"Tinali" Handsewn Series

Tinali.

In Filipino, "tied together."

The Tinali concept is that of putting together different parts by tying them up together.  Ties, knots, networks, linkages; these make up the direction Woodinspirations Crafts decided to take for its export items.

The series is symbolic of Woodinspirations Crafts's intention to bring together craft and community, design and purpose.

The wooden pieces are to be manufactured in the workshop by our craftsmen,  and designed to be brought outside for communities to assemble. Woodinspirations, after all, aims to have as much of the municipality of Santa Ignacia benefit from its enterprise.

Here are photos of Tinali trays:

The Tinali Series, along with the Lirio bowls were designed by Marko Pascual.

Lirio Bowls by Woodinspirations Crafts

We showed these at the IFFT Interior Lifestyle Living, in Tokyo Big Sight in Japan.

The "Lirio" Bowls:

The Lirio Bowl Set Prototype in natural color.

The Lirio Bowl is inspired by the polyhedron.  It's actually a portion of a spherical shape, and somewhat looks like a flower, hence the name.

The Lirio bowl is part of a series of handsewn wooden pieces designed by Marko Pascual. His Instagram account can be viewed here.

The Lirio bowl has been gaining attention since its launch at Manila FAME's April 2018 edition.All stocks brought to the Kabuhayan trade fair by Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. has been sold.  Colored versions have been launched in the IFFT also caught the eyes of several companies from abroad.

Woodinspirations Lirio Bowls are available in three sizes, six colorways including brown, black, natural, autumnal, nautical and early spring.

The Lirio Bowls are designed by Marko Pascual.

Woodinspirations in IFFT Interior Lifestyle Living 2018

Woodinspirations Crafts is joining IFFT Interior Lifestyle Living in Tokyo Big Sight on November 14 - 16 2018.

We're representing Santa Ignacia, alongside Pascasio's Pottery for the province of Tarlac's participation through the support of Gov. Susan Yap.

WOODINSPIRATIONS... SANTA IGNACIA'S VERY OWN

Sometime in December 2002, my husband Glenn and I filed an application for a business name at the DTI, an act which started the ball rolling for the establishment of a then non-descript company which we called woodinspirations. 

We started out small-- armed with a minimal capital,  a few hand-held tools and one (1) worker set in a makeshift tent at our backyard.  But we were further equipped with Glenn's carpentry hobby (he's a Mapua graduate and a licensed civil engineer), my knack for crafts and designing (although I majored in Economics & Poli Sci at UP Manila), and a strong determination and conviction to make what we had work out.  These proved to be a sufficient combination which at first produced recycled wood-based gifts, home decors, and accessories with the American country-folk art theme.  After attendance in a series of DTI-sponsored seminars, our new-born company virtually took off after participation in the Likha ng Central Luzon regional trade fair in October 2003, where the market reponse was favorable.  Our next exposure was the SME Expo in July 2004 which featured various products from all over the Philippines and this paved the way for us to use indigenous Filipino materials as accessories/ trimmings like abaca, fossilized leaves, coconut beads, and handmade paper for our products.  From these combinations, we reaped a more favorable response in the market.

The next big step which our company undertook was finding a readily available and abundant material in the locality which can either be used as accessory/trimming or even as a wood substitute (in the event that recycled wood i.e., palochina crates, will no longer be available);  hence, our discovery of the lowly bamboo.  The company's CITEM-sponsored National Trade Fair participation in March 2005 and 2006 initially featured bamboo as accessory and/or trimming to our products.  The birth of OTOP (One Town, One Product) and the LGU's full support paved another way for our company's use of bamboo not only as accessory/trimming but as one of our main product lines.  This way, we can continue undertaking a more pro-environment endeavor --an achievement which is now attested by a 2010 National OTOP Congress and Awards Citation under President Arroyo's administration for being an Environment Friendly OTOP MSME (Micro Small and Medium and Enterprise).

After a slow but progressive climb, our bamboo product lines are now making a name within the province and within the Central Luzon region.  During the past Regional and National Fairs, a number of these products were nominees for Most Innovative, aside from our bagging the Best Dressed Booth Award in the Gifts and Home Decors Category at last year's Likha ng Central Luzon.  Our "kauaian" by woodinspirations items are finding a niche in the local and foreign markets and these product lines are carried by specialty stores in the Manila area like Tesoro's and now go as far as Anilao and Boracay to cater to local and foreign tourists.  Our wooden trophies and plaques, along with our wooden product lines of gifts and souvenirs, make their way to various parts of the country--from the north (Baguio) to the south (Bohol).

Economically speaking,  we are now able to help some of our marginally-privileged townmates in our own small way.  Much of the bamboo supply comes from within our locality and processing of these materials opens job opportunities for idle farmers, housewives and the out-of-school youth.  Aside from them, we are now able to employ as much as 25 people at our workshop during our peak season from September to May.  Our company also involves our children- Gia, Maiko, and Gino - who with their Fine Arts and Computer background are now a big help to us. 

Truly, it has been a steep yet steady climb for us.  Thanks to the people and agencies who have always been behind us all the way:  Mayor Sak and the LGU, the DTI,  Gov. Vic and the Provincial Government, the DOSTand the rest.  Hand in hand with all of them, we know woodinspirations can achieve its company mission--  to establish Santa Ignacia as an enterprising municipality through the manufacture of products made from our indigenous materials,  as well as provide and generate employment for the constituents of the municipality by harnessing their skills.  In short, a better life for Santa Ignacia and Santaginians.

BLES GAMUROT- PASCUAL

20 june 2012

A Little About Our Home (Part 1)

Thank you Wikipedia! :)

Tarlac is a two hour drive from the country’s capital. It’s very well known for being a melting pot of tongues and cultures – tagalogs, kapampangans, ilocanos, and even a wee bit of pangasinenses mixed in. 

It is in this little gateway to the north composed of 17 municipalities and one city that brags a vast blend of traditions, including both culinary and craft… In fact, so vast that there isn’t much associated to Tarlac as Pampanga is associated to its parol, Bulacan to its pastillas among many others… perhaps save for its being full of sugarcane (a trait shared with other Visayan provinces) and the place of origin of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.

Sugarcane is one of three main crops planted in Tarlac. Credits to Ms. Divine Ramos of DTI-Tarlac for the photo.

Trail to Mt. Pinatubo via Capas, Tarlac. Credits to Ms. Divine Ramos of DTI-Tarlac for the photo.

Tarlac’s identity crisis, God forgive the author’s inability to coin a more euphemistic phrase, however can be seen as something reminiscent of the country’s as well. The Philippines, rich and beautiful, seems to have the trouble of having a heavily blurred cultural identity due to its being colonized by three nations until its independence just a few decades ago… The Philippines has had dreams of White Christmases, of royalty in their stone-walled castles, and many other un-Filipino luxuries, and yet basked in a pool of cultures, traditions and people that really scream “different.” In pretty much the same way that the Philippines can never be branded of Spanish, American, or Japanese culture, Tarlac can never be called a Kapampangan, Ilocano or Tagalog province. In pretty much the same way that the Philippines can adopt and make own the cultures of its former colonists, Tarlac can pretty much take what is existing – be it Kapampangan, Ilocano, Tagalog or Pangasinense – and just say that “It isn’t really Tarlac without all of these.”

To be continued...

We Are Woodinspirations Crafts.

About Us:

Woodinspirations Crafts, or Woodinspirations, is primarily a family enterprise given birth by husband-and-wife team Glenn and Bles Pascual in December of 2002. The company initially adopted the American folk art theme but after various exhibit and trade fair exposures through time, our products graduated to a more contemporary and all-our-own homegrown designs with the use of indigenous materials such as abaca and bamboo, etc. and have been duly recognized as most innovative during regional and national trade fairs. Woodinspirations Crafts now has a market base stretching from Northern Philippines to the south. Environment-friendly Woodinspirations sers to come up with more high quality products which are contemporary, unique and affordable aimed to cater to a wider range of clients here and abroad.

Our Vision and Mission:

Woodinspirations Crafts is a social enterprise as it aims to better everything it touches, from lives of clients and employees to material resources.

Client Satisfaction is one of our priorities. We provide unique and edgy products from home decors, to awards and gift ideas at a very friendly price.

We provide an alternate source of income to our employees, most of whom are farmers housewives and out of school youth in the locality.

We also advocate the use of renewable resources as much as possible by using recycled wood and locally sourced materials like bamboo.

Our Products and Services:

Our "Woodinspirations" line features gifts, home decor, and souvenirs made of 75% - 100% wood base. They come in unique and contemporary designs ideal for gift giving, corporate giveaways, and event tokens. This line also includes wood-based awards items such as trophies, plaques and medallions.

"Kauauian by Woodinspirations" features gifts, home decor and souvenirs made of 60-100% bamboo component, subject to treatment and preservation to ensure durability and lasting use.  Their contemporary look and design are ideal for gift giving, corporate giveaways and event tokens.

"Wisp by Woodinspirations" features accessories such as bangles, bracelets, charms and other items made of either wood or bamboo which come in a wide array of colors and unique modern designs.