Joseph Blas Traditional Woodcraft

The handicrafts project started in 1973  as a household enterprise making  wooden spoon and fork for display.   Joseph Blas used to sell his products along the road side of Banaue Hotel which is the only hotel in Banaue at that time and where tourists usually stay.  While selling, he met a German Anthropologist who encouraged him to make chessboard characters representing the Indigenous tribes.  The product caught the attention of the local trade industry and sponsored them to join a trade exhibit in 1983.  Then the handicraft industry started to gain more orders and in 1991, they were able to rent a store at the city proper where they displayed and sold their products, no longer on the road side.

  • Location: Poblacion Banaue, Ifugao
  • Type of business: Grass-root family led project
  • Products: Wood Carve antique finished
  • Number of workers:  (Male/Female ) 3/4

In year 2001, another good opportunity came when they met Fr. Shay Cullen at one of the trade exhibits in Manila.  PREDA bought some products from them and promoted them to their buyers and soon thereafter, their orders from PREDA were endless up to the point that they could not even meet their deadline.  The group is happy working with PREDA, who pays them with fair prices.