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Product #6 - Angels, by Evelyn Pendon
A native of Gerona, she began her craft under the guidance of Mrs. Avillar, the wife of a previous vice mayor of the town. At first, using bamboo, crepe and japanese paper, and colored plastics as raw materials, she then ventured into utilizing capiz as her primary lantern-making material, realizing that they were more popular and would lead to an increase in sales. While Evelyn was continuously in her business in Gerona, she heard from her neighbors about ASKI - Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. - and its loan programs. She learned a lot of things about the program and eventually became a part of it. Evelyn was able to avail loans amounting to Php. 5,000 for her first loan and elected as center leader. She started her business with a capital of Php 5,000, but her enthusiasm and hard work, she is now able to generate Php 50,000 as capital for her capiz lanterns. Continuing her business, she was able to earn around Php 20,000 - Php 30,000 from the month of September to November. However, lanterns lose their luster at a certain point. Similarly, Evelyn has experienced her hour of darkness - lower sales volume and bouncing cheques are never a good sign. Nevertheless, another kind of light lit her way from the shadows. Since 1999, the light bearer that has been constantly at her side has been ASKI.
Aside from providing her with additional capital and business opportunities, through ASKI assembly meetings and training, she was eventually promoted to the position of Center Chief/Center President of the Caturay Center in Gerona. She is also one of the Board Member os ASKI-Mutual Benefit Association. Being an active member in their Parish, she named her business as St. Escriva's Lanterns. She served in the church as bag collector and commentator every Sunday mass.
Registration with DTI and through BDSS of ASKI opened new doors for Evelyn. For one, ASKI through coordination to DTI has many assistance programs for micro, small and medium enterprises which included seminars, product clinics and trade fairs. In seminars that Evelyn attended, she met other entrepreneurs who became her friends and business contacts. In preparation for the trade fairs, product clinics were held, where professional designers from the Product Development and Design Center (PDCC) gave exhibitors tips on product design improvement. BDSS assisted Evelyn in marketing her product by exporting of candle holders in Australia through the support of Opportunity International Australia. In addition, her product was promoted in the organization and other institutions as souvenir/gift during special season.
Nowadays, Evelyn works with five of her trusted apprentices, who also design their own capiz products. Buyers also have the opportunity to leave their unique mark on her lantern designs, because they are also encouraged to make their own lanterns. Evelyn and her people promote their merchandize along the highway of Gerona and nearby provinces. Taken from the Discover Fair Trade Product Catalog by ASKI |
Gerona, in the province of Tarlac in the Philippines, is a place where lanterns are made from the shell-like capiz. Inside the town lives the lantern of her family and a guiding light to capiz-lantern makers, Evelyn Cayanan Pendon.
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