Las Pinas Arts and Crafts Center: Paper made in your very own backyard!
- May 3, 2018
- 4 min read
Situated in the heart of BF Resort Village, in the backyard of our beloved Las Piñas City, is the internationally awarded Las Pinas Arts and Crafts Center. It is one of the environmental livelihood projects of Senator Cynthia Villar and the city of Las Pinas. This institute is part of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance, a non-stock, non-profit organization established by Former Senator Manuel B. Villar Jr., Senator Cynthia Villar and DPWH Secretary Mark Villar fueled by their commitment to saving the environment and providing Filipinos with sustainable livelihood programs.
The Las Pinas Arts and Crafts Center is home to numerous livelihood projects such as the Water Hyacinth Handicrafts, Charcoal Briquette Production and Citronella Massage Oil Production. They also hold classes in order to teach locals various classes about the water hyacinth production and how to make their own products in order to make a living.
Water Hyacinths otherwise known as Eichhonria crassipes is a fast-growing, aquatic plant. It has the ability to reproduce so rapidly that it can cover various bodies of water such as ponds, rivers, lakes etc. As a result, they can block sunlight that underwater plants need, congest streams and lakes, kill marine life in the process due to the decaying plant life and most notably, it causes rivers to overflow as the vegetation continuously grows in number. This was the case in the Las Piñas Zapote River when then Congresswoman, Senator Cynthia Villar decided to take action. The Las Pinas Zapote River, together with the solid waste that obstructs the Las Pinas City sewage, was one of the main causes of the floods during typhoon season.
With the help of experts and her love for the environment, Senator Cynthia Villar spearheaded the Water Hyacinth Handicrafts Livelihood Program.
Now, most of you must be wondering. What is the Water Hyacinth Handicrafts Livelihood Program?
The Water Hyacinth Handicrafts Livelihood Program is a program linked to the Villar SIPAG River Rehabilitation Social Enterprises in Las Piñas City wherein the water hyacinths that cause floods every typhoon season are collected, and sent to various Villar SIPAG Facilities in order to be made into handicrafts that can be used in everyday life. These handicrafts include the water hyacinth paper, water hyacinth storage bags, water hyacinth wine bags, and water hyacinth journals and notebooks.
There are various steps on how the Villar SIPAG workers make these products. First, after the water hyacinths are collected, they are segregated into bundles and left in the sun to dry out. Once they are dry, the water hyacinths are further segregated for the production of water hyacinth paper, water hyacinth decorative pieces and baskets.
The second step to making the water hyacinth paper is boiling them until they are soft, turning into a saturated paste like substance that can be spread out. Third, the paste like substance is left to cool and spread out on a rectangular silk screen until the are dry. Fourth, once the substance is dry and has solidified, the solidified water hyacinth substance is now left to sit in a water-chlorine mixture and then transferred to a metal plate. It is left to solidify once more in order to improve the integrity of the finished product. Lastly, once they are dry and solidified, the now formed water hyacinth
paper is separated from the metal plate. Voilà! 100% environment friendly water hyacinth paper is made from locally sourced water hyacinth!
At this point, you must be wondering, “What happens at the water hyacinth decorative pieces and baskets production?”
The water hyacinth decorative pieces and baskets are also made from the dried water hyacinths. The dried water hyacinths are cut and fashioned into baskets and decorative pieces through some wood bases while some are made from 100% dried water hyacinths. Some baskets are even handwoven. Once the finished product has been made, it is blow torched then glue and varnish are applied to ensure the integrity of the baskets and decorative pieces.
The Water Hyacinth Livelihood Project is so successful that Villar SIPAG has to source water hyacinth from different locations as the Las Piñas Zapote River is now water hyacinth free. Due to its success, it this project is awarded internationally and recognized by the United Nations, where the project was awarded as the United Nations (UN) Best Water Management Practices Award in celebration of the Water for Life Decade 2011.
What was once a river nuisance is now a source of livelihood, all thanks to the great minds at Villar SIPAG. All of these products are available at the Las Pinas Arts and Crafts Center. For those who have interests in scrapbooking and journaling, we have good news for all of you! Water hyacinth journals and scrapbooks are available upon order. Go to the Las Pinas Arts and Crafts Center located in Carnival Park Street, BF Resort Village now for inquiries!
DID YOU KNOW: There are over 1,800 Villar SIPAG livelihood locations in the Philippines.
The Sulyap Team Challenge: Making Water Hyacinth Paper
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