A NEWLY-FOUNDED social enterprise called Likhang Laya helps provide livelihood for the women inmates of the Davao City Jail in Ma-a, Davao City.
Richard Villanueva had his first encounter with the women of the Davao City Jail when he was working full-time with Gawad Kalinga, the organization which provided dorm-type houses for the women inmates.
Because of this, he was exposed to the life and the livelihood need of the women inside. As the women are taught to make bags and other souvenir items from twines, Villanueva realized that as the years go by, they create and create but the demand for these items are not necessarily growing together with the number of bags they produced.
With this, he encouraged his wife Monique Villanueva to help these women and together with their three kids Kim, Reesa, and Indy, they have established an online store Likhang Laya just early this year. As they have already formed a relationship with the personnel in the Davao City Jail, it became easier for them to gather the women inmates and lay out their plans of establishing Likhang Laya.
“It is important for them to have these bag orders because they feel like they have a purpose. As a matter of fact, even when they are inside, their families and children are still sometimes financially dependent on them,” said Monique Villanueva who added that they didn’t want to call the women inmates as “inmates” but instead as “bakasyonistas” as they believe their stay inside is temporary.
As Likhang Laya is still pretty much starting, Monique said they are very grateful for their kids, who are in Manila for their studies but are still very willing to help and are in-charge of the online platform.
Monique and one of her daughters draw inspiration from Pinterest, other similar sites, and even Divisoria for the designs of their bags that they would request the bakasyonistas to make.
Monique said they thoroughly study the width, length, and the base of the bags to make sure that all the products that come in the same design are made identical. Raw materials such as twines and handles are available for purchase inside the jail which Likhang Laya buys and provides the bakasyonistas. The rattan and the beads, on the other hand, are brought outside.
“The challenge we face now is that we don’t really control the time of these bakasyonistas. They are not our factory workers because they also have things to do inside. Sometimes they do general cleaning or other orders of their warden. We cannot rush the orders because weaving is not they only thing they do inside. However, we try to make the customers understand that and we explain,” she said adding that the bakasyonistas can make a dozen bags for two weeks on good days.
Likhang Laya also has Gina, a former inmate, as their liaison officer. She coordinates the number and the design of the orders with the bakasyonistas and with Mr. and Mrs. Villanueva. Gina herself is weaving and had since been tapped as inspirational speaker and trainer by the Department of Trade and Industry.
“Social enterprise for us comes in two ways: you still have to make profit or it should be profitable while at the same time people should be better off with your business around. It is really partnering with the community,” said Richard Villanueva.
Their products prices range from P950 to P1,800 and orders can be made through their Facebook page Likhang Laya. “People expect it to be cheap but if they know that it’s for a cause, they will actually know that it’s much more valuable than the signature imported bags priced very expensive as well,” said Monique.