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Quirino’s unique flowers from leaves

BAGUIO CITY ( Aug.25) — Quirino province is one of the smallest and poorest provinces in the Philippines but it maintains its exotic beauty of nature which local and international tourists always want to explore. In 1995, a unique flower industry was born that paved the way for the province to be known globally because of its beautiful flowers produced out of “fossilized” leaves.

This “fossilized flower” industry is the art of bleaching and dyeing of different kinds of leaves to assemble as flowers for the local market and for exports, thus, creating more jobs to locals and augmenting their meager family income.

The Philippine Textile Research Incorporated (PTRI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) initiated the fossilized flower industry to support small enterprises and to train men and women to maximize their time and earn money.

In an interview with Leticia Rocas, 44, a resident of Cabarruguis, Quirino, NORDIS learned that women leave their homes and their children to collect different kinds of leaves for sale. Others assemble flowers for them. Most leaves gathered are taken from guyabano, guava, jackfruit, and butterfly tree. In fact, many men and women including children are enjoying the work and are even going to nearby provinces like Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija to collect leaves.

The fresh leaves cost P20-25 per kilo. Six to eight kilos of fresh leaves produce a kilo of dried leaves which costs P1,400- P1,800. Scouring and bleaching leaves alone, someone can earn P1,000 per kilo, according to Rocas.

Manang Leticia said that there are 12 recognized fossilized flower producers in Quirino. These are the Diffun Rural Improvement Club (RIC), Diffun Flower Producers Association, Madella Flower Producers Association, Cabarruguis RIC, Banuar RIC, San Isidro Paredes RIC, San Antonio Flower Producers Association, J’s Craft, Patrocinio’s Flower Producers Association, Gami’s RIC, and Isidro Paredes Association.

“Ditoy ko a naadal nga uray gayam kabassitan a banag iti aglawlaw tayo ket pagkwartaan no ammo tayo nga aywanan ken usaren.Isunga aywanan tayo ti aglawlaw ken saan tayo nga ipalubos a madadael daytoy ta dakkel la unay ti tulong a maited na iti tao,” Manang Leticia advices.( It is here where I learned that even the smallest thing in our environment may be turned into cash if we only know how to take care and use them. We should not let our environment be destroyed because it can help us a lot).

We have also learned the secrets of coloring, as if you can obtain orange color from atchuete seeds, yellow from yellow ginger, old rose and violet from sibukao wood, dull red from mahogany bark, maroon from sampaloc bark, and reddish brown from buko husks, Manang Leticia explained.

Meanwhile, according to Mercy Gasconia and Mrs.Rosario Gabatin, 46, and 49, respectively, of Diffun, Quirino, “ Talaga nga adu ti orders piman manipud iti local ken uray abrod kasla iti Manila, Cebu, Davao ken idiay Califronia, London ken adu pay a lugar. Isunga kapilitan nga agtrabaho kami uray rabii inggana parbangon tapno makasambot ken tapno adda kwarta nga usaren ti pamilya.” (There are really many orders from locals like Manila, Cebu,Davao and from foreign countries like California, London and other places. That’s why we are forced to work at night till early morning in order to cope up with the orders and to have money for the family).

They also said that putting of petals would cost P 0.75 each for large buds and sepals are P0.25 a piece which children do during week ends for their additional allowance.

Gasconia also shared their experience with Gabatin during the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) celebration in Legazpi, Albay last July 2004. They showcased their products with basic dyes by using the acid dyes technology. They generated an income of P40,000 from the said exposition.

“Adu ti agibagbaga a puminpintas dagiti produkto nga aggapo ditoy Quirino isunga adu ti babaknang nga ginmatang kadakami ken naidumduma kano ti pannaka-aramid na kompara kadagiti produkto ti dadduma a lugar,” (Many tell us that our craft are fast improving that many rich people buy our products and it has a distinct quality compared with others) Gabatin disclosed.

There are also many laborers before who are now going on their own and we are very happy to know it because even in a small way, we helped other people to earn a living. We do not treat them as a competitor but as part of a learning process, they claimed.

“Although Quirino province has made its name in the local and international market because of fossilized flowers, the craft is easily copied and duplicated. Therefore, we must face the threat of potential competitors because that is the world of business. But as long as we maintain a superior quality crafts, original flower designs and arrangements, we will have always a big edge among others,” they ended. # Johnny Fialen for NORDIS

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