BAGUIO CITY – SM City Baguio and other stakeholders in the city paid tribute to Narda Olat-Capuyan, who was one of the adjudged Women Icon of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), during fitting and meaningful rites at the SM Atrium Tuesday afternoon.
The event was attended by Narda’s husband Wilson Capuyan and children Bernard Capuyan and Lucia Capuyan-Catanes, together with their grandchildren, family members and relatives aside from those who knew and admired her work as a rural health nurse turned world-renowned weaver.
Former Councilor Edilberto C. Tenefrancia described Narda Capuyan as passionate of her job, innovative, humble and workaholic to make known to the world the rich and unique weaving industry of the Cordillera.
For her part, Estela de Guia, a former Board of Director of the Baguio-Mountain Province Museum, said Narda Capuyan will always be in the heart of weaving industry enthusiasts because of her notable contributions in bringing to the international scene traditional handwoven products, arts and crafts that got the attention of foreigners.
Former Presidential Assistant and well-respected urban planner Joseph Alabanza said that Narda Capuyan always made light moments of her difficult times which allowed her to earn the respect of people and to love her works.
Luz Lani Delovino, SM City Baguio assistant mall manager, said that the tribute to Narda Capuyan is the management’s way of honouring her for her numerous achievements both in the local and international scene and to serve as an inspiration for women to strive hard and excel in their chosen fields of expertise.
On behalf of the Capuyan family, Lucia Capuyan-Catanes expressed her gratitude to all those who supported the successful conduct of the tribute to her mother and she hoped for the best for everyone as they chart another chapter in the history of the weaving industry in the region.
Narda Olat-Capuyan, who hails from Besao, Mountain Province, was gifted with hand knitting talent which she used to encourage women in the barrios to weave to keep them busy and prevent them from further making babies that may compromise their health and limit their self-development. She was then a family planning nurse but opted to pursue weaving, which is a traditional skill, and was able to convince women to be productive and helped her gain international recognition for her handy and quality works.
Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts was a project of the spouses Narda and Wilson Capuyan that started in 1970 in the capital town of La Trinidad, Benguet weaving blankets from recycled acrylic yarns. Through a series of experiments, Narda was able to revive the Cordillera “ikat” tradition in designing and dyeing threads in vibrant colors to suit contemporary taste. “Ikat” is a very old tradition of tying and dyeing segments of threads before actual weaving.
What makes her an exceptional one in the trade is that her million-peso business started from her hand knitting hobby several decades ago, knitting sweaters for relatives and friends.
As a practicing nurse, she found plenty of spare time and decided to make productive her time to earn additional income. When the demand for sweaters and blankets from friends and relatives increased, Ms.Capuyan enlisted her neighbors’ wives.
Later, the small circle of wives were swamped with more demands from costumers. As her business grew, she decided to expand to weaving Igorot blankets which was becoming popular with the natives whose income were improving due to the profitable vegetable business in La Trinidad, Benguet.
In 1975, the couple suffered financial reverses in their business when they were reportedly swindled by a syndicate passing fake stolen dollar checks in the amount of P250,000. In spite of the unfortunate turn of events, they were able to nurse the venture back to its feet. In 1979, the couple again requested for financial assistance from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Baguio branch in the amount of P106,900. That year saw their sales skyrocket to around P1.3 million.
The business continued to flourish and as a crowning glory to the couple’s painstaking effort to succeed in their venture, it consistently received awards through the years.
Narda’s new style of “ikat” in placemats, shawls, and bags became a hit to foreign buyers.
Neiman Marcus, Lord and Taylor, Marshal Fields in the United States, and Hudson’s Bay in Canada were some of the initial buyers of Narda’s products.
The highlight the innovative direction that her work took garnered for Narda’s in 1982 the Golden Shell Award, the most prestigious award given by the Ministry of Trade for excellence and exports and for reviving a dying indigenous art.
Narda’s was able to reap many other awards but the more significant among them was the Outstanding Countryside Investor Award presented to Ms.Capuyan by no less than President Corazon C. Aquino in 1989.
Furthermore, the Philippine Marketing Association also recognized Narda’s very forward, and uncomplicated network open for the indigenous entrepreneur and propelling the country’s export industry to better heights and for this, the group awarded her the Agora Award.
In 1999, NardaCapuyan was selected as one of the 100 Women of the Philippines who have excelled in their work and significantly contributed to national development.
Capuyan was one of the four popular Filipino businessmen adjudged winners in their respective categories in the recently-concluded Ernst and Young (EY) Entrepreneurship Awards held in Metro Manila last October 13, 2013. She won the Small Business Entrepreneur Award of the Year.
