Taclobanons rebuild lives by making jewelry as livelihood
Jewelry making has been Danika’s passion. Using copper wires as the primary material, Danika creates lovely pieces of handmade jewelries.
Danika Astilla-Magoncia of Tacloban City is a survivor of typhoon Yolanda.
Before the super typhoon devastated Leyte, Danika and a childhood friend based in the United States, Niña Bañez-Cerdiña, have already been brainstorming about a livelihood project that could help women in marginalized areas of Tacloban.
Danika Astilla-Magonica, the jewelry designer of Kinamot nga Buhat.
They wanted to focus on housewives who may not compete well in the job market or those who need to stay home to take care of their children. With Danika’s knowledge in wire jewelries, they knew more or less where they’re heading. Although marketing of the product concept has been their initial concern, Niña then was already starting to learn the ropes on promoting music, arts, and other unique product ideas.
Right after Yolanda, the two brushed aside their reservations about their plans and immediately agreed to materialize the project and take part in rebuilding their devastated home region.
Inspite the distress brought by the monster storm, the two launched the indie label Kinamot nga Buhat as a creative social enterprise that provides skills training and employment to typhoon survivors.
Kinamot nga Buhat, a Waray-Waray phrase for “handmade” has become a socially-concious brand of handcrafted jewelries showcasing the Waray culture.
The label’s first piece, the “Haiyan Unity Bracelet,” was introduced a month after the super typhoon and was followed by a 20-day online crowd funding campaign.
The response was overwhelming and the proceeds were used to acquire materials and to train partner-workers: the wire weavers, wire cutters/preppers, and bag sewers.
The enterprise is currently providing their partner-workers with a steady monthly income. The founders acknowledge the huge challenge in sustaining the program; but with the immense support and trust they’re getting from friends, other survivors, and people all over the country and around the world, they believe Kinamot nga Buhat will continue to promote a resilient community by providing marginalized women with jobs that would help address the economic needs of their respective families.
Danika as the jewelry designer of the social enterprise, continues to develop new design pieces that demonstrate great pride in talents and skills.
To learn more about her designs and to support Kinamot nga Buhat, visit https://www.facebook.com/haiyanunitybracelet or check out their exhibit on today at Handuraw Pizza on Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City.