IP women weavers in Paquibato get support

A Weaving Product Development Workshop- Training for Ata women in Paquibato District was launched in Sitio Pegdalahan, Barangay Pandaitan, Davao City on August 25. The program serves 12 barangays with Ata communities under the IP Women’s Association of Paquibato and was geared not only to help them financially but also to the preservation of their culture.

The project is a partnership between the Davao City Government, through Peace 911, and the Chinese Consulate General in Davao.

The workshop involves the weaving of baskets such as Liyang (basket used for planting and harvesting), Bukog (basket for organizing their clothes), Loban (basket used to keep things within their household), Tahakan (where cooked rice and corn are placed). Apart from the weaving of baskets, dressmaking and beads-making are also among the identified products of the IP Women.

The program kicked off with a ritual performed by the Ata Tribe for the prosperity of the project.

Ata Women Association of Paquibato President Alma Omo (Bayo Malitan) said that the program is really a big help for the women to help provide for the needs of their families, on top of the jobs they already have.

“Ang kining gipahigayon nga ritwal nga diri gipahitabo para sa livelihood sa Paquibato district para sa mga kababayen-an nga diin matabangan para sa among kinahanglan bisan paman nagtrabaho nami (The ritual was conducted for our livelihood in Paquibato to help women in their needs and this can really help us even if we already have our own jobs or livelihood),” Omo said.

Omo also said that the main purpose of the project is to preserve the culture of the tribe, especially to lead the children into loving their cultural identity.

The products will be displayed at the Almacen Alternative Marketing Center located in Catalunan Pequeño. It will be displayed alongside the products of the Ovu Manobo, Matigsalug, Bagobo-Klata, and Bagogo-Tagabawa tribes. Some will also be displayed at the Kadayawan Village on Magsaysay Park.

Omo said that the IP women in Paquibato are really thankful for the government and its partners’ support and that they will do their best to maintain the program.

The women’s federation was initially established in 2020. Peace 911 has supported its livelihood program, having donated a total of three sewing machines. The federation also received two sewing machines from TADECO. Tesda also trained just recently 25 IP women who did not know how to sew.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Consulate General, Consul Li Lin, in a statement said that the discussion and the project design started during Vice President Inday Sara Duterte’s tenure as Davao City Mayor as they discussed the economic recovery against the backdrop of the pandemic.

“Apart from training that we can assist the local women to pass their heritage and skills from the older to the younger generation, we can also improve people’s livelihood,” Lin said.

He added that they are also helping the women to set up their website and Facebook page to promote their products.

They also hope to partner with the City Tourism Office to promote the products of IPs to visitors, local and foreign.

Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte in his message during the launch said that he is thankful for the project as it empowers women.

“Ang pinakamaayo ani parehas aning mga proyekto sa women is that kamo gyud ang mu-timon ug mag abri ug mga oportunidad nga kamo ra pud ang mugunit ug kamo rapu’y makabenepisyo. Pinaagi sa amoa ug ang tabang ni Consul Li Lin and China, ang gobyerno nila, ma-empower ang kababayen-an diri (What is good about this project is that you will be the one who will maintain and will open the opportunities that you will nurture the projects for your own benefit. Through the Local Government and the help of the Consul General Li Lin and the People’s Republic of China, we aim to empower all the women here),” Duterte said.

The mayor also said that the IP culture and tradition is priceless and must be preserved. CIO