MALAYBALAY'S CHOICE HANDICRAFT

Established in 2003, Malaybalay's Choice Handicraft is a small enterprise engaged in producing handmade crafts and products made of intricately hand-woven abaca fibers locally known in Bukidnon as hinabol.

It was established by its founding proprietor, TITA PERLA E. RUBIO, a native of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Philippines. The need to start this handicrafts business sprung from the owner's passionate heart to help fellow members of the Indigenous People (IP) communities in Bukidnon improve their economic status.

On a fair, unusual day of work, the owner was approached by an old woman carrying a sack who asked her to buy the contents thereof. She looked inside the sack and saw rolls of hand-woven abaca fibers. She did not have any idea how to use the hinabol nor did she intend to use them. But because she took pity on the old woman, she bought them, nonetheless.

After a few months of taking the hinabol for granted, the owner suddenly realized that she can make coin purses out of it. Hence, sewing coin purses started. In 2003, Tita Perla decided to sell the coin purses in a local trade fair during the yearly Kaamulan Festival. The selling of coin purses was promising. However, due to lack of capital, Tita Perla became hesitant to continue producing and selling this product. She then decided to visit the mountains where the weavers live. There she saw the difficulty of living in the mountains: food was not readily available, children were not sent to school, and weaving was the only skill the women know so they could put food on the table. That visit moved Tita Perla with compassion that right there and then, she decided to continue what she has already started.

Women who belong to the indigenous groups were gathered to start sewing bags using the hinabol. Eventually, not just bags were produced but also placemats, table runners, file organizers, glass coasters, and more fashion wearables and homeware!

What started with a simple passion to help an old indigent woman resulted to an enterprise which caters to the needs of indigent people in the mountains of Bukidnon. Malaybalay's Choice Handicraft aims to promote Bukidnon culture and tradition, empower women, foster economic growth and achieve inclusive growth through the production of hinabol handicrafts.