Maverhick: Ethnic

The Treasures of Nagpana

GROWING abundant in our country's backwoods and wilderness is a fern that wraps itself snake-like around the trunks of towering trees, gnarled roots and moss-coated boulders - the nito vine.

City folk have failed to see the worth of these sprawling vines, but, endlessly resourceful, indigenous peoples from all over the Philippines have stripped the plant of its leaves and used its strands to weave baskets and purses to sell.

The Philippines' indigenous tribes are people of the earth - relying on the rich and vibrant covers of nature for their necessities and livelihood. The aetas of Nagpana in Barotac Viejo are no different.

A group of young Ilonggos, seeing the craftsmanship and hard work of the Nagpana aetas, found potential in their handiwork and wanted to empower the weavers and artists of the tribe.

"Na-notice ko na magkadto ka sa busay galatag na sing inugbaligya (nga purses) ang mga babaye. Kis-a mahinulat sila. Galatag man sila, pero wala man gabakal," shares Kristine Buenavista one of the founders of Nagpana Ethnic Jewelry.

Buenavista, a resident of Barotac Viejo, has been a frequent visitor of the aeta community since her childhood, participating in outreach projects and actively involved in education and storytelling activities with the tribe.

"We thought why not mag-build on kami sa ila culture?" Buenavista muses. Situated on more than 900 hectares of protected forests and near the Nagpana Falls and watershed, the community is made up around 150 aeta households. The weaving of baskets and trinkets for additional livelihood has been a part of aeta culture for decades, but interest for these handmade products has diminished over the years.

Conceptualized in August last year by Buenavista and her co-founders Marrz Capanag and Carm Novilla, Nagpana Ethic Jewelry aims to support and empower designs “imagined by an aeta,” encouraging them to go beyond the usual products we see at flea markets and souvenir shops to dream and come up with jewelry that are uniquely their own.

“At first the artists were hesitant,” shares Novilla. “Hindi mo man sila mabasol, intsindihan mo man sila kay pila na ka dekada, naanad sila nga ginaluoyan lang sila, so kung may mag-outreach toh, mahatag lang kag malakat man kung hapon.”

Buenavista shares that, for a time, most of their aeta artists were doubtful of their own skills and couldn’t see the creativity in their work because they were used to just copying designs. But the three young founders of the social enterprise continuously encouraged them until they found their footing and their unique artistic voices.

“‘Ma’am hindi ko na kay wala ko ka-eskwela’, kay naangdan lang nila mga puyo-puyo. Pero gapasalamat man kami kay may mga nagdisidir, damu man ang nagganyak, kag nalipay man sila nga mangin part sila sing social enterprise namun,” expresses Buenavista.

“Later on, na-realize man nila nga ang ginaobra namun para gid sa ila,” relates Novilla. Nakita man nila ang amun consistency, gabalik-balik gid kami, gatulog man kami toh, ga-immerse gid kami sa ila community. Gusto gid namun nga makabulig nga tayuyun, hindi lang nga pa-untat untat.”

One of their first artists was Nang Melca a 42-year-old mother of 8 children, and the resident manug-nito (nito vine harvester) of the community.

“Before ga-obra na siya aritos pero wala gasapak, kay hambal nila daw hindi obra ka ati, so na discourage siya for quite some time,” shares Buenavista.

But because of Nang Melca’s perseverance, encouraging her fellow tribeswomen to join, they were able to grow their project ¬– now to 17 aeta weavers, these artists from ages 17, with Evelyn the youngest, to 98, the tireless Lola Ma-am.

“Na-realize ni Nang Melca nga biskan asta Grade 1 lang siya, may ibuga man gale iya huna-huna, kag happy gid sya nga gina-appreciate ang work niya,” narrates Buenavista. “Kay ginapakita namun ang photos nga may gasuksuk sing ila work happy gid na sila, kis-a gahilibi sila sa kalipay.”

In fact one of Nagpana Ethnic Jewelry’s earliest pieces is named “Kabakas ni Melca,” celebrating her admirable courage and handiwork.

Recently, Buenavista, Novilla and Capanag were cited by the British Council as part of their Active Citizens: Leaders for Social Impact Training program. Nagpana Ethnic Jewelry was voted by their facilitators and peers as the best social enterprise in the Visayas Leg of the program, opening up new doors for the young Ilonggo founders.

"Culture, empowerment, environment, we try to address also these concerns and aspects in one project. Hindi lang siya nga economic empowerment, we want it to be holistic,” shares Novilla.

Like the nito vine, often overlooked and disregarded, the treasures we need to value are often abundant in the nature and our culture, we just fail to see their vivid colors and luster - sometimes a piece of intricate woven jewelry, sometimes a tribe that traces their history back to our oldest ancestors.

Nagpana Ethnic Jewelry products are sold online through their official facebook page and are also available at Café Panay in the Molo Mansion, Damires Hills in Janiuay and the Dojo 8 Coworking Space along Gen. Luna Street, Iloilo City Proper.