Yes, abaca is a very good intercrop to rainforest. And best livelihood alternative for forest-land owners too.

Love at first meeting

"I will show to them that abaca is better than gold," he confidently said.

With less than 15 seedlings, Ruel Gabo started to plant abaca since the summer of 2005. After eight years of patience and diligence, it doubled and tripled to 700 trees and enabling him to plant his other farms nearby.

Mang Ruel got fascinated on abaca farming during a seminar conducted by the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) through its Provincial Fiber Officer Mr. Rey Mangaccat. He was then persistent to know more about abaca processing like a bachelor who fell in love with a lovely lady on their first meeting.

"Nagpasalamat nga ako kay sir Rey at dinala niya rito ang abaca na magandang pagkakitaan (I am thankful to Sir Rey for bringing the abaca which is a good source of income)," shared Mang Ruel.

Hoping that the abaca plant is the answer to their quest for progress, Mang Ruel asked for assistance from their local government unit. "Gumawa ako ng resolution kay mayor, nagrequest ako ng 3000 na puno para sa 60 na tao para tig-50 na puno ang bawat tao. (I drafted a resolution for the mayor requesting 3000 seedlings for 60 persons so that each of us will have 50 seedlings)," he shared. The 65-year old Gabo was then a member of their barangay council during that time.

He encouraged his colleagues to plant and grow abaca, but he was met with opposition. He even remembered someone who said that it was just a kalokohan (non-sense/ foolishness). There are a few though who accepted his proposal.

The 3000 seedlings he requested were delivered at his door but unexpectedly most of the plants were damaged due to the long travel in a rugged road from Brookes Point to Roxas. With optimism, he still distributed 50 seedlings to those who were willing to grow the plant. Only 15 trees were left for him.

"Tinayuan ko talaga ang sinabi nila na ang abaca ay walang kwenta. Gusto ko talagang ipakita na ang abaca ay maganda.(I had strongly opposed when they say that abaca is worthless. I really want to show that abaca is good)," said Mang Ruel.

Surprisingly or not, he shared that some people are not interested on abaca farming because of their gold mining activities.

"Ang barangay namin pinakamayaman dahil may gintuan ang mga tao, kaya mahirap kumbinsihin. Pero ipapakita ko sa kanila na mas mahalaga sa ginto ang abaca. Bigyan lang ako ng Panginoon na umaabot ako ng 75 ipapakita ko sa kanila na masa maganda ang abaca. Kasi ang lupa nasisira (sa pagmimina), pero ang abaca hindi nakasisira ng lupa. Kapag ang lupa nila naubos na ang ginto, habang buhay yung lupa nila wala ng pakinabang. (Our barangay is the richest because people here have gold mine, that’s why they were hard to convince. Nevertheless, I will show to them that abaca is more important than gold. Because the soil can be destroyed [on mining], but the abaca will not destroy the soil. When the gold on their lands were gone, their soil will be forever worthless)," he passionately shared.

Now, he surely said that he owns one of the largest abaca farms in their neighbourhood. Last December 2012, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Roxas, paid Mang Ruel with P14,000 as a reward for his abaca farm. As part of the program of the LGU to promote abaca, the government is paying farmers for every abaca tree planted in their farm.

Not trained but skilled

Reviewing his old blue logbook, Mang Ruel recalls the first time he cut an abaca on the 10th of October 2006. "After 18 months, nagsimula na ako magputol. Pinag-aralan ko kung paano kumita sa abaca (After 18 months, I started to cut down my abaca. I studied how to generate income from abaca)." He was able to sell the fibers in Puerto Princesa. After several harvesting, he was able to produce his first own product-- a soft broom.

Mang Ruel is using the FIDA-designed Improved Hand Stripping Device to detaching the fibers from abaca sheath. He received four units of stripping device from FIDA; one is located on their back yard while the other units can be found right on his farms. Through these machines, he can easily strip his produce right after the tumbling (cutting) and tuxying activities.

Based on his data logbook, an average of one kilo of fiber can be harvested in three abaca trees.
Later on, he started to make soft brooms, doormats, baskets, pan supporters, dusters, ropes and other fibercrafts. Mang Ruel has no formal training on handicraft making. His creations are just product of his imagination. “Kapag nakahiga ako mag-iisip ako kung anong magandang gagawin, tapos saka ko susubukan at dadalhin sa Puerto Princesa. At kapag nagustuhan nila, eh di mayroon na akong kita. (When I'm resting, I'm thinking of an attractive product to develop, then I'll try to do it and bring it to Puerto Princesa. And if they liked the product, I will have an income), he proudly said.

He sells abaca crafts to local native product stores in in Palawan’s capital Puerto Princesa City. He also accepts made to order handicrafts from his customers.

"Yung stripper [sa likod ng bahay] ay malaking tulong dahil sa dalawang araw makakakuha na ako ng pambili ng isang salop na bigas. Hindi pa namin mauubos yun. Kaya sa abaca, hindi ko na kailangan [mangutang] sa microfinance. (The stripper at the back of our house is a big help to us because in just two-days of stripping, I can now buy one salop of rice. We cannot even consume it. So in abaca, I don’t need to borrow money in microfinance)," he shared.

Mang Ruel envisions to having his own processing center. At the moment, he has a poster outside their house advertising that he is buying abaca fiber.

Because of his passion on abaca, he had been invited to talk in seminars on abaca processing conducted by their LGU, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Palawan State University, among others.

Today, the old man is happy to see his efforts through the formation of the Maharlika- Little Caramay Abaca Growers Association. Their first project is a nursery for the reproduction of abaca seedlings. Even so, Mang Ruel still continues to motivate his 26 members. With the aid of the back pages of their old calendar and a marker, he explains how to earn money from abaca using his own data generated through experience.

Hopeful farmers

A group of farmers in Roxas, Palawan is also hoping that abaca will lift their community from poverty. They are hoping that this crop is their best option rather than gold mining. They are the members of the Little Caramay Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative who were formally organized last year.

Some of the members admitted that they had been one of the recipients of the abaca seedlings in 2005. However, after planting, only few of them harvested their crop because they had difficulty looking for buyers.

But now that they are organized, the FIDA through Mr. Mangaccat can now easily link them to potential markets and other fiber processors in Palawan.

"Nagsisimula pa lang po kami. Naencourage lang po kami dahil sa trainings and seminar. At nakita po namin may maganda itong dulot sa amin. Nang sabihan kami ni Sir Rey na magkakaroon kami ng training on handicraft, doon na talaga kami tumutok (We are just starting. We were encouraged through the trainings and seminars that we had attended. And we see that it will beneficial to us. And when Sir Rey told us that there will be training on handicraft making, that’s the time we gave our focus on it)," member Joel Matin shared.

"Pinag-aaralan ko kung ano mas maganda at makabubuti sa pangkabuhayan namin. Ang abaca bilang magandang intercrop, sa halip na damo ang tumutubo kapag abaca ang nakatanim may mapagkunan kami. Isa po ako sa nangunguna na mapalawak ang produksiyon. (I studied what is the best for our livelihood. The abaca plant is very good for intercrop, instead of the grasses thriving it’s better to plant abaca so that we will have a source of income. I am one of the frontrunners to increase the abaca production," he added. Joel Matin is one of the respected and trusted leaders in their community.

Unlike few years ago, their problem now is the scarcity in seedlings because everyone wants to plant abaca. Just last year, members of the cooperative had undergone the Farmers Field School on abaca farming.
At present, there are now about five hectares of abaca thriving in the forestry and planted between calamansi, banana, and coconut trees.

Because of their renewed enthusiasm in abaca, FIDA provided them a Mobile Spindle Stripping Machine and abaca fiber dryer. Training on the operation and maintenance of the said facilities was also conducted by FIDA.

Member Rosalinda Delgua had already experienced the efficiency of the stripping machine last year. She harvested the 198 kilogram of fiber among her 500 grown trees.

While the others are waiting for the maturity of their plant, FIDA Palawan is organizing training on handicraft making and other fiber processing technologies.
"Napakaganda naman po kasi talaga [ng abaca]. Nakikita ko po ang future nito na hindi lamang kami ang makikinabang dito bagkus ang buong komunidad po. (The abaca is excellent. I can see in the future that even the community will be benefited," Mr. Matin affirmed.

Sustainable Livelihood

Ten years from now, with his passion and dedication in abaca farming it’s not impossible for Mang Ruel to achieve his vision-"a progressive abaca industry in their community. Sooner or later, with the optimism of the members of the Little Caramay Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, farmers will now dig the soil not for gold but to plant more abaca.

At present, these farmers are just like the abaca fibers that underwent tuxying, stripping and drying stages to harness their best outlook in life. Later on, they will weave to form a strong fibercraft that will protect the rich-biodiversity of Palawan.