Livelihood Philippines

Hand Embroidery : The Life of Lumban, Laguna

Posted by marivicmadayag on May 4th, 2013

Hand embroidery is the leading industry in Lumban, Laguna that provides employment to the majority of Lumban people, young and adult women, and even to some men. Businessmen who ventured into this business gave their lives a tremendous economical leap. In the Southern Tagalog region of the Philippines, people wore the Barong Tagalog and Baro’t Saya made from ‘pina’, ‘jusi’, or banana fabric even during the Spaniards invasion. This could have been seen by the Southern people, including the Lumbanians, as an opportunity to generate income. Since then, hand embroidery has gained prestige beyond borders because their people have even worked harder to compete with other fashion trends. The concept sticks to the promotion of barong tagalong being the Philippines’ traditional clothes. However, Lumban people have made an amazing innovation by offering the same concept and yet with a wider variation of products.

Figure 1 – Lumban Embroiderer

Lumban products made of hand embroidered fabric

Barong Tagalog – P1500
Kimona – P1500
Hand Fan – P500
Handkerchief – price not determined
Doilies – P300
Wallet – P350
Table cloth – P500
Scarf – P800
And many more

*Prices may vary depending on the seller.

Figure 2 – Lumban’s Embroidered Products

Nowadays, Lumban has not limited its craft to hand embroidery. They were able to blend in their talent in hand painting. It is astonishing how they imagined and made into realization the creation of perfectly blend hand embroidered and hand painted fabric. To demonstrate elegance, don your table with a set of table clothes, table napkins, and other table necessities with the traditional hand embroidery.

Hand embroidery is indeed a very intricate work. It requires a process where the embroiderer has to be able to see the line/thread of the fabric, and then pull off some of them to create a dramatic effect on the design. Embroidery itself is even more complicated. Tiny designs of leaves and/or flowers have to be emphasized. A hand embroidered fabric may look simple but the truth is that each fabric should undergo 3 to 5 processes during embroidery and another 2 to 4 before and after depending on the design.

Figure 3 – Lumban Embroidery Finished Product

With the complexity of the process of hand embroidery a laborer gets Php 150 a day. Her income depends on how fast she works and her strategies to generate a higher income. She may choose to completely finish all the processes related to a single fabric or just do some simple jobs that pays less and but done at a faster rate.

How about doubling the income? And this is how the successful Lumban proprietors have earned enough to afford their grandiose houses and cars. Basically, they invest in buying pina, jusi and cocoon fabrics from Divisoria. They can ask for “skilled workers” to do the designing, washing the fabric, embroidery and all other work. A raw fabric bought at Php 700 or even lower if bought on a large scale can be sold as embroidered for Php 1,300. If you have the edge on designing, it’s going to be an additional income in creating your own gown or barong and sell it for thousands of pesos. The simplest gown may cost only Php 4,000 while try to bluff your way into the world of sophistication by going into haute couture or high fashion which could easily earn you hundreds of thousands.

Hand embroidery is a promising industry in Lumban. With enough support and motivation, a lot more can be achieved in this field. There’s really improvement in the lives of people who persevere and work hard despite the difficulties.

Photo credits: Figure 1 facebook.com/lumban.laguna.3; Figure 2 baronglumbanpbnoodles.weebly.com; Figure 3 Ruby Anonuevo – a typical embroiderer who sometimes venture into buying and selling of embroidered fabrics for added income; Figure 4 gridcrosser.blogspot.com

Home “Eco-Nanay”

Posted by marivicmadayag on April 26th, 2013

The following article was contributed by an OFW’s wife:

I live in a subdivision where most households consist mostly of mothers and their kids and the fathers working abroad. Many people believe that we are a rich community, that every household here is a well-to-do family. But having lived here for more than two years, I have met a lot of homeowners and have known their true story. Yes, there are those who are very well provided. However, you can’t just ignore the fact that there are also quite a few who failed to pay their home mortgage because what the father or provider of the house sent was not enough to pay the bills. And there are those who were literally abandoned.

I feel for them, not because I am into the same situation, but because I knew how difficult it is to depend only on what the breadwinner of the house sends. Most of us complain of tightening the budget and still fall short. That’s where I got the idea of “why not put up an industry here to help us earn a living?” When my neighbours and I happen to talk about all the hardships we’re going through, I always tell them that I will organize a group of women within our community to discuss ways of make a living of our own.

Basket or abaca weaving, bag production, food processing, and recycling are some of the many livelihood projects in the Philippines. Ideally, it depends on the available resources in the community. I grew up in a town where hand embroidery is the predominant source of living. I could say that with enough perseverance, one with this kind of work can really provide for the family.

Meet Mrs. Adelia Arroyo, the mother of my friend. She started hand embroidery when she was just 13. And when she got a family of her own, hand embroidery became their bread and butter. Her 9 children grew up beside her while working. She said it was really tough at first. With a measly Php30 daily earnings, it was difficult to provide for all the needs of her family. Despite all the hardships she was able to raise her kids well and even managed to impart to her kids her talent. They grew up with the same passion in hand embroidery and using their talent expanded into painting –in fabric, wall, or canvass.

From her humble beginning as someone who earned just Php30 a day, she managed to establish her reputation as a good designer because of her perseverance. Eventually, she was able to put up her own hand embroidery business. Now, she owns 3 houses, a nice car, and is able to send her kids to good schools.

You see, mothers can work from home, provide for their kids, and able to improve their lives. They just need to move with enough determination. And maybe, with the support and encouragement from others mothers can become home “econanay”-mothers who work in non-traditional ways to earn a living. There should never be mothers complaining about how they are going to pay the bills or survive the day. If I can gather the women of our community/subdivision, I will encourage them to learn a craft, something like hand embroidery that they can do and still enjoy chatting with each other while working.

Keeping the communication alive between OFWs and their families

Posted by marivicmadayag on April 22nd, 2013

Being apart from your family is considered one of the greatest fears for most of us Filipinos because of our extremely family-oriented nature. Hence, it is considered a great sacrifice for our fellow OFW’s to stay away from their families long stretches of time just to provide them with a brighter future. They risk losing the close connection with their families with their absence. But all of this can be avoided by constant communication with the aid of our new technologies providing a sense of not being away at all.

But how exactly can OFW’s communicate better with their families and continue to strengthen the bond between them, thereby making them more inspired to do what they set out abroad to do – earn a living? Many ways can be cited but here are some suggestions that won’t eat up an OFW’s budget:

Set a fixed schedule to talk

Setting a definite time for a call is a must for continuous communication. Schedule your calls at a time wherein both parties are free and this should be the same time each week or day. This way, your loved ones will always be ready at home for your call. This also creates a routine for both parties and their other scheduled activities will be adjusted accordingly.

Keep communication lines open

Unlike the old days wherein OFWs employed cassette tapes or letters to get in touch with their families, we now have the luxury to communicate with others in real time. You can choose anywhere from a simple text message to voice to video calls. Keeping these lines open will give the opportunity for both individuals to express their thoughts on anything happening at that particular moment. When these lines are open, a simple morning greeting will get through to the other party and then a thread of messages will certainly follow after that. This will create a cycle and the interaction will never be lost.

Always be punctual

Avoid postponing or being late in a call when this has already been planned. Being late for a call creates an impression that you are unwilling to talk to them or are more concerned about other things. Remember that you only have a limited time to talk with them and this serves as a temporary replacement for your missed presence so you should always make the most out of it.

Find the cheapest but most suitable way to communicate

With the latest advancements in technology there abound many different ways to communicate with your family. There are modern applications that provide you with ways to communicate for free or at a minimal charge. But you should also consider the capability of both parties to use a certain application. For parties having an internet connection, you have multiple options and these are free of charge. Phone and computer applications like Viber or Whatsup are popular ways to send text messages or voice calls and Skype or Tango for video calls. For parties that rely only on a cellular communication service, having a roaming service abroad is necessary as this will minimize the cost of sending a text message or a call.

Editor’s Note: Most times, keeping these communication lines open with OFWs provide them with a lifeline, a needed connection with those they care about. This helps inspire them to work even harder than they even need to. Remember that they are there for one purpose only – to provide for better opportunities for their loved ones. Feelings of being disconnected from their families can result not only from being physically remote but also from being emotionally detached and the only way that their families back home can help is by keeping the lines of communication open.

The author is an OFW and would like to share with you his thoughts and expectations so that the physical absence of the people he cares about can inspire him to do even greater things and help provide a remedy for the loneliness within. Here, he speaks for all his fellow-OFWs.

How an OFW can Increase Savings

Posted by marivicmadayag on April 19th, 2013

Having something left over from his hard-earned money is the goal every OFW wants to achieve, something they set out to do when they first opted to work abroad. This savings are intended to be invested in something that will help become financially stable in the future.

But how can OFW’s boost up their savings? Here are my thoughts.

Use buses or trains instead of taxis

Riding buses or trains can be tough especially when the terminals are located far from where you live since this entails walking a certain distance. Some opt to hail a cab for comfort and be spared from the tiring activity of commuting. One way to change this is to think of the positive things you will get from riding a bus or train; such as the exercise you get from walking, possibly meeting other OFW’s and the savings you will get in return.

I walk for one kilometer to the nearest bus station every weekend to shop for my weekly needs. I spend 4 Ringgit for the round trip bus fare. This is an 89% saving compared to when I ride a taxi which will cost 38 Ringgit per round trip. With this I save 34 Ringgit (Php450) per week!

Shop wisely

The majority of our OFW’s opts to buy all their personal needs such as shoes and clothing in the country they work in. This is due to the Filipino culture wherein one is highly regarded when their clothing is “imported”. But one must contemplate on the financial effect when doing this. Prices of such items differ per country and you have to check which of these countries offer the cheapest price.

I buy shirts in Malaysia since I can save ~100 pesos per piece compared to the same shirt offered in the Philippines. I bought a pair of leather shoes made in Marikina instead of buying in Malaysia; same quality but having a cheaper price.

Invest first, spend later

Let your excess money grow instead of spending it on luxuries. Put your money into an investment instead of buying high-end gadgets or expensive clothing. Once your investment becomes successful, you can use the profit to buy luxuries and the initial capital to invest again.

I invested my savings in the stock market and waited for the perfect time to withdraw it. I bought a new pair of shoes for me and some for my family from the profit and again invested the original capital in the stock market.

Learn to live on your own

Cooking and washing your clothes are basic activities you should learn before working abroad. Dining outside and laundry services are expensive in other countries. The cost of one meal in a restaurant may cost you around 3 home-cooked meals. Also, laundry services in other countries range from 2 to 3 times the price compared to that in the Philippines. Doing these things on your own will not only develop you as a person but also will diminish your costs considerably.

The good thing is that I learned to cook from my parents and practice it almost every day now. I had to purchase a small washing machine when I first got here in Malaysia to avoid paying for laundry services. I then have no problem with these costs in terms of monthly budgeting.

Minimize or avoid vices

Liquors and cigarettes in other countries are way more expensive compared to those in the Philippines. If you were accustomed to these vices before, you should consider minimizing or eliminating it when you go abroad. This will eat a big chunk of your earnings and before you know it, the budget you allot for this will be larger than the budget for your basic needs. Learn to divert that urge into other activities such as sports.

I was a frequent smoker back home in the Philippines. When I went abroad, I noticed that a single pack of cigarette is almost three times the price. I then decided to divert my attention to playing sports such as basketball and table tennis.

Control the money you send to your love ones

For most OFW’s, the main reason they go abroad is to provide for their family. But this does not mean they have to give all the wants and requests of their love ones. As you make sacrifices by working abroad, your loved ones should be able to cooperate with you by making some small sacrifices as well. As you minimize your expenses, they too should cut down on theirs. Do not spoil them by providing more money than what they need.

Instead of sending a constant amount every month to my family, I always take into consideration what is needed for a particular month and what is not. In this way, they will not become used a sort of monthly allowance thus allowing me to have enough savings for me and my family’s future use.

Calling all OFW’s: Doing these saving tips and tricks contributed by an OFW in Malaysia can help increase your savings. Before you know it, you will have a decent nest egg to help secure your future!

Preparing for the Future: What an OFW Wants to Invest In

Posted by marivicmadayag on April 18th, 2013

The following article is a contribution from F. Silvino, an OFW based in Malaysia. Here are his thoughts:

Where to invest their money in is one subject our OFW’s constantly think about. Although sending money to their families is their top priority, the next thing they consider is where they can invest their savings in order for it to grow and overtake the cost of inflation. Most Filipinos have little or no knowledge in terms of investing money since they were accustomed to the “earn today, spend today” practice which causes them to have minimal or zero savings.

The main reason why Filipinos opt to work in other countries is for the higher salary which will provide them enough money to cover their families’ basic needs and have something left over which can be considered as savings. They chose this path since they cannot see this happening just by working in the country. While this can be considered a wise move, it would even be wiser to save and invest these savings in such a way that it will carry them through in the future. This move will help propel them from being an employee to being an employer.
Now the question is – where to invest? Every person has their own perception of money and where it could grow, but here are my suggestions:

Mutual Funds

Mutual funds functions just as a bank would for your savings. Although the concept of a bank and a mutual fund is similar, there is a difference with how your money grows. In a bank, your money grows at a specific rate which is predetermined, usually dictated by the current economic conditions in the country. In a mutual fund, the money you invest is invested in bonds and stocks or other such financial instruments. The income from this investment activity is where the investment firm gets what it gives you as income on your investment. The rate of your money’s growth also varies depending on the agreement between you and the professional handling the mutual fund but generally way above the rates provided by banks.

Agricultural business

Investing in farmlands requires a higher investment amount and will probably eat away most of your savings during the early stages. Although this is usually an investment option selected by higher-salaried OFW professionals or those who have managed to accumulate considerable savings, this could be considered one of the most profitable. Farmlands can initially be used to produce rice or vegetables which could either be sold or for personal use. Using the acquired farmland this way will have a slow Return of Investment (ROI). The good thing here is that these farmlands could be sold for a profit in the future. Real estate development is very active nowadays regardless of the location. Some real estate companies consider farmlands as a major prospect in to set-up subdivisions and other structures.

House Rental or Apartments

Acquiring houses for rent or apartments is also considered an expensive way to invest your savings. A person could use hundreds of thousands up to a few millions of their savings just to start this. But the return you could get from this is not just about monetary value. As this will primarily be used as a rental place, the ROI could be slow and will take about 5 to 10 years before the initial investment is returned, but the earnings you could get from this is considered infinite and will depend on how long the property will stand. But in the end, you can still use this as your own home. With the set-up of an apartment, you could distribute each section to your children or relatives. Sharing a home with your love ones is a more comfortable and happy way of living for me instead of living alone.

Start your own business

Starting your own business does not require a large amount of capital as considered by many. It does not mean that you have to spend your whole savings just to start up a restaurant, a supermarket, or various establishments of the same kind. You could always start with the small scale businesses like food carts or small cafeterias. The profit from this is not comparable to that of the large businesses but the risk in the undertaking this is lower. This will give you an easier time to adjust and move on to another business. As most people say, start from small then go big.

How OFW’s Cope Up with the Financial Difficulties

Posted by marivicmadayag on April 15th, 2013

Many of our countrymen see OFW’s as people who are wealthy and people who, due to their high salary, will never experience problems financially. But this is not always the case. In fact, majority of the Filipinos working abroad experience the same problems our fellow countrymen working in the Philippines experience. It is the lack of financial stability; the ability to have enough money to pay for daily needs and to have something leftover which can be considered as savings.

Sometimes it Just is not Enough

The problem lies within the person himself or with his family. It has been a norm with Filipino families that when one family member works abroad, you have to maintain a higher standard of living compared to others. This means that a higher salary increases cost of living to maintain that standard. This results in having no savings at all, or worse, having the OFW’s salary insufficient even to keep up with the pace.

But how do OFW’s cope up with this? How do they keep up with the challenge of providing their families with their needs and wants, even when the money is not enough? I can think of some ways how our fellow OFW’s come up with solutions to this.

Borrowing

One of the most popular ways of getting additional cash, usually by their families back home, is by obtaining a loan from a lending firm either from their own country or the country they are working in. An immediate need cash is the primary reason OFW’s come up short with their budgets. There are numerous firms offering loans especially to OFW’s but do charge a small interest on the principal. The loaned amount is usually amortized over a period of time in installments making it easy for the borrower to budget the expense.

Less Trips Back Home

An alternative to borrowing is to limit the OFW’s trips back home. Most OFW’s are given the privilege to go back home more than once every year, but majority of them choose to forego of this privilege given to them just to save money because the trip would also mean paying for their airline fare, providing presents to their family members and all of the attendant expenses life expensive blow-outs or parties with family and friends. This is somehow expected from OFW’s on the premise that they should have enough money since they work in a different country. Sometimes it is just out of love for their family, that they just want happiness for their love ones in that particular time.

Another way is by cutting off their own expenses while they stay at the country they work in. It is in this way that OFW’s become unselfish just for the sake of their loved ones. They sacrifice their needs and even food just to have enough money to send to their families. They even resort to just eating noodles for most of their meals or eat just twice a day just to cut their expenses. The thought of sacrificing themselves for the sake of their family is a basic feeling for OFW’s, since the main reason they went on leaving the country is for the sacrifice to provide more for their family.

The Family to the Rescue

And lastly, which I consider the most painful way, is by asking help from their parents or siblings. Seeking help from them crushes the pride the most with OFW’s. The main reason that they went away from the country was to provide for them but should the unfortunate happen and tables are turned, it can be a most painful experience, usually on the pride. This is usually true for new workers having no experience at all. They spend so much expecting that their salary can cover it all, all their expenses, all their luxuries, till they have nothing left for them and their families. On one hand, this is not such a bad thing. An OFW’s family is always around when you’re down, not just when you’re on the top. That’s what a Filipino family does – take care of each other unconditionally. It is the basic foundation of every Filipino family.

Cutting Down on Expenses

Being an OFW doesn’t mean having a life full of wealth and happiness. It is a life full of sacrifices and love for your family. The only thing they want in return is just a simple smile, a smile full of warmth and contentment, from their loved ones they sacrifice their life unto. That smile which pushes them to work harder and calmly eases them to forget the hardships and pain they develop from missing their families. This is how an OFW live; it is hard, it is lonely, but it is worth it.

Virtual Assistance: Business Enterprise

Posted by marivicmadayag on April 7th, 2013

The Job-Skill Mismatch in Employment

More and more Filipinos now face the difficulties of finding jobs for various reasons. One major reason is a mismatch between an individual’s skills gained from his education and the jobs available. A classic example is the number of nursing graduates who, when they started out in their chosen career, had high hopes of being employed overseas. But midway in their training nursing jobs became less and less available.

Another example is the plight of most of our OFWs. Seeing an opportunity of bigger income abroad, they settle for jobs that are not really suited to their education and training. Such is the plight of a large number of our teachers (licensed at that!) and other professionals who sadly ended up becoming domestics or factory workers in foreign countries. And then coming back to the country with a little money to spare, they seek to reintegrate themselves into the mainstream workforce without much luck.

What happens is that during the absence of these OFWs from the country, many of their former colleagues have been promoted into higher positions while they stagnated professionally during their stint abroad. They probably also went back to school to get earn master degree to get their promotion.

The Options

Being still at the age of being productive, our OFWs cannot just sit back ang watch the world go by. Their savings cannot possibly last them through to retirement, what with prices the way they are! Lucky are the few who have managed to make solid investments but investing at the same time providing for their families’ every need and want is not an easy task.

So they are faced with very limited options. Of course they could always go back to work, even accepting a less-than-attractive pay just to be able to provide for their daily needs so as not to deplete their savings. Or they can go into business for themselves by investing their savings.

The More Attractive Alternative

Many of our OFWs have decided on the second option for obvious reasons. Being naturally hard-working, they figure that they have a much better chance of increasing their possible income from their business venture by the combination of their investment and diligence.

Many OFWs have succeeded in this type of venture. However, countless of them have also failed for the reason that many of them equate business with selling goods. The “selling” part is true but they may have a limited view of the “goods” aspect. Hence, they go into franchises, the food business, and even networking ventures then find out that there is a glut.

Selling is not necessarily limited to wares and commodities and if you do not have the knack of selling you will soon be in big trouble. The option of “selling” their own services has never occurred to a lot of our OFWs, blue collar maybe but not the white collar type.

But did you know that you can become an entrepreneur selling your services as a virtual assistant?

The Virtual Assistant as Entrepreneur

“What?” you say. I say “YES!” A virtual assistant or VA is an entrepreneur, someone who works for himself, selling services that he has expertise in – office services that he or she can provide remotely from the comfort of home. Depending on his skills, a VA’s services can be priced accordingly to sufficiently enable him or her to live decently. All a VA has to have is stable internet connection and a computer because transactions are conducted online.

In my succeeding articles I will discuss what exactly is a VA, what it takes to be a VA, how a VA gets paid, as well as other resources you might need should you be interested in becoming one. For now, suffice it to say that this is one option that needs to be considered seriously because of the endless possibilities or you can check out www.sacredfilipinovas.com for more extensive resources on VA work and information regarding job openings.

A Business Opportunity with Eggs

Posted by marivicmadayag on March 30th, 2013

How to Make Pickled Eggs

With Easter just around the corner, a simple recipe came to mind that can be turned into a business opportunity– pickled eggs. Some may think the idea of pickling eggs is a weird idea (I used to thinks so too, till I had a taste of it – yum!). It can be eaten by itself as an appetizer, a base for canapés or a nutritious snack for your kids, but believe me, however you take it, it tastes so good you’ll be begging for more. And it is so simple to make too!

What you’ll need:

Large glass jar – sterilized
One dozen eggs
4 cups vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
½ cup white sugar
10 peppercorns
1 bay leaf

Procedure:

Put eggs in a pot just big enough so they don’t bump each other when the water starts to boil. Fill the pot with cold water so that it covers all of the eggs completely. Add a pinch of salt to the water to help make peeling easier. Bring to boil over medium heat. When the water starts to boil, turn off the heat and let the eggs stand in the hot water on top of the stove for 15 minutes, allowing the eggs to cook longer.

Prepare a basin filled with iced water. Transfer the boiled eggs to the basin with a slotted spoon. Peel the eggs carefully to avoid nicks in the egg white. Put the peeled eggs in the jar (use as many jars as necessary) and let stand on the kitchen counter, partially covered.

Boil all remaining ingredients for 5 minutes then allow it to cool. Pour the liquid over the eggs in the jar, covering it completely. Transfer the bottle/s into the ref and let it stand for at least 7 days. Then all you have to do is relax and enjoy your pickled eggs.

Be creative:

An alternative to chicken eggs is quail eggs. At times I use the smallest eggs I can find in the market (pee-wee). Sugar beets can be added when boiling the vinegar to color the eggs into a pinkish color without ruining the taste.

Not only will the pickled eggs be great for your family to enjoy eating, it can also be a much-appreciated Christmas present for your friends and family.

A business opportunity:

You can do this on a much bigger scale and start a business with it. Since the procedure, though simple, is time consuming, it does not make sense to pickle just one jar of eggs! Hence, it figures that those who like consuming it would prefer to buy than make it. And this is where the enterprising you can come in. Start with friends and neighbors. Pretty soon, by word of mouth alone, you may be looking at a brisk business. Just be sure about the consistency of your product and provide good packaging. Ensure the supply of your jars so they are packaged uniformly. Make it attractive visually as well as gastronomically.

For all you know you might just hatch a very lucrative business with your pickled eggs.

Business Opportunities for Our OFWs

Posted by Michelle Banayo on December 8th, 2012

It is true that our OFWs are our modern day heroes and the dollars they remit to our country is one of the reasons why our economy is surviving. But we can’t also deny the fact that our OFWs are sacrificing a lot when they work in other countries. It is definitely better if they don’t have to work outside the Philippines if they don’t really want to, just out of necessity.

Ex-link Events is envisioning our OFWs back home reunited with their respective families with a business of their own so they don’t have to spend years working abroad lonely and away from their families.

Thus, a business summit created specifically for our OFWs, the Mega Balik-Bayan/ OFW Expo! It is a 3-day expo at SM Megatrade Hall 2 and 3 happening on Dec. 7 – 9, 2012 aimed to help our OFWs jumpstart their own businesses.

Briggy Hall Supports the Start-up Food Businesses

Posted by Michelle Banayo on November 22nd, 2012

Good news to all those who want to try out the food business but still afraid to take the plunge due to high cost of start-up. Briggy Hall understands your plight and is willing to provide you a venue where you can test the feasibility of your food business.

A lot of us, Filipinos, are dreaming of having our own business. Some of us have really great ideas. Some have the resources to push through with these ideas while some just capitalize on their courage despite the lack in resources. The sad part is that some are lacking on both the resources and the courage.

If you have a unique food business idea, worry not if you are short on capital. Briggy Hall is here to help you out.