MONEY FROM GRASS

THIS IS NOT A TREKKING TALE. 
This is a story of the people I usually meet on the trails...

 Here's a published article: SAYAWAN WOMEN REAPS MONEY FROM GRASS  in http://otopphilippines.com. 

"Tikog", a weed of the sedge family naturally thrives in swampy areas. A lot of these weeds can be found in many towns of Bukidnon--- Pangantucan, Talakag and Impasugong to name a few.

Tikog ready for weaving.

 These plants in the mountains may be pest to some but a blessing to our native brethren. With God-given weaving instinct, they utilize tikog to make native mats, bags, place mats and other decoratives for their own use and for commercial purposes. Yes, they reap money from this grass.

Nena Dupeno weaving a round mat.

Nena, a weaver from Sayawan, Impasugong, Bukidnon does not keep the skill on her own. She trains other women in the community.

Bukidnon women participating weaving training.

She's even tapped a trainer to other barangays as far as Pigtauranan in Pangantucan, Sinuda in Kitaotao and Dominorog in Talakag.

The following are the bag designs woven by Nena.

The designs were conceptualized by Clara Elizaga of NAZCA Designs and Christopher Gomez of Chris Gomez Creative Designs as part the Product Development Project of DTI under the National Bayong Program.