. In every item that they sell, Php 2.00 goes to their respective organizations.

“Medyo bahul man amon nga kita. Pagka-uti lang gid kag pasensya ang kinahanglan (We earn quite well. We just have to be meticulous and patient),” according to Rosalina.

Their earnings from making and selling rags enabled them to sustain their daily needs. Thru them, Lea Valenzuela said she is able to help her husband earn a living for their family and provide the needs of their growing children, especially in their school.

More than the money they earn

Today, the women’s groups of the barangay continue to supply rags to the municipal government, daycare centers, and a hospital in Kalibo, Aklan. Their products are also bought in bulk by local traders who sell them in the town market.

“Ang pinakanamian ko gid sang nag umpisa na kami sa rag-making kay indika run gawa kakita nga nagalagaw ukon nagatambay ang amon mga tupad balay, ilabi na ang mga asawa kay nagatiner run sanda sa anda balay para maghimo kang doormat (What I liked most about rag-making is that it has changed the practice of the people in our community especially the women because they now stay in their house to weave doormats),” Lea declared.

According to her, it has become their pastime and they can even weave rags while cooking.

“Kung mampisahan mo na gani daw indi mo na pag-untatan (Once you have started it, you can’t seem to stop),” she added. “Tulad kung makita mo kami nga nagatipon rigya tungod sa paghimo kang rags (Now when you see us gather here it is because of our rag-making).”

For Rosalina, Lea and their colleagues in Bagtason SEAK, success is not measured by how much money he/she has but how it made them happy and how it changed their attitude and outlook in life./dswd6/Wenna B. Bendol