This Friday (October 9), join Atom Araullo in his documentary about the industry of hand-crafted jewelry on I-Witness.

This jewelry factory may be located in Wakas, Kawit, Cavite, but for its owners and craftsmen, it is never the end of the industry.

Santi and Sons is the oldest emblem jewelry factory in the Philippines. Surviving some of the greatest wars and revolutionaries in history, its foundations did not only withstand the chaos of these significant events, but also the near demise of the trade.

The establishment has been thriving for more than 100 years already—giving birth to the finest artisans who are manually making hand-crafted badges, medals, pins, and most importantly, class rings.

Mick Santi, manager of Santi and Sons, shares that the industry is more than just a business. It is a tradition their family wants to preserve.

He reminisces their glory days as the most popular college ring maker. But modern technology emerged and the decline of the patronage to their products dimmed what was once their shining glory.

But for Ver, one of the oldest craftsmen in the factory, in order to continue the bloodline of craftsmanship, thus, not to terminate the tradition, the skill should be passed to younger generations—to his 41-year-old son, Jeremiah. They are both designers of emblem jewelries.

The hand-crafted jewelry are made by almost 50 pairs of hands, all living in the same barangay, Wakas.

The term “wakas” means end. And in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems that the name of the barangay mirrors the actual plight of the emblem trade.

I-Witness airs this Friday, 10:30 pm on Power Block strip of GMA News TV.