La Li Weavers Association

La Libertad is a fourth class municipality of Oriental Negros located in the northern part of the province. The town of Guihulngan in the north, Tañon Strait in the east, the municipality of Jimalalud in the south, and by the municipality of Binalbagan of Occidental Negros in the west bound it. The town is accessible by land transportation from the provincial capital, Dumaguete City that is 104.7 kilometers away.

The town has a total land area of 17,480 hectares comprising 29 barangays, six (6) of which are coastal barangays, while the rest are mountain settlements. Narrow coastal plains that give way to rolling, hilly rugged mountains and gentle slopes towards the interior portion characterize the town.

La Libertad has a total estimated population of 35, 122 with 7,004 households (NSO, 2000). The urban population is 2,983 while coastal population is 8,323. The population density of the municipality is 3 per hectare. The average household size is 5. The annual growth rate is 1.60 % (NSO, 2000)

The municipality also has one (1) major watershed and four (4) sub-watersheds that service the needs of water for the four (4) major irrigation systems and domestic water requirements of the municipality.

The major crops produced are rice, corn, root crops, banana and mango while tobacco, peanuts, cassava, vegetables and other fruit trees grown as minor crops. The existing agricultural area is 8,400.56 hectares or 48% of the municipal area. However, only 4,415 hectares are fully developed. This constitutes only 52 % of the total agricultural area. The other 48 % or 2,119.20 hectares is either open space, pasture lands or untilled farmlands. Thus, most of the residents in the area are engaged in farming as a source of income.

The municipality is rich in natural resources but its people still experiencing economic hardship due to crude type of farming and lack of capital accessibility for entrepreneurial activities. Thus, farmers have low income characterized by low farm production and insufficiency of farm inputs. The recent situation of the municipality has caught the attention of the present leadership of the Local Government of La Libertad to think for alternative livelihood or prospective enterprises that could answer the problem.

In rural areas, women sector has the most idle time for they always stay at home or left behind in the community. In terms of alternative livelihood, they are the most potent to carry out such.

•In relation to this, one of the strategies of the LGU - through the Department of Agriculture, is by organizing people’s organizations especially women’s organization in every barangay to let them aware and be empowered of their right as potent partner for the economic growth of the municipality and to the country as well.

•After consultations, with the women’s organizations, they come up proposals for several economic activities depending on the availability of materials and skills and capability of the organization to manage the project/enterprise per organization.

•As a result, PANDAN BAG AND MAT WEAVING PROJECT is identified.

La libertad Weavers' Association

>is a group of skilled weavers specializing in making native product using pandan as a raw material.

>it is once a statement of the association's goal to preserve the traditional skills and art and inherent to their next generation.

>members are 90% women and 10% men, mostly resides in Barangay Mapalasan, Pangca, Solonggon, and Cangabo.

>was organized in November 10, 2004 and was registered last February 28, 2006 with the department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)


VISION

To pursue the traditional skills and arts by producing quality pandan handicrafts in La Libertad that will provide employment opportunities, develop the agricultural sector, thereby increasing productivity and income among its members, and contribute to socio-economic development of the municipality.

MISSION

To develop the skills of the weavers' of the association to produce quality pandan handicrafts;

To produce quality pandan handicrafts of different designs that are in demand and competitive to national as well as international market;

To acquire tools, equipments and other facilities necessary for the efficient production of quality pandan handicrafts;

To establish a display center/showroom in La Libertad for production promotion and marketing;

To link with other government agencies like the DTI, DOST, TESDA,DOLE as well as other non-government organization that shall contribute to the development of pandan handicrafts.

GOALS

To Enhance the skills of the weavers by conducting trainings on product designing, dyeing, bleaching, and other techniques to improve product quality.

To establish at least ten (10) hectares of pandan plantation at Barangay Mapalasan, Maragondong, Pangca, Cangabo, Mandapaton, Aniniaw, Solonggon, Talayong, Cantupa, Pisong, Martilo, Sanjose and Manghulyawon with the Technical Assistance of the LGU Municipal agriculture Office.

To submit project proposals to government agencies as well as Non-Government Organizations for possible funding assistance for the acquisition of tools, equipments and other facilities, as well as the povision of technical assistance.

To seek assistance from the Local Government Unit for the establishment of the display center/showroom.

To enhance alliance building with government agencies, NGOs to provide the necessary support for the sustainability of La Libertad Weavers’ Association and product development.

To integrate values education in the conduct of technical trainings to the weavers’ association

Rondalla

In 1800s Spain brought the rondalla in the Philippines. Rondalla is a traditional ensemble that became a part of philippine history and one of the most revived musical tradition practices of Filipinos. It is prominent in rural community by providing accompaniment to folk dancing and singing . The Philippine rondalla developed into an elaborate instrumental group. In addition to the bandurria, laud, and guitar of the Spanish rondalla, Filipinos added the octavina, bass, and optional instruments such as the piccolo bandurria, mandola, and various percussion instruments.

La Libertad is a local government unit and one of the many government and private institutions wants to pursue the unending quest of Filipino cultural heritage of plucked string ensembles which became the trademarks of the country. Mayor Jocelyn Limkaichong was the mother of La Libertad Children’s Rondalla, valuing the Filipino culture was one of her thrust in organizing the ensemble during her incumbency in February 2006. When rondalla ensemble became a valuable artistic medium in fostering the cultural identity of the town the awareness of the ensemble become widespread and many parents appreciated the project.


The achievements of La Libertad Children’s rondalla was a remarkable, six months after the group joined a major competition for the first time in the Buglasan 2006 Rondalla Junior Division. It was a dramatic victory, being the champion, they will represent the province in the 2nd International Rondalla Fiestival “Cuerdas sa Panaghiusa” which brought La Libertad on top in the aspect of culture and arts.

Brief History

The history of a nation is often interwoven with persons who in one way or another have been instrumental in its progress whether in political, education, economic social or to some extent in religious affairs. This is a brief history of La Libertad, a town 105 kilometers norht of Dumaguete city. Hugging closely to the coast of Tañon Strait, and nestling cozily in the wide fertile valley swept by the Hinobaan River lays La Libertad against a backdrop of a sylvan scenery. It bears a castellan name which connotes “freedom” and whose yester years are filled with tender memories. BARRIO HINOBA-AN DURING THE SPANISH REGIME The primitive tribes who were mostly Negritos then inhabited the place. Several enterprising families from neighboring towns and distant provinces came to settle in this barrio. Among the first pioneers was a certain Pedro Absin. He came from the distant province of Camarines Sur with the Spanish friars who spread the Christian religion to this part of Negros. He married lovely lass who later were baptized as Mauricia. This was the beginning of the large and progressive Francisco Acar Absin clan. The other families were the Facturans from Jimalalud, the Carinals from Tayasan and the de Paduas from Iloilo. These people were the leading pioneer families of the “old” Hinoba-an. Most of them were engaged in farming and fishing. The fertile valleys of Hinoba-an were so enticing that several families immigrated to this barrio in the later part of the Spanish period. One of the prominent families that moved in was the Liboon family. The head of this family was an Ilonggo. However, he did not come directly to Hinoba-an. A certain Maestro Tomas Liboon of Miag-ao, Iloilo, arrived at the barrio of Jimalalud where some families employed him as a private tutor. He was a widower when he came but he brought with him his only son, Luciano, and a niece, Romana Liboon. They lived in the barrio for several years. Later, Luciano was married to Bernabela Facturan, a native of the place. However, they were attracted by the richness of the soil of the neighboring barrio of Hino-baan. They bought a piece of land at the mouth of the Hino-baan River and built their first house there. Another family worthy of mention is the Banogon family. The head of the clan was Pio Banogon. Born on May 05, 1876 in Tanjay. Pio grew to be a promising young man. After he finished grade school, his parents sent him to Manila to study at San Juan de Letran for two years. When he returned home, his adventurous spirit moved him that he decided to go northward. In 1896, he resided at Jimalalud. It was in this barrio where he found his life’s mate, one Petra Sevilla, a scion of the Facturans of Jimalalud. Like the others, the Banogons were also magnetized by the richness of the farmland of Hino-baan. They bought some parcels of land at Canlaro in the barrio of San Jose and at Binatangan in Martilo. The other prominent families that moved to Hinoba-an were the Dionaldos from Moal-Moal, Cebu, the Somozas’ from Bais, the Emperados’ from Ayungon, and the Villaesters’ from Toledo, Cebu.

HOW IT GOT ITS NAME For then it was a typical barrio named Hinoba-an from the vernacular meaning an opening of a river under the political jurisdiction of the municipality of Tayasan. Like any other barrio, it was administered by Francisco Absin, Teniente del Barrio. To maintain peace and order, one Luciano Liboon was designated as Chief of Corps of Volunteers. The fumes of revolution permeated Hinoba-an. A certain Dionisio Papa organized a group of dissidents with hideouts at the mountain of the barrio. Some of his trusted men were Felix Betonga and his two sons, Cesario and Victor. This bunch of renegades took advantage of the fear which gripped the people over the involvement in the national struggle. These dissidents swooped down at Hinoba-an to pillage. They grouped themselves near the barrio hall which was situated in the place where Mr. Aniano Absin’s house now stands. Teniente Francisco called his trusted men like Alfonso Facturan, Luciano Liboon, Alejandro de Padua, Mateo Carinal and others. The last to come was Luciano Liboon. While crossing the bridge from North Poblacion on his favorite white horse, he saw the dissidents already assembled. Luciano drove them away single-handedly with his tooting gun. The fame of Luciano’s bravery in depending the barrio sounded through the length and breadth of the barrio and traveled far and wide in the neighboring places. He was enshrined in the hearts of the grateful barrio folks as their staunch defender. Prominent men like Pio Banogon suggested the words LA LIBERTAD as a fitting change of the name of the barrio to keep them and their posterity reminded of the freedom attained by the leader of the defenders of their lives and their property from the dissidents. This was how Hinoba-an got its present name LA LIBERTAD, the Land of the Free, although it was still a barrio of Tayasan. LA LIBERTAD IN RETROSPECT: Following President Woodrow Wilson’s liberal policy, new towns were formed. Pio Banogon together with Manabas, Vidals, Facturans and several others from Jimalalud requested the Civil Government of Manila to have Jimalalud separated from Tayasan as a town. Sometime between 1908 and 1912, Jimalalud, also a barrio of Tayasan, was officially organized into a municipality. Pio Banogon was appointed Presidente Municipal of the young town. After a while, Pio with his family left Jimalalud and moved to La Libertad. His brothet-in-law, Francisco Sevilla, succeeded him as Presidente of the municipality of Jimalalud. In a fitting ceremony, Governor Villanueva read the Resolution of the Junta Provincial in the presence of Presidente Francisco Sevilla of Jimalalud and the jubilant people of La Libertad. Thus, the Municipality of La Libertad was born on January 01, 1919. The Civil Government of the new town was immediately formed, Isaac Dionaldo was appointed the first Presidente of the town with Narciso Absin, son of Francisco, as the Vice-Presidente. GEOGRAPHY La Libertad is a fourth class municipality of Oriental Negros located in the northern part of the province. The town of Guihulngan in the north, Tañon Strait in the east, the municipality of Jimalalud in the south, and by the municipality of Binalbagan of Occidental Negros in the west bound it. The town is accessible by land transportation from the provincial capital, Dumaguete City that is 104.7 kilometers away.