Rizalie Anding Calibo
SIQUIJOR, April 22 (PIA)--The Department of Science and Technology
here in cooperation with the local office of the Department of Trade and
Industry, Local Government Unit of Maria and Smylen Dream VCO organized a 3-day
Training on the Utilization of Coconut Husk and Shell into Gifts and Holiday
Decors at the DA Training Center in Maria, Siquijor.
The training aims to teach the participants on how to make a “coco
monkey” – a popular GTH which is exported to other countries.
Participants of the training included housewives, barangay
chairpersons, members of the academe, wood carvers, GTH enthusiasts and
employees of Smylen Dream VCO in Maria, Siquijor.
The trainers were carvers of Arts ‘n’ Nature Mfg. Corp., a
manufacturer, seller and exporter of Philippine handicrafts.
On the first day of the training, participants were taught step by
step on how to create the coconut GTH dubbed as coco monkey. They were also
reminded to exercise utmost care and precaution on the handling of the tools
and equipment.
The first day of the training was all about knowing the coconut
GTH in which participants carved parts of the coconut fruit after learning from
the trainers.
The 2nd day involved mastery. All participants were required to
finish at least 4 coco monkeys during this duration. The 3rd day of the
training was the continuation of the 2nd day and application of final
touches which involved application of appropriate finishing material.
During the culmination program, DOST Siquijor and DTI Siquijor
thru Engr. Reinhold JekAbing and Marlene Patria respectively, thanked the
participants in behalf of their agencies for actively participating in the
training and the trainers for sharing the techniques on how to make the coconut
GHD.
In return Vice-mayor Alejandro Fernando of Maria, expressed his
gratitude to the sponsoring NGAs and private entity for conducting the training
in his municipality.
On another development, Merlie Fisher o fSmylen Dream VCO
expressed her support to the undertaking and would try to become the
consolidator of all the coconut GTH produced in the province to be shipped
traded to Art ‘N Nature Mfg. Corp. in Cebu.
(mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor/ with reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek
Abing/DOST-Siquijor)