CAVITE – An upland municipality in a mountainous area, Maragondon is known for its bamboo products and traditional hand-woven garments. Both industries, however, may not have always been progressive over the past decades.

Likhang Maragondon, a local social enterprise, is trying to change that with science, innovation, and community participation.

Photo courtesy of Likhang Maragondon (MANILA BULLETIN)

In November 2022, the enterprise won a P3.8-million grant under the Women-Helping-Women: Innovating Social Enterprises initiative of the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).

With DOST-PCIEERD as the funding agency and DOST Calabarzon and DOST Cavite as co-monitoring agencies, Likhang Maragondon is working on upgrading the traditional bamboo “amakan” or “sawali” into premium-quality bamboo woven panels suitable for contemporary architecture.

“If you travel anywhere else in the Philippines, what you’ll notice is ‘yung slivers niya, hindi pantay-pantay, walang mga treatment, nagbubukbok (You’ll notice that the slivers are uneven, untreated, and easily infested),” Likhang Maragondon Founder Catherine U. Diquit told the Manila Bulletin on Tuesday, July 11.

Under the project, Likhang Maragondon will use specialized machines to cut their hard local bamboo, known as “kawayan tinik” or thorny bamboo, into even slivers.

They are also collaborating with DOST Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) scientists for chemical formulations that will allow the bamboo panels to withstand insect damage and harsh weather conditions.

Photo courtesy of Likhang Maragondon (MANILA BULLETIN)

“May tagline kaming ginawa eh (We made a tagline) – Habing Kawayan: sustainable woven bamboo that lasts. Crafted with purpose. Fortified by science,” Diquit shared.

The product is now under the research and development phase and will possibly be launched by the first quarter of 2024.

Reviving the local weaving industry

Likhang Maragondon initially made waves in 2021 for Habing Maragondon – the first local handwoven face mask approved by DOST for conforming to the recommended minimum specifications for non-medical face masks at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Influencer Kyle Douglas “Kulas” Jennermann wearing Habing Maragondon handwoven mask (Photo courtesy of Likhang Maragondon/MANILA BULLETIN)

At that time, the social enterprise offered a source of income to 12 weavers and sewists, mostly housewives, whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic.

Today, they have up to 100 freelance artists, craftspersons, and bamboo weavers who work with them, depending on availability.

Photo courtesy of Catherine U. Diquit/MANILA BULLETIN

Aside from face masks, the award-winning enterprise makes Filipiniana-inspired garments, woven and bamboo accessories, and pajah – a loose garment used for formal academic programs like graduations in Cavite State University’s 11 campuses.

The enterprise is also venturing into bamboo textile, this time in coordination with DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), which launched a Bamboo Textile Fiber Innovation Hub in Maragondon. The facility will extract bamboo fiber to be used for yarn, which Likhang Maragondon will then weave into textile.

Likhang Maragondon Founder Catherine U. Diquit during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Bamboo Textile Fiber Innovation Hub in Maragondon, Cavite, in May 2023 (Photo from DOST-PTRI's Facebook page/MANILA BULLETIN)

“Habing Maragondon (The Maragondon weave) has been in Maragondon since the 1700s… But science allows us to innovate products in a sustainable way. It’s traditional, but at the same time, kaya nating sabayan ang demand ng market (we can keep up with market demands). The innovations that we’re introducing help us create better products, because there’s value added, which is the key to scaling up and making a bigger impact for the communities we support,” Diquit shared.

“I hope one day, we can say that it touched people’s lives and made those lives better.”