MANILA, Philippines - Townsfolk celebrate the bounty of a good harvest usually in May, in time for the feast of their patron saint. These festivals, like the iconic Pahiyas in Lukban, Quezon and the Feast of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo, as well as the Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan, which are celebrated nationwide, have become part of our cultural tradition, expressing our joy and exuberant spirit.
Kultura Filipino, the place to shop for all things uniquely Filipino, joined in the festivities by celebrating the first anniversary of its Crafts for a Cause program with strengthened partnerships and seven new foundations joining in this livelihood- oriented program.
The Crafts for a Cause program brings together products from livelihood programs of partner non-profit organizations. These products are made by underprivileged members of society trained by various foundations through livelihood programs aimed at enriching their lives and making them self-sufficient.
Crafts for a Cause began with 16 pioneer foundations manufacturing products showcasing the skills of local artisans from as far north as the Cordillera region and as far south as Basilan. In a year’s time, this partnership with Kultura has assisted in the sustainability of their livelihood programs, resulting in increased productivity and income for the foundations.
For Kabisig ng Kalahi, partnering with Kultura has “opened the opportunity for us to expand our livelihood program through two additional livelihood modules. It has also enabled us to provide our workers with work all year round.”
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology has also expanded their livelihood program, and taught the skills from the original New Bilibid Prison to other jails in other regions.
Crafts for a Cause has helped the Claret Samal Foundation sustain its mat-weaving program with the Bajau women. More importantly, the Bajau sewers have become more creative in making new fashion accessories and bags.
The Gawad Kalinga project in Ocampo, Camsur, on the other hand, has not only put food on the table and provided school allowances for their kids, but also increased their awareness that they can harness their talents to make good quality products.
The E. Zobel Foundation, on the other hand, is thankful to Kultura as “earnings derived from supplying our candles have enabled us to help our foundation’s other worthy causes like the May Pera sa Basura project of senior high school students of the Calatagan National High School. We have also become more creative in conceptualizing new candle products that will meet the standards of Kultura.”
With the success in the sustainability of these pioneer foundations, Crafts for a Cause is also welcoming new partners as it celebrates its first anniversary.
Some of these foundations create livelihood projects for women from less fortunate communities to produce fashion items: macramé bags from the Invisible Sisters, katcha bags and pouches from the Sr. Teresa of Santo Niño Center, accessories from the Kabalikat sa Pag Unlad Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and tepina bags from the Rurungan sa Tugod Foundation in Palawan.
Others are engaged not only in livelihood but also environment-friendly programs: Disadvantaged families in Gitnang Bayan, Rizal make tote bags from recycled rice sacks for the Berdesaco Foundation; prison inmates transform recycled materials like scrap paper into bags for the In Christ Freedom Prison and Teaching Ministries group while T’boli communities in Southern Mindanao fashion items like dinner bells from recycled brass from NNJ Crafts.
Shop for a cause and make a difference through Kultura Filipino’s Crafts for a Cause advocacy. Kultura Filipino stores are located at SM Makati, SM Megamall, the Block at SM City North EDSA, the SM Mall of Asia, SM City Cebu, and at selected SM Department Stores.