In the faraway village of Mayoyao in the mountains of Ifugao, Maria Pangusban, 54, was intently listening to a workshop.
It’s a community-based tourism workshop organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Philippines to help the villagers foster its tourism industry by bringing in training to improve the sector.
Maria, a 54-year-old resident of Barangay Banhal, one of the villages encompassing the vast and beautiful Mayoyao Rice Terraces, is a proud weaver. She said that through weaving, she’s able to uphold the rich culture and traditions of Mayoyao. She’s always excited to share their woven products with everyone.
Maria Pangusban while listening to the workshop.
The community-based tourism workshop.
It was 10 years ago when she started participating in training organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) to become a better weaver, but she acknowledged there are some challenges.
First, they need more ways to reach more people. Their products are so special that she believes people should know about them.
During my conversation with Maria, I mentioned that they have a good internet connection in the area, so I think they can promote their products online.
She smiled and answered, “Hindi ako marunong. May kasama kami marunong mag-cell phone pero di kami marunong mag-post, mag-promote.” (I don’t know how to do that. We have members who can use cell phones, but we don’t know how to post and promote.)
I realized that’s why this Community-Based Tourism Program of TPB is highly important.
Selfie with Maria.
The TPB Workshop in Mayoyao
The 3-day workshop in Mayoyao was intended to train the community on how to market their products online and give them the necessary support to foster their business.
I was able to witness the workshop during our last day in Mayoyao. We explored the town’s best tourist spots in the first few days, capping it off by attending the workshop on its last day.
The workshop was attended by different tourism communities of the town from various industries like food, accommodation, and, of course, arts and weaving, which Maria is part of.
They were taught the basics of online marketing, from the actual creation of content to promoting their products and services.
I liked what the speaker emphasized – that online creation is not about perfection, it’s about being able to share your services in an authentic and simple way. As a travel blogger who sometimes struggles with creating that perfect social media post, I actually learned something valuable too from the workshop.
Maria shared that online marketing is quite difficult for them since they live in a simple and remote community and their kids are sometimes uninterested in weaving.
I asked her, “So aside from this workshop, how do you get help?”
Then, she pointed to her fellows at the same table. They were wearing civilian clothes. It was quite easy to recognize them as the fellow villagers of Maria were wearing traditional Mayoyao clothing. Those wearing civilian clothes who joined them in the workshop were the staff of the Igorota Foundation Inc., an NGO aimed at helping women thrive at work, upholding their rights and welfare.
Jenilyn C. Pag-gui, Project Officer of the Igorota Foundation, joined Maria and her community in the workshop.
Jenilyn C. Pag-gui (middle in yellow blazer) with the weavers of Mayoyao.
The women weavers of Mayoyao filming their first video.
She’s thankful for TPB for this workshop because she, who works at the grassroots level, is aware of the need for training and assistance for communities in the Cordillera when it comes to business.
They accompanied the Women Weavers of Banhal to assist them in any way in applying whatever learnings they had from the workshop.
“In the workshop, they learned about how to promote their products on Facebook. Now, we’re here to help them set up their Pages and accounts.” She shared.
One of their tasks in the workshop was to create their first-ever video promoting their products and services.
I got the chance to see how they filmed their video. Jenilyn was there to help them organize their thoughts on what they were going to say in the video. One of the staff of the Igorota Foundation even volunteered to take the video for them.
On our way back to the workshop venue, I got a chance to chat with Maria again. I told her that we visited their village 2 days ago and witnessed the beautiful rice terraces and their weaving process.
I asked here. “Some in our group wanted to buy more products, but there were limited finished products there.”
Maria agreed that they have challenges with getting raw materials.
TPB’s Commitment to Mayoyao’s Weaving Community
Well, it seems that these challenges were addressed in the community-based tourism workshop. As it ended, TPB offered them starter kits as assistance.
Led by TPB Representative Alberto Gadia Jr. together with DOT CAR Regional Director Jovi A. Ganongan, Mayor Jimmy B. Padchanan Jr., and other local officials, they turned over these needed raw materials for the weaving community to start making their products.
Turn over of starter kits to the weavers of Mayoyao.
With all the participants and media. Photo by DOT Cordillera Administrative Region Office
With these resources, the weaving community can now make more products. Plus, with their new skills in online promotion, they’re ready to grow their business. As their business thrives, so will the promotion of Mayoyao’s rich heritage and culture.
As all gathered together for a photo op, smiles could be seen from all participants, thankful for TPB’s support as well as a glimmer of hope for their business and culture to flourish.
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