Tuesday, January 6, 2015

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

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