In May 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Joel Lopez, an accomplished florist and handicraft designer, wanted to help his neighbors in Barangay San Isidro, Montalban, Rizal. Many residents had lost their jobs due to the lockdown. Already selling plants online to quarantined customers who were indulging in their newfound love for plants, Lopez saw an opportunity.
He began by teaching the men in the community how to create plant vases using recycled materials such as plastic water gallons and discarded electric fan casings. He then bought their creations and sold them online.
“I sold my plants grown from my home and offered the vases as well,” he explains.
As restrictions eased and the men found work again, their wives sought help. Seeing the chance for them to earn a livelihood at home, he provided them raw materials and instruction, guiding them in transforming everyday discards—styrofoam, corn husks, abaca fibers, pineapple leaves, eggshells and even tree bark—into beautiful decorative items such as berries, flowers and ornaments. He then purchased their creations and resold them.
Lifeline
This initiative, aptly named Bulig Livelihood (bulig means “help” in Filipino), proved to be a lifeline for these families. The income generated provided much-needed food and allowance for their children. The project received a welcome boost when the Department of Labor and Employment donated essential materials. The glues, plant tapes, etc. were facilitated by Sen. Loren Legarda, a staunch advocate for recycling and sustainability.
Bulig Livelihood has since blossomed from its grassroots beginnings. The project’s reach has expanded to encompass four barangays in Montalban.
Caterer and lifestyle influencer Trish Panlilio joined the cause, promoting the project’s handcrafted products. Her Makati restaurant, nawwTy’s Kitchen, will soon host floral arrangement workshops conducted by Bukad, a Dangwa-based flower shop cofounded by Lopez, Sonny Borden and Michael Colagong. The proceeds from these workshops will be channeled back into Bulig Livelihood, creating a sustainable cycle of support.
Passion for flowers
Lopez’s passion for flowers stems from his family history. His father, Angel, was a celebrated florist in Dubai, creating arrangements for weddings and special events. Though initially hesitant to follow in his father’s footsteps, believing floristry to be a feminine profession, the younger Lopez eventually embraced his creative side. After marrying, he sought his father’s guidance to learn the craft, to work abroad.
Despite Lopez pursuing a degree in marine engineering, fate had other plans. He found himself working as a waiter and bartender. However, his creative spirit couldn’t be contained. During his free time, he transformed discarded Coke and beer cans into beautiful flowers. His talent caught the eye of a customer from an export company who recognized Lopez’s potential and offered him a position as a handicraft designer for a Hong Kong-based company.
This marked the beginning of a successful decadelong career at Caffco International, where Lopez honed his skills in designing silk flowers and Christmas decorations. Coming home in 2010, he lent his expertise to event styling for Kai restaurant’s catering services and freelanced as a stylist and florist for affluent clients.
In 2022, Lopez joined forces with his talented partners to establish Bukad. Borden is a veteran handicraft designer and sample maker himself. Colagong is a floral designer who has worked in the Middle East.
“Our design philosophy is to create extraordinary floral arrangements that cater to different budgets,” explains Lopez in Tagalog. “We combine unique finds sourced from the provinces, alongside handcrafted vases made by our staff and the artisans of the Bulig Livelihood project.”
Bulig Livelihood is a story of how everyday discards can be transformed into beautiful objects, not just for decoration, but also to empower lives. —Contributed
Bulig Livelihood is at Phase 2 Lot 2 Block 24 Centella Homes, San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal; contact Genevieve Dulin Lopez at 0926-2100033/0965-1532619. For inquiries on future workshops and collaborations, contact @nawwtyskitchen on Instagram; 0918-9987474 and 0906-2176497 on Whatsapp and Telegram; 0998-4076864 on Viber.
