The local town of Santa Barbara, Iloilo is home to a unique trade, as women who previously struggled with leprosy have been dedicating their time and efforts into the craft of bobbin lace making.
Brought by Belgian missionary Sister Madeleine Dieryck into the town in the 1980s, the craft became a way for those affected by leprosy to produce an intricate handcrafted product, while serving as a therapeutic release for their holistic health. Since the craft required braiding threads using wooden bobbins, there would be no needles involved, making it not just possible, but accessible for leprosy patients to create a work of art.
This recreational activity eventually paved the way for Women United Through Handcrafted Lace and Embroidery (WUTHLE), a livelihood program for former patients of the Western Visayas Sanitarium. Since 1996, WUTHLE has offered leprosy survivors a chance for economic development and a renewed sense of dignity through bobbin lace making.
Women of WUTHLE having a bobbin lace making session
The women of WUTHLE create beautiful customized items of different colors, sizes, and designs like tablecloths, handkerchiefs, bags, dresses, and others, all of which go out to local and international clients. As of today, 15 of the 25 lacemaker artisans are leprosy survivors, continuing the tradition of lacemaking through this therapeutic means of livelihood.
And while the organization continues to preserve this unique craft, it also shows us the talent and perseverance of the women of Santa Barbara as they rise from adversity.
Visit the WUTHLE Facebook page to learn more about their activities.