With scant resources, they say "Make do with what we have." The women of Cainta, Rizal did just that with water lily.
One hardly notices the water lily except when they have clogged canals, rivers and waterways of the Pasig River, Laguna de Bay, and other coastal areas. The water lily, more appropriately called the water hyacinth, is known as a "nuisance" by most fishing communities but now, this aquatic plant is considered as an important source of raw material.
Processing of water hyacinth involves scouring, cutting, harvesting, drying, dyeing, bleaching, treating, waxing, and finishing of the indigenous fibers. The material then can be used in the production of bags, wall décor, table runner, pouches, mats and slippers.
When the innovative "leather look" was introduced to the fiber cloth, local producers have started to supply this raw material to international bag makers like Cora Jacobs.
Aside from consumer products, the water hyacinth's fibrous stem can be turned into charcoal and organic fertilizer.
Among the communities that has benefited from harnessing the water hyacinth are the families from Bagong Cainta, Cainta, Rizal. With the help from Manila Electric Co., 32 women recently attended a livelihood program on the production of the water hyacinth fiber cloth. The said program was aimed to assist families adversely affected by typhoon Ondoy. The training was conducted by Cesar Pasco, founding chairman of Samahan para Gabayan ang Nayon ng San Pedro, San Pablo City and proprietor of Sarilikha Handicrafts.
First posted on August 5, 2010.
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