One man's scrap can be another woman's jewelry

MANILA, Philippines - That new bag or necklace is not only good for you, it could be good for the earth, too.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is fortifying Cebu’s position as Asia’s destination for eco-fashion with the recent “Bijoux Cebu: Asia’s Destination for Green Jewelry,” the country’s first showcase of fashion pieces made from sustainable natural materials and reclaimed objects or scrap and trash.

With the world constantly faced with environmental challenges, communities are now taking a more proactive stance in responding to climate change, while expanding their livelihood activities at the same time.   

Sitio Ilum in Catmon, Cebu has been actively planting pangantuon trees, used for Philippine fashion accessories that have found a lucrative market abroad. This small town of less than 100 families grows the raw materials used for the country’s most eco-friendly jewelry. Being the source of the basic supplies such as indigenous fabric, textile, and wooden beads made into eco-fashion pieces, Sitio Ilum was one of the highlights of Cebu’s pioneering endeavor in promoting environmentally-responsible fashion.

DOT acknowledged the recent event as an effective way to raise public awareness and appreciation of the importance of caring for the earth and minimizing adverse environmental impact through being responsible consumers and tourists.

“The constantly growing green movement has had positive effects on people all over the globe. This has driven travelers to be more mindful of their carbon footprints, creating an advocacy for conscientious travel and patronizing products that promote sustainability and respect for the environment,” Tourism Secretary Ace Durano says.

“Sitio Ilum is one of the local communities that can become a tourism destination because of its on-going program that grows thousands of pangantuon trees. The community has learned to sustain itself through the livelihood generated by the demand for this raw material,” Durano explains. 

Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr., for his part, shares: “Filipino ingenuity is deeply expressed in our unique works of art, fashion pieces and accessories. We are proud to showcase the creativity and resourcefulness through the use of indigenous materials for jewelry.”

“The main aspect is bringing the tourists to visit the community itself where the raw materials are grown, processed, and made into the unique pieces that would surely attract attention from the growing eco-conscious market,” Jarque adds, referring to the Go Green tours tied in with the whole program, taking visitors on a pleasant hike to Sitio Ilum itself, where the pangantuon trees are grown.

Organized by Cebu Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (FAME) Foundation, the event featured 100-percent green products – from components, to manufacturing, to product labels. The Foundation, set up in 1987, also established Go Green Philippines, a sustainable environment program in response to the global call for social responsibility. 

FAME Foundation president Janet Chua says, “This is to help revitalize the Philippine ecosystem and sustain the Philippine fashion accessories industry at the same time. The world should know how ingenious Filipinos are.”

To know more about eco-friendly fashion accessories and their manufacturers, contact the Cebu FAME Foundation at (032) 2550832, email [email protected] or visit www.cebufame.com.ph