Another Trial

     A point in time came when they realized that the net income generated was not sufficient to sustain the needs of the cooperative members. This was due to the low price of their products, which was dictated by their buyers as a result of stiff competition with other handicraft producers in the area. In their desire to continue their operation and to cope with low market price, the remedial measure taken was to go back to their previous traditional dyeing, which their competitors are utilizing. Quality was sacrificed in favor of quick earnings even to the point of employing the tsamba-tsamba (hit and miss) method of dyeing that resulted in production of rejects amounting to about P100,000. In 2002, SCMPCI again collapsed. The last order they got from one of their clients was a purchase order of bags worth P785,000, which could have been of great help to them. However, the cooperative had a hard time complying with the quality requirements and delivery time. Subsequently, the remaining P200,000 worth of bags was cancelled, forcing them to close shop in 2002.

In the middle of 2003, Manong Jun suffered a mild stroke and half of his body was paralyzed. He was helpless for almost a year. Determined to continue, he went on with the saying, “If there’s a will, there’s a way.”   In a very short time, Manong Jun recovered and was again in harness.

Right now, Manong Jun still hopes and believes that he can do something for his townfolk and the SCMPCI. The determination and the will to rise again is still there despite what happened in the previous years. “If given another chance to put up another business, I definitely will go back to handicraft making; my weavers and my handlooms are still intact. We are just waiting for our orders from our export buyers. Having learned our lesson the hard way, we shall now set our goal for excellent quality.”  That is Manong Jun. His high spirit and strong mind gave inspiration to many.