Health Futures Foundation Inc. (HFI) in partnership with Vamos Holdings, Inc. and with the generous support of Ms. Mercedes Zobel, turned over a newly-built craft house to the Blaan community in Purok Kalyong, Barangay Landan in Polomolok, South Cotabato on 25 April 2025. An electric sewing machine, a gintlo loom (used for weaving) and a training for women in Gintlo weaving are part of the donations facilitated by HFI to empower Blaan women through livelihood that also fosters pride in their cultural heritage.
About 30 people from the Blaan community (consisting of adult men and women, young people, and the elderly) and the barangay, municipal and provincial government attended the festive turnover ceremony. A lively Maral (Blaan Dance) preceded the inspirational messages. Tribal leaders and other invited speakers highlighted the importance of the craft house as a structure that strengthens shared ideals and collaborations for the sustainable development of Blaan communities. They thanked HFI for its holistic support for human development among the Blaans through its health, education, livelihood and environmental initiatives.
Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, HFI’s Founding Chairman, expressed appreciation for Barangay Landan and the Blaan community’s readiness to work with HFI. He also highlighted the support of private sector donors who made the project possible. He enjoined the community members, tribal leaders and local officials present to work together in sustaining the operations of the craft house which is envisioned as a hub for the production of Blaan crafts and the transfer of knowledge and skills from the elders to the younger generation. The ceremonial cutting of ribbon followed. After a sumptuous lunch of native food prepared by the community, a post-turnover meeting was held with the women-masters of the craft to discuss how the craft house can be sustained. (For details on the various Blaan crafts, please see related article on the FANDAY project of HFI.)
The Kalyong Craft House or “Blaan Gumne Go Mimo – Kalyak Blaan di Kalyong” is the second structure of this type built in Landan by HFI and its partners. The first one, located in hilly Purok Dam, was built in 2023. With creativity, hard work and perseverance of the Blaan women running the first craft house, it is already producing various products that are seeing increasing demands locally and abroad.
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