Woven Paths

In the peaceful mountains of Talipan, Aninuan in Puerto Galera, Narda Dellova works with steady hands. At 38, her fingers move with the grace of decades of tradition, artistry, and purpose. Each weave reflects the life she has built, the challenges she has overcome, and the dreams she continues to chase.

Narda’s story begins far from the bustling towns and busy streets. She is a proud member of the Iraya Mangyan, one of the eight Mangyan ethnolinguistic groups native to Mindoro Island. They are skilled in traditional crafts, particularly basket weaving using nito vines and buri palm leaves. Their weaves, rich in symbolism and beauty, are more than just objects; they are cultural expressions passed down through generations.

Born into a humble family where farming is their way of living, Narda spent her early years surrounded by rows of rice paddies, vegetables, and the simplicity of mountain life. “We grew what we needed. My parents worked the land, and we sold what we could in our community,” she shares.

But when the time came for her family to leave the highlands and settle closer to the town, something new was planted in Narda’s heart—a seed of creativity nurtured by her mother’s hands.

“My mother began weaving baskets made from buri palm and nito vines. At the age of 10, she learned the craft with natural ease, absorbing not just the technique, but the heritage embedded in each loop and knot,” Narda recalled

Despite her passion for learning, financial hardships forced Narda to put her dreams of formal education on hold. Instead, she devoted herself to weaving and helping her parents to support the family’s needs.

Now, Narda has her own family, with a husband who works as a construction worker and a daughter studying at Mangyan Elementary School. She stands at the heart of her family’s livelihood, weaving not just baskets, but a better future.

Each of Narda’s handmade creations made with nito vines and buri palm leaves, such as flowerpot holders, fruit trays, jewelry boxes, coasters, organizers, earrings, and more, tells a story. The materials, gathered from the mountains or collected with help from neighbors, are transformed over days, weeks, and even months into intricate pieces of functional art. “Every item is a piece of my effort, my culture, my hope,” she said.

But her journey took a transformative turn in 2013, when CARD staff visited her community. Introduced to the products and services of CARD Bank, a microfinance-oriented rural bank, Narda saw an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. With a starting loan of PHP 4,000 and eventually growing up to PHP 32,000, she was able to invest in her weaving and meet her family’s needs.

“Being a client of CARD Bank has helped me in many ways, especially when we had nothing and I needed capital to continue my work,” she shares.

Her involvement didn’t end with financial support. Through CARD MRI Hijos Tours, a tour company under CARD MRI, Narda became a part of the Home Stay Tour program launched in June 2025 in Puerto Galera. Her crafts, along with the works of fellow Iraya Mangyan weavers, now take center stage at Bahay Tabudan, a traditional weaving house at the Mangyan Village in Aninuan, Puerto Galera. Here, the participants and visitors not only buy crafts. They can also witness the magic of weaving through live demonstrations.

“I’m happy to teach others about our craft. Through Hijos Tours, more people now understand and appreciate our culture and skills,” she says.

As she weaves, her eyes are set on the future, particularly on her daughter, who is now the same age she was when she first learned the craft. “I told her that, aside from education, weaving is a gift I want to pass on. I have started teaching her already,” Narda smiles.

She hopes that one day, their Mangyan-made products will reach a broader market, touching hearts beyond their island home. And with every fiber, every weave, every story shared, Narda Dellova proves that no dream is too far when it is stitched with passion, purpose, and pride.