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
