Proudly Philippine Made! Buy Abaca Facemasks, Natural Na, Pilipino Pa!

Following the posting yesterday of a story about facemasks made out of Abaca, this page was flooded with inquiries on where to buy the product.

I reached out to Director Kennedy Costales of the Philippine Fiber Development Authority (PHILFIDA), a passionate promoter of local natural fibers, and he forwarded these names and contact numbers:

Abaca Handmade Facemasks in Mindanao

Neil Rafisura, Salay Handmade Paper Industries of Misamis Oriiental 0917-6599469

Abaca Handmade Facemasks in Luzon

Teresita Sebastian

Odys Handicraft of Catanduanes

0950-9798073

Abaca-Seda (Silkworm) Facemasks in Visayas

Yanah Crafts Global Trading (Aklan)

09391034567 & 0927-7264966

For those who are not familiar with Abaca, it is a plant which belongs to the Banana family and carries the scientific name “Musa Textilis.”

Unlike the ordinary banana, however, Abaca fruits are not edible and only its fiber, considered as the strongest natural fiber in the world, is used.

It is also known as the Manila Hemp and is traditionally used for cordage and in the production of security papers and paper bills.

Abaca is endemic to the Philippines and this means that our country is the only place in the whole world where this plant grows naturally.

There are two other countries which grow Abaca for commercial purposes – Ecuador and Costa Rica but the first planting materials came from the Philippines.

In Ecuador, Abaca was introduced by a Japanese family, the Furukawas, who left the Philippines bringing with them planting materials and settled in South America.

In spite of the fact that Abaca is God’s gift to the Filipino people, this crop was largely neglected and it was only during the time of President Rodrigo Duterte that it was given the much-needed attention.

Abaca was one of the first crops which received funds for rehabilitation when I assumed office as Secretary of Agriculture.

Government must continue supporting the rehabilitation and expansion of Abaca farms, especially now that it has been discovered as a natural material which could be used in our fight against COVID 19.

Honestly, I still don’t know the cost of the facemasks.

It could be pricey because it is handmade but I believe we should not feel bad paying a higher price for a product made by poor Filipino farmers.

Isipin na lang natin na ang dagdag na bayad sa Abaca Facemasks ay tulong natin sa mga magsasakang Pilipino.

Congratulations to PHILFIDA of the Department of Agriculture and Director Ted Costales and the hardworking men and women of the Philippine Fiber Industry.

#BiyayaNgDiyosSaPilipino!

#SupportFilipinoFarmers!

(Photos were downloaded from public websites.)