Tacurong’s water hyacinth guru shares skills to PAGLAUM mothers

“Gusto ko guid nga mabuligan ko man nga makabalo ang mga ara sa palibot ko, lalo na ang mga taga-diri sa Purok Onse, para tanan kami mag -asenso” said Mrs. Melinda Bonayos, owner of proprietor of Double Day Handicraft in Purok Onse, Poblacion. Bonayos is Tacurong’s pride in water hyacinth hand-weaving.

Mothers of Project PAGLAUM children-beneficiaries learned the basic skills in making hand-made water hyacinth souvenirs and products on May 8, 2014.

The participants started in cutting the dried water hyacinth stalks. After, they were taught how to make braids and twines. These are used as materials in making bags, purses, belts, leis, slippers, and more. Bonayos then taught the participants to make small pouches out of their braids and twines to hone their weaving skills.

“Para sa baguhan, ang isa ka bag nga medium-sized, mahimo sa isa ka bulan. Kung maayo na, apat ka bag ang mahimo sa isa ka adlaw,” said Bonayos. Dried and braided water hyacinth stalks can also be sold at P150.00 per meter.

Bonayos is very positive that water hyacinth handicraft skills will open more opportunities to the LGU’s Project PAGLAUM family-partners. LGU-Tacurong facilitated the training as part of its Project PAGLAUM.

LGU-Tacurong implements Project PAGLAUM through the Millennium Development Goals – Family-based Actions for Children and their Environs in the Slum (MDG-FACES) of the DILG. The project aims to improve living conditions of 40 children-beneficiaries in the city’s lone slum area—Purok Onse in Barangay Poblacion. Children, mothers, family members, community leaders and stakeholders were involved and mobilized towards a more livable, healthy, and child-friendly Purok Onse. (LGU-Tacurong City Information)