The Legend of Quirino’s Enchantress

 

In the trying stages of Quirino’s short history, the promises of a potential livelihood came in 1995 when a group of women underwent training on the process of fossilizing leaves. Mrs. Juliana Tactac and Mrs. Epigenia Gabrillo were among those who, up to now, are still part of this growing industry. The abundant foliage in the place made this endeavor very conducive for sustained operation. From these leaves the flowers were colored and assembled and in the bosom of the rich forests of Quirino, the enchantress was born.

 

The most beautiful flower is the flower that blooms in adversity.

–      Mulan (Walt Disney Movie)

 

The women were forced to leave their homes and children to earn a living to augment the families’ meager income. An ingenious livelihood would blossom out of an atmosphere of desperation and monotony that the mothers and daughters would still be there to fulfill their twofold tasks of homemaking and earning a living. Some men eventually embarked on it as well to partly fulfill their roles as breadwinners.

 

The women make use of their rich foliage ¾ the most popular of which are leaves of butterfly tree, guava, guyabano, and jackfruit. A kilo of fresh leaves would normally cost P20. They would need seven to eight kilos of these fresh leaves to come up with one kilo of dried fossilized leaves that sell surprisingly at P1,400-1,800 per kilo. Undoubtedly, from the gathering of raw materials, people can already earn a living.  In scouring and bleaching the leaves alone, an income of P1,000 per kilo can be generated. After bleaching the leaves, they are dyed and assembled into flowers, which extend the production line, thus, creating more jobs.

 

For almost 10 years now, the industry which started with just a few people has successfully gained prominence as one of Quirino’s leading cottage industries. It was such a great feeling to meet the pillars of the province’s successful industry. At present, there are 12 recognized fossilized flower producers in Quirino. They are named Diffun Rural Improvement Club (RIC), Maddela Flower Producers Association, Inc., Diffun Flower Producers Association, Inc., Bannuar RIC, J’s Craft, Gamis RIC, Alvin’s Floral Designs and Blooms, Cabarroguis RIC, San Isidro Paredes ARC, San Antonio Flower Producers Association, Patrocinio’s Flower Producers Association, and Isidro Paredes ARC.

 

The craft emerged as a lucrative past time in lieu of the usual siesta hours in the afternoon. Those who were once laborers of the pioneers in the craft have begun producing on their own.

The contagious indulgence to this craft became a gossamer ¾ Quirino’s redefinition of the urban concept of networking. It creates employment, which does not perturb the household routine of the women as they partake in breadwinning. This provided an avenue not only for Quirino’s enchantress to blossom but for women to bloom as well. It has gone beyond the local market toward the global playing field. At present, the blossoms are a fitting emblem of the province and already emerge as a cosmopolitan flower as well.