'Sa Wakas', dokumentaryo ni Atom Araullo, ngayong Biyernes sa 'I-Witness'

I-WITNESS
"SA WAKAS", dokumentaryo ni Atom  Araullo
OCTOBER 9, 2020

 

This jewelry factory may be located in Wakas, Kawit, Cavite, but for its owners and craftsmen, it is never the end of the industry.

Santi and Sons is the oldest emblem jewelry factory in the Philippines. Surviving some of the greatest wars and revolutionaries in history, its foundations did not only withstand the chaos of these significant events, but also the near demise of the trade.

The establishment has been thriving for more than 100 years already giving birth to the finest artisans who are manually making hand-crafted badges, medals, pins, and most importantly, class rings.

Mick Santi, manager of Santi and Sons, shares that the industry is more than just a business. It is a tradition their family wants to preserve.

He reminisces their glory days as the most popular college ring maker. But modern technology emerged and the decline of the patronage to their products dimmed what was once their shining glory.

But for Ver, one of the oldest craftsmen in the factory, in order to continue the bloodline of craftsmanship, thus, not to terminate the tradition, the skill should be passed to younger generations--- to his 41-year-old son, Jeremiah. They are both designers of emblem jewelries.

The hand-crafted jewelries are made by almost 50 pairs of hands, all living in the same barangay-- Wakas.

The term “wakas” means end. And in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic, it seems that the name of the barangay mirrors the actual plight of the emblem trade.

Tagalog

Matatagpuan man ang pabrikang ito sa Wakas, Kawit, Cavite, ngunit para sa may-ari at mga artisano nito, hindi ito ang katapusan ng industriya.

Ang Santi and Sons ang pinakamatandang emblem jewelry factory sa Pilipinas. Saksi ito hindi lamang sa mga tanyag na digmaan at rebolusyonaryo sa kasaysayan ng bansa, kundi pati na rin sa paghihingalo ng naturang negosyo.

Mahigit 100 taon nang tumatakbo ang pabrika na nagsilang sa maituturing na pinakamahuhusay na artisano ng emblem jewelries. Gamit ang kanilang mga kamay, manu-mano nilang ginagawa ang tsapa, medalya, pins at ang pinakamaselan sa lahat, ang class rings.