20/09/2024
Project Amihan and Training on Bamboo Carving: An Impetus Towards a Progressive and Sustained Enterprise
Because of urbanization, some of the cultural practices and traditions, mostly in the rural areas, are threatened and unappreciated. It is mostly manifested by the youth who have given increased preference to the new and modern ways of life. However, notwithstanding the changing cultural circumstances, some sectors in society have shown appreciation to rituals and customs by advocating traditional musical instruments such as wind, percussion, string and other types of melodic devices made from bamboo.
Because of this, there was consideration that bamboo could be an appropriate material in conserving and upholding the treasured Filipino customs and traditions. Within the sphere of arts and culture, the proficiency to produce carved artifacts not inly justifies one’s skill but also addresses the concerns of limited employment and livelihood opportunities among the Filipinos.
Recognizing the diminishing supply of species used in the wood carving and furniture industries, the Philippine Bamboo Foundation, Inc. (PBFI) enjoined wood carvers to participate in a bamboo carving contest in Asin, Benguet. The carved bamboo products became popular among cultural groups and Filipino arts and crafts collectors that some items commanded a price of as much as PhP20,000 per piece.
The town of Paete in Laguna is locally and internationally famous for its religious-themed carvings. However, because of the very high-demand for wood and over-harvesting in the forest, wood for carving has become scarce.
With the success of the bamboo carving contest in Benguet, the learnings were shared by the PBFI with the Paete carvers. Recognizing the potential of bamboo as a material for their products, the local carvers in the municipality organized the Paete Bamboo Carvers Guild to promote the use of bamboo as a material in their industry.
Meanwhile, students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) formed themselves into a group and upon approval by their University Adviser, decided to implement in the Philippines their project known as AMIHAN. One of the project’s objectives is to propagate the cultural traditions in neighboring countries. After a series of meetings and coordinative efforts, the Bamboo Professionals Inc. (BPI) has agreed to assist the students in facilitating the activities for their AMIHAN project, a component of which is the conduct of a training course on Bamboo Carving.
The Laguna University located in Sta. Cruz, Laguna has likewise agreed to hold the training in its premises and recruit students and out-of-school youth to participate in the said training. Furthermore, the Laguna Bamboo Industries Development Council (LBDIC) has expressed its support in making bamboo carving as a sustainable enterprise while the Municipality of Famy in Laguna extended financial aid to their local youth who will attend the training.
Hence, with the multi-sectoral support provided to project AMIHAN and the training on Bamboo Carving to beld on September 23-27, 2024 at the Laguna University, it is anticipated that the motivation to create awareness, interest and enhanced capability of the trainees to produce high-quality and innovative carved bamboo products will help catapult the industry to a sustained socio-cultural and economic growth.
The month of September was declared in 2022 as Philippine Bamboo Month based on Proclamation No. 1401 effected by then President Rodrigo R. Duterte. It is therefore appropriate and timely that the Bamboo Carving Training be held on the same month.
The Bamboo Professionals Inc., together with its partners in Project AMIHAN, enthusiastically and sincerely wish everyone a Happy and Productive Bamboo Month!
MAGKAWAYAN NA TAYO!!!’
