REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Commission on Higher Education

Region V ( Bicol )
Province of Albay
LIBON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Libon, Albay
AY: 2022-2023
Calleja St. Brgy Zone IV, Libon, Albay

Term Paper in GE2

(Readings in the Philippines History)

Burlap ( Abaka ) Weaving in Barangay San Antonio, Libon, Albay

Submitted by:
Princess Joy P. Clar
BSED- SOCIAL STUDIES 1

Submitted to:
Mr. Juan D. Salcedo, Jr.
INSTRUCTOR
I. INTRODUCTION

In this study of the Burlap (abaca) Weaving in San Antonio, Libon, Albay,

the key purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of this livelihood in

the lives of the people in San Antonio and the impact of this product in the

industry.

The aim of this study is to gain insights of the performance of Bicol Abaca

Handicraft Industry the way it is conducting its business. The industry has a very

interesting feature with contrasting context, on one hand being traditional in

nature and yet on the other hand having global reach. The abaca handicraft

industry in comparison to other community-based industries has always been

export oriented. It means that majority of its output is intended for foreign market.

This characteristic is rather an exception as normally, the community-based

industries only cater to the needs of the local or domestic market. This

characteristic is also one of the reasons why this study is being pursued and of

great interest. The abaca handicraft industry is well integrated to the global

market for decades now starting from the time in the 50s when most of the third

world countries like the Philippines were struggling to modernize their economy.

The handicraft industry has withstood the times also when the country has

tried to uplift its economic status through import substitution – a strategy of

utilization of indigenous technology. As most neighboring Asian nations have

geared towards an export-oriented strategy with success like for the countries of

Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and also lately of China, the Philippines has
also promoted such strategy but with just marginal results. The Philippines is still

confronted with a huge surplus of labor force that is absorbed by the informal

sector. The informal sector has played a major role for employment of the labor

surplus in the formal economy. The assumption that the informal sector is

transitionary or temporary as jobs would be created by those economic strategies

did not materialize.

The persistence of the informal sector has prompted the scholars and

different development institutions to look at the dynamics within the sector. The

informal sector although unfavorably defined, was identified as possible seedbed

for entrepreneurs. The challenge lies at the transformation of the activity in the

informal sector into a viable and vibrant business entity.

The Bicol Abaca Handicraft Industry is faced with the onslaught of

globalization. Globalization is characterized by fierce competition as trade

barriers are eliminated. Technology and information have also played the driving

factors to globalization. It is interesting to explore the fate of the Bicol Abaca

Handicraft Industry under the context of global market because the industry

represents a potent example on how a traditional industry is struggling to fight for

its market share.

The Bicol Abaca Handicraft Industry has experienced the different

approaches for economic prosperity in the Philippines. Up to the present, the

Bicol Abaca Handicraft industry still categorically belongs to the informal sector
as the core activity of the sector is based on piece works done informally by the

household members (cottage-based production).

The Handicraft Industry is already one step ahead towards integration to

the formal economy but its struggle is still characterized by the kind of challenges

present under the concept of informal sector. The treatment of exploration to the

fate of the Abaca Handicraft Industry will be done in a different perspective with

emphasis on informality as the main feature of the industry.

The abaca comes from a species of banana that is native to the

Philippines. It is extracted from the leaf-stems of the Manila hemp, self-sustaining

plant. Abaca, is a plant related to the banana the leaves of which provide some

of the strongest natural fibers. Abacas and bananas are very alike but the stalk of

the abaca plant is thinner and tarpered from the base to the top. The abaca fruits

themselves and the corresponding branches of them are much smaller than

bananas and bunches of banana. Abaca is indigenous to the Philippines and it is

a common crop that grows in the world in most rural areas or cultirated in some

upland areas in the country. It grows well particularly in the provinces of Bicol,

Samar, and Leyte. Abaca is also one of the few cash crops that can grow with

relatively little input compared to other crops, in steep forest areas. It is often the

crop of choice households living in villages at the forest edge. The abaca is

grown commercially for its fibers which are used as raw materials for pulp,

cordage and handicrafts industries. The Philippines is the abaca capital of the

world supplying 85% of the total world abaca fiber requirement while equator is

the supplier of the 15%.

 Abaca fabric is made from fibers extracted by a process called retting from

the outer skin of the abaca plant (the stem and ribbon), then collected by

stripping, which scrapes the fibrous material from the rest. The abaca plant

requires lots of rainfall, a warm and humid climate. It typically grows in tropical

lowland areas with humidity above 60% without pesticides or fertilizers. The

abaca plants are planted at the start of the rainy season in well-drained loamy

soil, using rhizomes. Abaca fields can be harvested every 3 to 8 months after an

initial growth period that lasts between 12 and 25 months.

Abaca fabric is made using many different processing steps that have

been the same for centuries. Its production involves water retting, a process

where abaca stems are bundled together and immersed in water to soften. The

action of bacteria and enzymes taking up to 30 days in natural water makes the

separation of the fiber from the stem possible. After retting, the stripping process

begins to collect the fibrous material and scrape off the rest. Abaca fibers are

then transformed into textile yarn with the help of spinning wheels. Lastly, abaca

yarn undergoes dyeing or treatment to enhance its properties before being

carefully hand-woven into fabrics by textile manufacturers.

The fiber can be used to replace artificial fibers with natural fibers in

composite materials in the automobile industry. Abaca handicraft and textile on

the other hand are potential areas of expansion for the abaca production and

processing industry. The abaca has great economic importance and is harvested

for its strong versatile fiber that can be woven into home and fashion

accessories. With its aesthetically easing form, the abaca can embellish the look
and feel of any room or establishment. The abaca can be molded into quality and

usually appealing decor for home. The abaca's fibers add a natural aesthetic

when crafted into textiles. Abaca fiber can also fabricate a flower bouquet. Flower

bouquet is the main use of the abaca fiber at barangay San Antonio, Libon,

Albay.

The Burlap (abaca) Weaving in barangay San Antonio, Libon, Albay

was originated from Daraga, Albay. The Burlap (abaca) Weaving was discovered

at early 1950s when one of the recident of San Antonio married a Daragueño

and settled their family here in San Antonio, Libon, Albay. At that time, the only

source of income here was farming, that person is a native of Daraga, Albany

who influenced the resident of San Antonio to do Burlap. Since she doesn’t know

on how to do the farming, she decided to do Burlap Weaving since that is the

livelihood that she skilled enough when she was at Daraga enable for them to

survive their daily lives. Years passed by, the people of San Antonio decided to

take a try or learn on how to do Burlap as they eye spotted that the income of

Burlap (abaca) Weaving is bigger than the income of farming. Years passed by

the Burlap had made progress in the livings of the San Antonio people as they

sustain their daily lives came from the income of the Burlap.

The Burlap weaving is an important primary source of income of

households with lowland farms and frequently the only source of cash income of

the poorest household of the barangay San Antonio, Libon, Albay especially of

my family. The Burlap (abaca) Weaving it's a large life no food product at San

Antonio, Libon, Albay that need a recognition not only locally but globally. The
Philippine abaca plays a vital role in the growing global advocacy for

environmental protection and forest conversation. The worldwide advocacy for

ecological sustainability strengthened the market potential for Abaca fibers in the

pulp and paper industry,cordage sector, in the composite market,textils and even

in lifestyle products and other industries.

Abaca, one of the prides of Bicol region, Philippines is the production of

native products which are basically made up of abaka (or some say Abaca).

Abaca products in bicol are very popular. Abaka is a sort or specie of native

banana which is being harvested because of its fiber. With the use of the fiber

that people can get from abaka, they can produce more high-quality products like

lampshades, chairs, accessories, furniture, baskets, slipper and some others.

Generally, these products are handmade and can be done manually by most of

the skillful people in Bicol region. These native products are mainly used as a

display and decorations in any houses. So, anyone can purchase these products

in any authorized stores. Abaka products are the main products which can be

exported to some other countries.

Most of the people in Bicol Region, most especially the Albay Province

are producing a well-crafted product which they can use for their daily living. This

kind of chores is very important for them since this is their primary source of

living. Though there are some other jobs or works which they can do, still, they

are so eager to show their creativity by doing any native products made up of

abaka fiber. After all the process being done, they are selling their products to

some other neighbor towns and cities. In fact, some of their products are being
exported to Metro Manila, capital of the Philippines and in some parts of the

country. The prices of these native products depend on the different types of the

products. So, if you are looking for some native products for your native house,

then the place can provide you with all your needs and wants. All the primary

needs in your house including different pieces of furniture up to the accessories

inside your room will be provided for you. So, come now and experience the

different products of the Bicolanos. You can also explore the lifestyle and all the

ways of living of all Bicolanos since all the guests and visitors are welcome to

their place.

With the many possibilities you can discover with abaca, there is no

question why many ventures into business with it. Bicol is the largest producer of

abaca in the Philippines which is why many abaca enterprises are in Bicol.

Abaca has helped people start enterprises close or right at home, and be able to

serve locally and internationally. Albay Agro-Industrial Development Corporation

(ALINDECO) is an outstanding example of a Bicolano abaca enterprise that

caters to the whole world. ALINDECO processes abaca into pulp. Abaca pulp is

used largely for specialty paper. The pulp is also used for food-safe paper which

makes it HALAL-certified. Aside from ALINDECO, there are 38 other abaca

enterprises in Bicol as of 2015 according to the Philippine Fiber Industry

Development Authority (PhilFida). These enterprises produce abaca products

such as bags, hats, furniture, baskets, scrunch, novelty items, and rope. Abaca

fabrics like sinamay are used to make fashion items, and home decorations as

well. The pulp is also not the only abaca product of high demand to the world.
Even crafts such as bags are sought after by the Japanese. Japan has a big

appreciation for items and other products made of natural fibers.

II. BURLAP (ABAKA) WEAVING IN SAN ANTONIO LIBON, ALBAY

Abaka and brief prosperity in Albay. The stories about the brief prosperity

of Albay between 1825 and 1925 or there abouts because of the persistent

inquiries about abaka—the one product that caused it and about how it was often

labeled as “prosperity without progress.” One nagging question that frequently

arise is “why was such prosperity not sustained?” What really happened? What

caused the sudden collapse of our industry? Why did we not attain lasting

progress? Why did we fail to build developmental foundations that might have

sustained such prosperity? Why did we regress to poverty in a very short a time?

Albay is a province in the Bikol Region which was colonized by Spain during

the 16th century. The Albayano was a deeply religious people, proud of its

culture, very clannish and deeply rooted in agriculture. This means that they were

poor, when compared to other regions such as the Tagalog, the Cebuanos and

even the Ilongos. For centuries, and up to the start of the 19th century our

economy was not something to be proud of. We produced rice which was barely

enough to feed us. We sometimes imported rice from Manila. Some of our

laborers went to Paracale, Camarines Norte to mine gold and many of them

perished during the collapse of the tunnels in the 1950s. Many were employed in
the astilleros ( shipyards) of Pantao, Bagatao, Donsol, Pilar (Sorsogon) and

Pasacao (Camarines Sur).

They say that opportunity, like love, comes from the most unexpected

places. Would you believe if I tell you that the prosperity of Albay which started in

the first quarter of the 19th century was brought about by whales like Moby Dick

so popularized by Herman Melville? That it was caused by the failure of Russia

to supply hemp from cannabis plant which produced marijuana and hashish?

Now, if this sounds very interesting to you, you better watch out for the next

installment of this story.

The many reasons for the sudden surge in our economy started so far

away from us, in the whaling waters of England and America and in a very

strange plant called cannabis grown and produced in a far away country called

Russia. During the start of the 19th century there was a sudden surge in the

need for wax and oil which came from sperm whales. Yes, the reason why we

called candles “esperma” is because the wax came from sperm whales. Yes, this

was the time when whaling was so popular, Herman Melville became a

bestselling author by writing about the mother of all whales which he called

“Moby Dick,” (no relations to Gordon).

Starting at the end of the 18th century fishery in America began a huge

expansion that was to culminate just prior to the American Revolution. The

Yankee whalers rounded Cape Horn in 1791, entering the Pacific Ocean to hunt

the cachalot or sperm whale. Starting off the coast of Chile, they reached Peru,
and in the first quarter of 19th century hunted sperm whales midway between

Japan and Hawaii. Starting out with 25 vessels in Nantucket, it peaked to 736

whaling ships in 1846.

Because of the surge in whaling industry, more ships were set out to sea.

And one of the necessities of whaling ships was hemp which was used for

making ropes and cordage for sails and for rigging. Suddenly, there was a big

demand for hemp. For those who do not know it, true hemp came from the fibers

of cannabis. Yes, it was a strange world then, when cannabis was not yet in

demand for its sweet hallucinatory effects as marijuana or hashish, but for its

fibers. And the largest supplier of hemp at that time was Russia, which ironically

was unable to supply the sudden big demand when the whaling industry

boomed.

Sudddenly there was a scramble for hemp substitute. Suppliers of hemp

scoured the whole world in search for a worthy substitute. Many plants were

experimented on, and were found unfit for the requirements for ships at sea.

Then suddenly, they noticed the cordage that Spanish galleons have been using

for a couple of centuries, but was never exported, because Manila was a closed

city. It was only open for the centuries old Manila-to-Acapulco Galleon Trade.

And what luck for Albay and the Bikol Region! A wild variety of banana was

abundant on the hillsides of Bikol, they called it abaka. The plant grew on the

slopes of mountains and especially plentiful in the province of Albay!. When

stripped, the body of abaka yielded a fiber that was used locally to tie things,

some for rough textile, and mostly for cordage and rigging of Spanish galleons.
What’s more important, they discovered that the abaka fibers were much better

in quality and quantity than the Russian hemp!

To be sure, abaka was already being stripped in Albay before the arrival of

the Spaniards. However, in 1656 a Franciscan Friar named Pedro Espallargas

taught the natives of a better way of stripping the plant for fibers. Most of the

produced fibers were taken by the Spanish authorities for use in the galleons that

have been sailing from Manila to Acapulco and back for almost a century. As the

19th century opens, provincial entrepreneurs, middlemen (personero) and

brokers started to scout export market. Many of these merchants were

predominantly Spaniards such as the Munoz, Verchez, Aramburu, Ralla and the

Madrigals; some of them were Chinese from Iloilo, notably the Locsin, Alsua and

Jaucian families; and there were local mestisos like the Durans, Napals, Solanos,

and Imperials.

To dramatize the growth of abaka export in Bikol, imagine that the first

export merchant ship that sailed out of the country in 1818 carried only 15 tons of

abaka fibers, by 1897 this would surged to over 100,000 tons, more than half of

this came from Bikol, mostly from the port of Legazpi. When the Philippine

Revolution broke out in 1896, Albay was in the midst of an economic boom and

such disturbance did not sit well with the Albayanos who were enjoying a very

affluent life. Now you will understand why America was just too eager to buy the

Philippines for a cheap $20 million in the Treaty of Paris, just to end the Spanish-

American War and take over the abaka industy in Bikol.

 The high demand in the world market for abaka fibers to be used as

substitute to cannabis for cordage was just a factor that enabled Albay to

prosper. There are other factors; for example, the liberalization of trade in the

Philippines as Spain wanted to take advantage of the increasing incursions of

American and British merchants to Manila. By 1834, Manila was officially opened

to foreign merchants under Gov. Gen Pascual Enrile—the uncle of Jose Ma.

Peñaranda, the first Governor of Albay. It marked the end of the monopolistic

Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. This development opened up as well the abaka

market to local traders and Chinese entrepreneur in Albay. The introduction of

the steamship expedited transport of the fiber from farms to market. Stories were

told that when Jose Ma. Peñaranda became governor of Albay in 1834, he

personally supervised the building of the national roads linking farms to stripping

centers and warehouses to ports, including the link road between Legazpi City

and Tabaco. It was told that when the road was completed, Governor Peñaranda

himself drove a cart full of abaca hemp to the port of Tabaco!

The boom in the abaka market brought to the Philippines, and to Albay in

particular, the large American and British trading houses, including those of

Peele, Hubbell & Co., Ker & Co., Smith, Bell & Co. ( the offices and warehouse

could still be traced in Tabaco City), and Russel & Sturgis (near San Roque,

Legazpi City), Aldecoa & Co. and many others. The remnant Spanish mestisos

and the Ilonggo Chinese served as agents and middlemen. There were

Japanese capitalists and technocrats who went to Davao and started to develop

abaka plantations there, which in the long run competed with Bikol abaka.
 Unfortunately, for Spain, war with America broke out in 1898 with the

sinking of the American ship USS Maine off the bay of Cuba. Consequently, the

formidable naval ships under Commodore George Dewey sailed to Manila Bay

and destroyed the Spanish armada under Admiral Patricio Montojo. Then in the

Treaty of Paris, after paying Spain $20 million, America took over the

government of the Philippines. The end of the Spanish occupation enabled the

infusion of new American capital into the abaka market.

For over a hundred years, the prosperity enjoyed by Bikol went on and

created an affluent society in Albay. Large colonial houses were built for the elite

and the new rich. Stone warehouses were erected to store the fibers. Roads,

ports, ships, communication facilities and other infrastructures were built to

facilitate transport of materials.

The prosperity also brought about a flourishing of the arts. The sarzuela

houses opened in Legazpi, most prominent of which was Cine Colon owned by

the Lebanese family of Abraham Najar. The Alcalde Mayor of Albay, Hugo de La

Torre formed the Compania Zarzuela de la Torre in 1894 featuring the beautiful

Pilar Pujol from Legazpi and with Juan Antonio frequently as leading performers

were showing European masterpieces such as Los Miserables, El Barbero de

Sevilla, Duo de la Africana, El Capitan de Los Lanceros, La Paloma, El

Borrachin, Los Latoneros and others. Later, the Compania Zarzuela de Camalig

would be organized by Don Anacleto Solano and performed Anillo de Hierro, Los

Caboneros, and El Estilo es el Hombre. The players were headed by Salvador

Munoz and Emiliana Anzon—the mother of Oscar Moreno and grandmother of

Butch Anzon Roa.

The Albayanos were living it up in relative prosperity when the Philippine

revolution led by Andres Bonifacio broke out in 1896. When the news arrived in

Albay, they thought it was just a local uprising in Manila. The local Spanish

propaganda informed the people that it was the Tagalogs’ attempt to dominate

the whole of the country. Naturally, the citizens were reluctant to join the

Katipuneros. What stirred the nationalism of the Bikolanos was the arrest of the

Quince Martirez which included a parish priest in Albay. Thus, a revolutionary

from the Tagalog Region, Gen Vito Belarmino was able to entice some patriots,

like Gen Simeon Ola to join the revolution. But the actual major hostilities against

the Spaniards happened only in the Camarines. When General Emilio Aguinaldo

inaugurated the First Philippine Republic in January 23, 1899, he sent Gen Jose

Ignacio Paua to Albay to raise funds for the new government. The funds he was

able to raise is estimated to be worth billions in present currency, an indication

that indeed the boom in abaka trade made Albay the riches province in the

Philippines.

When the Philippine-American War broke out in February 4, 1899, the

revolutionary forces under Gen. Vito Belarmino closed the port of Legazpi and

disrupted the export of abaka. This prompted the Americans to send forces to

Albay to open the port and resume the production and export of the important

fibers. In January 1900, in what was called the Battle of Legazpi. The American

forces under General William Kobbe fought the Albayano forces under Gen. Vito
Belarminao, Gen. Jose Ignacio Paua and Col. Antero Reyes on the shores of

Albay Bay. The Americans were able to claim victory in a matter of weeks. Gen

Jose Ignacio Paua was one of the first revolutionary to surrender to the

Americans in March 27, 1900. The American forces held camp in Regan

Barracks, in Albay District. From there they continued to fight forces that refuse

to surrender, particularly the forces under General Simeon Ola of Guinobatan,

until 1903.

The war against the Americans did not last long. The people who evacuated

to the mountains when the fighting was fierce could not survive without

provisions for long. Also, the prominent families of Albay and the merchants

dealing with abaka did not want a prolonged disruption of their businesses. What

brought the hostilities to a quick end was the common interest of the Americans,

the local businessmen, the Chinese dealers, and the foreign (British, German

and Japanese) traders to resume production of abaka fibers, open the ports and

went on with the ongoing brisk exportation of abaka hemp.

Then, gradually, the demand for abaka started to weaken. In 1924 nearly

70,000 tons of abaka was exported from Bikol. By the early 1930 the production

has decreased to 30,000 tons. In the following couple of years, the production

went down by almost 50%. There were a number of reasons for the decline:

More organized and mechanized production of abaka in Davao under Japanese

supervision. Unsteady supply of fibers due to the problems of scattered

independent farms in Bikol that worked on individual small scale stripping. The

American market found a substitute from nearby Mexico, a fiber from a variety of
cactus called sisal. The discovery of nylon as a fiber more superior than abaka

hemp. The manufacture of new ships that required less cordage. And the decline

in the whaling industry in America.

Now the crucial question: Why did the Albayanos fail to build developmental

foundations that might have sustained the century of prosperity? Again, the

answers are many. For one, the prosperity was enjoyed only by the elite local

few, the foreign merchants and the land owners. Many traders and merchants

operated from trading houses in Manila and outside the country and those who

dealt with the local growers were mere agents who had little care for developing

sustainable economies. It was said that Albay, even during the abaka boom, was

run like a colony not only of Spain and later, of America, but also of Manila.

One of the pitfalls of success is that one tends to be blindsided by the glitter

ahead such that all other things on the side become less important and are

unattended. Rice production, for example, which was so vital as the grains were

still the staple food for Albayanos, was sidelined because it was easy to import

using abaka money. During the economic boom Albay was importing rice from

Manila and Pangasinan. Textile production was not developed because of the

rush to export the fibers to the whaling industry. Thus, we were never able to

refine the abaka fibers to make it suitable for clothing. During the abaka boom,

we bought textile from Manila or from Chinese and Indian retailers. Abaka grew

on the slopes of mountains and flourished even during the dry season, thus we

did not care about irrigation projects which could have supported rice production

when the fiber industry fell. The local landowners sustained the feudal system of
having poor families and clans till their land, not much for increasing production

but for the onerous purpose of ensuring the votes of families beholden to them

when they run for political positions. There were no attempts to produce

alternative crops that, like abaka, could withstand the adverse effects of typhoons

and flooding. During the boom in abaka market Albay also experienced sudden

population explosion brought about both by surge in birth rate and uncontrolled

immigration.

Lack of regional autonomy is one of the often-cited reasons for the failure of

Bikol as a reason to sustain progress after the hundred-years-prosperity created

by the boom in abaka industry. It is a very harsh judgement, yet we need to look

at it with critical eyes because there may be truth in it. It suggests of our inability

to surrender our individual dreams for the good of the community. It was cited

that when the going was good, we allowed Manila and America and many other

strangers to control our destiny. According to Norman G. Owen, “The Bikolanos

never had the option of establishing their own tarrif, depending on their own

markets, including or excluding their own choice of immigrants, creating their own

infrastructure, supporting their own agricultural research, shaping their own

destiny.”

The most unsettling condition in the informal sector is the widespread poverty.

A person in a state of poverty prioritizes needs only for survival and a person’s

strategy only caters on day-to-day basis. It is inevitable not to take the issue of

poverty under the context of the development of the informal sector as

ithandicaps any constructive attempt to build up the capacity of the informal

sector. “Informal activity is a coping mechanism or a means of survival”.

The issue of poverty in the informal sector needs government intervention and

institutional support as the people concerned are stranded in this sort of vicious

cycle. Great dedication and determination for all concerned to surpass the

hurdles is necessary as the first step towards entrepreneurial transformation.

“Informal sector activities are undertaken with the primary objective of

selfgeneration of employment and incomes, rather than maximization of profit or

return on investments.”

“Survival enterprises are often prevented from becoming growth oriented

enterprises by artificial barriers often psychological and self-imposed.”

It is a common tool for the government to initiate livelihood projects in

addressing poverty. In the case of abaca handicraft industry, those home

workers and abaca farmers are the ones mostly suffering from poverty. The other

input segment of the industry like the sub-contractors and specialized production

segments like the twine making, metal framing and others can be promoted as

micro-enterprises which have the potential to become formal business entities.

Livelihood enterprises are primarily geared toward alleviating poverty while

growth-oriented micro-enterprises have business development as their goal.

The earnings of the former are primarily used for consumption or for other

social needs rather than for enterprise growth or expansion while micro-

enterprise operator is motivated not by economic survival but by the prospect of

making profits. The profits would then serve as surplus and are available for

business expansion.

The informal sector is usually overcrowded with livelihood activities due to

ease of entry. An ILO study by Joshi (1996) proposes that livelihood should be

distinguished from those without prospects.59

“Micro-enterprises are most successful in raising incomes and creating jobs

when supported by comprehensive programmes that provide advisory services,

training, credit, marketing and technical assistance.”

The informal sector is also confronted with the realities of exploitations of the

weakest link. In case of the abaca handicraft industry, the weakest link in the

chain is the piece workers. To counter the exploitation, it is necessary for the

piece workers to organize and to know their bargaining power but it is difficult to

promote such strategy when the piece workers are constrained by poverty.

III. CONCLUSION

The study was an attempt to determine the impact of the Burlap (abaka)

Weaving in the livelihood of the people in Barangay San Antonio, Libon, Albay.

The paper deals with the problems and prospects of the Philippine abaca

industry. There are 3 major aspects of the industry that are considered-

production, processing and the marketing and utilization of abaca. Five major

factors affect field level production of abaca. These include the area devoted to
abaca production, use of different abaca varieties for commercial production,

capital and farm investment, technology and cultural management and

dissemination of location-specific technologies. On the other hand, the quality

and yield of abaca are affected by methods of harvesting and fiber extraction.

Lastly, the market conditions at the farmers' and local manufacturers' level and

the Domestic and World market have a significant effect on the level of

productivity of abaca farming.

The findings show that over time as a result of these interlinked factors, the

area devoted as well as the total production of abaca have been declining over

time. However, the yield per hectare has improved which may be indicative of the

improvements in various abaca technologies as well as institutional support,

especially in Eastern Visayas. However, there are a number of factors which are

pushing down the performance of the industry. Among these are the pest and

diseases which are ravaging the abaca farms in certain areas, especially Bicol,

the unfavorable biophysical conditions (e.g. steep slopes) of abaca growing

areas, lack of capital and access to support services.

The onset of globalization has changed the face of competition into a sort of

hypercompetition. Mergers and acquisitions, alliances and collaborations were

formed among corporations and business entities in order to survive. In the case

of Bicol Abaca Cottage Industry, a form of collaboration especially among

exporters must be promoted in order to create a bigger impact against global

competitors.
 Although the Bicol Abaca handicraft Industry has been around for decades

and its economic, social and cultural relevance in the rural development cannot

be ignored, the industry has failed to institutionalize. The industry lacks a

platform for dialogue among its constituents and interest groups. The general

interest of the industry must be protected and promoted but the industry lacks a

governing body who would regulate and defend. Concerns of unhealthy

competition practices were brought up at the interview and such myopic attitude

is a major hindrance in uniting the industry. The industry cannot unfold its optimal

potential when it cannot foster cooperation for the upliftment of the general

wellbeing of the industry.

For example, an effort of introducing a mode of standardization of products,

general guidelines for quality control, protection against product design piracy

and the general protection of intellectual property rights are some issues that

must be and can only be addressed through dialogue and cooperation. The

industry also needs a mechanism of assessment, control and information

management. They are important in drawing up the industry’s milestones and as

a measurement for progress and achievement. The industry must establish a

long-term strategy and a vision for the future that would serve as guide towards

success.

The Bicol Abaca Handicraft Industry has evolved not just because of its

economic prospect, there was also a strong social and cultural relevance

attached to it. The term “traditional” has rendered negative and more often an

awkward statement. Being traditional has its roots linked more to the
constituents’ attitude than to the crude business process itself as it projects the

kind of social and cultural set-up of the constituents in doing business.

Now, how has abaca helped these enterprises in Bicol flourish? As

previously mentioned, you can stay local with abaca when you are in Bicol. The

abaca is harvested right here in the region. Logistics will be cheaper as the raw

materials will not have to be imported from farther places. And at the same time,

these enterprises are giving livelihood to local citizens, and inviting workforce

from outside Bicol.

Tourism also benefits from this. Bicol has beautiful places, delicious

food, and many fun activities, but abaca enterprises offer something tourists can

take with them home to remind them of Bicol. Abaca enterprises offer novelty

items that definitely feel like Bicol and are made Bicolano. Philippine Rural

Development Project efforts in Catanduanes aim to produce more abaca at a

reasonable price and make sure that the abaca is not bought at prices below the

market price. We can see that abaca is intensively being revived as it has seen a

minuscule decline.

Catanduanes further promotes abaca in all its beauty with the Abaca

Festival. The strength of abaca represents the tenacious spirit of the

Catandunganon. This opens opportunities for people to start even small with their

abaca business. The Catanduanes Abaca Festival is held every fourth week of

May by Provincial Ordinance No. 021 Series of 2015.

 The future holds a bright path for abaca enterprises in the Philippines

especially in Bicol. The demand for abaca internationally is growing. This can be

an opportunity for Bicol abaca enterprises to grow and expand their variety of

products. Together with promoting culture and tourism with crafts, other

enterprises can start processing abaca pulp and export it. Bicol is already an

abaca hotspot in the Philippines but one international giant, ALINDECO, is not

enough to cement our place in the abaca market. A healthy pool of competition

within Bicol will push us higher. With large factors like geography on our side,

Bicol can be the major exporter of abaca products to the world. That is when we

could say Bicol is on top. Right, now abaca is growing appreciation even more

towards that path.

Whether small, medium, or big, abaca enterprises have surely found an

opportunity and took it. They took the chance to be able to promote and earn off

something local while benefiting one’s hometown. All of these opportunities were

laid out by the industry of abaca farming in Bicol. It is hard to go wrong with

something as simple yet versatile as abaca.

Weaving is not only an important source of livelihood for many Filipinos in

the countryside; it is also an essential part of our culture. It has a unifying factor

for communities bound by living tradition and ingenuity. Unfortunately, the

practice of weaving in the Philippines is dying. Lack of raw materials such as

cotton, and the decreasing number of local weavers are some of the most urgent

concerns today.
 Our goal is to provide an enabling environment for our local weavers by

helping improve their access to money, market and mentorship opportunities In

order for our women entrepreneurs, including local weavers, to prosper, they

need an environment that will help them scale up. Our thrust has always been to

enhance the capacity and competencies of our micro, small, and medium-sized

entrepreneurs, the majority of which are women, so they can have a better

chance in life. This is what we aim to continue this year, and in the decades

ahead.

Abaca fabric is a fantastic natural and eco-friendly textile made of plant

fibers similar to burlap or jute. It's a very versatile material used in many different

applications, including clothing fabrics in the fashion industry. Nowadays, people

use abaca in a variety of ways. Abaca is available in a wide range of colors,

weaves, weights, strengths, and sizes. It's also often blended with other natural

or synthetic fibers.bAbaca fabric makes great sachets, sacks, and shopping

bags. It's an excellent material suitable for a wide range of projects, including

rustic decorations. Abaca is especially remarkable for decorative wall hangings,

curtains, table runners, lampshades, placemats, banners, pillows, book covers,

and table cloths.

Abaca fabric is an ideal eco-friendly fabric for apparel manufacturing in the

fashion industry. Abaca is often too rough to be used alone for apparel

production. However, new softening techniques are being developed to make it

more comfortable. Abaca gives a natural look and feel to any outfit and many

designers consider using it.

 Weavers of the women’s cooperative were trained on scouring, bleaching,

drying, natural dye extraction, advanced weaving and application on Abaca

textile through the assistance of Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Commercial fabric production was introduced in the Bicol region in 1996 by

DOST, when the agency assisted the community-based cooperative in Baras,

Catanduanes through its Philippine Textile Research Institute.

Abaca, considered the strongest natural fiber in the world, can match the

durability of synthetic fibers. Abaca fiber was originally used for ship rigging and

other heavy-duty industrial applications. Because of Abaca’s socioeconomic

impact on many Filipinos, the Industrial Technology Development Institute, also

an agency under the DOST, continues to encourage activities to strengthen the

Abaca industry. The country supplies more than half of the world’s demand for

Abaca.

Abaca fabrics have gained popularity abroad as a packaging material. The

growing concern for environmental protection and forest conservation the world

over has provided more opportunities for natural fiber like Abaca. It is expected

that demand for Abaca would be long-term from the growing popularity of

environment-friendly materials, especially in developed countries. According to

FIDA, the most important factor in the industry’s development is the European

market, which buys more than half of the country’s Abaca exports.

Abaca is also used for the manufacture of currency notes, security papers

and specialty papers for tea bags, sausage casings, cigarette papers, plug wrap
filters and among others. Specialty papers account for more than 80 percent of

the global Abaca consumption.

The Bicol region is bringing back the glory of its Abaca industry after the

region was spared from strong typhoons during the past few years, making it the

top producer of the commodity in the country. Bicol regained the glory of Abaca

industry and top producer of Abaca accounting for almost 32 percent output

production for past eight-month period.

Burlap (abaca) Weaving was found effective and a really big help in the lives

of the Barangay San Antonio, Libon, Albay residents. Burlap Weaving is one of

the San Antonio pride that we can be proud of. Burlap Weaving is considered as

the joint living here in San Antonio, Libon, Albay especially to the poor family.

From the very humble beginning of the Burlap Weaving up until now Albayanos

will always be honored and thankful for this livelihood.