Friday, August 01, 2008 Weaving center opens at Marina
T'BOLI woven products and other handicrafts can now be seen displayed and bought right at Marina resort.
The Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Incorporated (Tadeco) Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC) recently opened its T'boli Weaving Center at the resort.
The opening was graced by Don Antonio O. Floirendo Sr. who seemed to prance to the tune of the background music played using T'boli musical instruments, right after the blessing of the center by Reverend Bruno Genilla, the chaplain of Tadeco San Antonio de Padua.
The weaving center showcases an actual weaving process by a T'boli family doing the famed Tinalak cloth while on the other side of the store are displayed handicrafts that range from keyholders to throw pillows and candelabras, the center's most popular products.
These crafts are made by T'boli and Mandaya families who are currently being supported by TLTC.
"We have so many bananas so one thing to do was to make [the waste into] papers and other handicrafts," said Maricris Floirendo Brias, creative director for TLTC. She added that she, herself, designs most of the creations of the center and gets the inspiration from the T'boli people.
TLTC is the multi-awarded livelihood center of Tadeco, an affiliate of the Anflo Group of Companies. It has been offering livelihood projects to workers' dependents and relatives, making top quality products from indigenous materials and are being exported to other countries like Japan, Germany, Belgium, France, and Australia.
Existing for 13 years now, TLTC also aims to preserve the creativity of the T'bolis and Mandayas while creating jobs and livelihood for them and other people, according to marketing manager Juvey Fernandez.
As of now, there are a total of 900 families who are being supported by the center.
Other dignitaries who graced the event last July 18 were the executives of Anflocor, namely: senior vice president Ricardo R. Floirendo, Pioneer Trading vice president and managing director Vincent R. Floirendo, assistant vice president for cash and bank Susan M. Matus, chief financial officer Oscar V.
Grapa and wife Evelyn Grapa, vice president for audit Alfred E. Samson, vice president for corporate affairs and real estate Paciencio M. Rosalem, assistant vice president for systems and internal audit Elisa G. Estanislao, as well as Joy Valoria, wife of Alexander N. Valoria, Dr. Edmund Dantes, assistant vice president/general manager of Nestfarms Nenita.
Joining them are the friends of Mrs. Brias namely Atty. Chinchin Talaver, Movement 8 designer Tes Pasola, and Dra. Ro Domingo and friends.
