A handicraft, sometimes more precisely expressed as artisanal handicraft

or handmade, is any of a wide variety of types of work where useful and

decorative objects are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. It
is a traditional main sector of craft, and applies to a wide range of creative and
design activities that are related to making things with one's hands and skill,
including work with textiles, moldable and rigid materials, paper, plant fibers,
etc. Usually the term is applied to traditional techniques of creating items
(whether for personal use or as products) that are both practical and aesthetic.
Handicraft industries are those that produces things with hands to meet the
needs of the people in their locality. Machines are not used.

With that being said, our group conducted a tour, surveying some of the
handicraft industry in our locality. Thus, enabling us to gain a deeper
understanding of real life situations and trends than a book can ever convey,
moreover, we have acquired more knowledge through actual exposure to the
different places with the said industry.

On October 30, 2016, Sunday, the day we have scheduled our tour, we
first prepared the things we must have: first, is the notebook and pen for taking
down notes; second, is the camera for taking pictures and documentation;
third, is water and snacks to avoid hunger; and lastly is our pocket money for
emergency purposes.

Once we have checked everything, we immediately headed out to our first

stop.

3Js Furniture Shop

As soon as we arrived at the shop, we instantly looked for the owner to
ask some questions. The owner happily greeted us and entertained us as well.
During our interview we found out that the owner of the business is Mr.
Isagani Sampaga. He started out with the business in the year 2012 with
30,000.00 as the capital. As his business flourished, he hired 3 workers
including his son who helps him with the job, hoping that he can manage their
business in the future. The materials he used for the furniture he makes are
woods of the mahogany tree and narra tree. He purchased the raw material in
the locality as well. He also added that he will only be purchasing raw
materials from other places if he can no longer find a supplier in his place.
Available products in his shop are cabinets, double deck beds, and different
sized bed. His shop is located in Looc, Tapilon, Daanbantayan, Cebu.

We were thankful to Mr. Sampaga because he drove us to our next

destination in Lanao, Daanbantayan, Cebu.

Monzales Panggal
Once we reached our destination, we look for Mr. Edwindito Monzales
right away. We easily found his house because of the piled bamboos just beside
his abode. Mr. Monzales was in the middle of making the product when we got
there. We started out with greetings and then we asked him some questions
about his work. According to him, he started out with his business in the year
1980. His product is very popular in the place because most of his neighbors
are actually fishermen and makes use of the panggal/traditional crab trap
which traps fishes/octopuses as well. His capital is mostly his efforts because
it takes time and much energy to make a finished one. Sometimes his wife and
daughter would help him wave the bamboo while he does the stripping. He
purchased bamboos on a nearby land which is very much accessible. Picture
taking follows then we bid goodbye afterwards.

Our next stop over is just a short walk from Mr. Monzales home because
just around the corner is another handicraft industry that makes use of
bamboo.
Montanas Bamboo Furniture

Without delay we headed out to their working area where we witnessed

some of the earlier steps in making a bamboo furniture. As a protocol, we
greeted everyone there and inquired with regards to their business. We found
out that the actual owner of the shop is Mrs. Melodina Montana who admitted
that she is new to the business for four years while his worker, Mr. Brando
Rodrigo has been making bamboo furniture for fourteen years with a lot of
experience in this field. Mrs. Montana started out with 50, 000. 00 as a
capital which we can say is a very big amount for this business. She also added
that the reason for a much higher amount as a capital is due to the fact that
they purchase the bamboo, paid for the workers who will cut and transport the
bamboo and for the worker who makes the furniture. The interest, she said
maybe little, but it has helped them through tough times. The shop displays at
the front of the Town Square Building. Their products is mostly living room
furniture set made up of bamboo. They are acquainted with this business
because of the availability of the bamboo in their neighborhood.

Our last destination is also a short walk from the working area, which is

more or less 500meters away. Still in Lanao, Daanbanatayan, Cebu, we look for

Ducantes Banig

Once we got there, the owners were very eager to greet and entertain us.

We did not waste our time for we go directly to our agenda for coming. We asked

them some of the questions about their business. The owner is Mrs. Vilma

Ducante and she shared that it really didnt started out as a business.

According to her, she constantly asked for a mat from her sister (who is one of

the workers on a factory who makes mat) because her children, in their

younger years, always urinate during their sleep, making it easier to damage

the mat. Her sister eventually taught her how to make the mat, and thats

when she realized that she can also have an income in making mats. She was

able to provide for her family because she accepts orders and some would buy

lots of mats to resell it to the market. Making mats is a very difficult task

because she purchased the raw material as it is. She dries the pandan leaf

(romblon leaf), removes its thorn and clean it afterwards. Then she can start

putting in color through dying. If it is already dry thats the only time she can
wave the mat. She even demonstrated how to wave the mat for us in which we

are really grateful.

Through this activity our group learned very valuable insights about the

handicraft industry. Some people have their business by accident, some

because of the availability of materials, some because it is their hobby and

some because its what they know and they stick by it.

This people continue to do what they know and help others in their own
way. Through this activity, we have peeped in to the lives of people who do

simple things, but with a great amount of hard work and dedication. This is

indeed a very memorable activity and that ends our groups journey.