Abaca is a hard
natural fiber derived from the leaf stalks of a tropical plant of
the banana family. The abaca plant resembles the edible
banana but has narrower leaves and inedible fruits. They take
16 to 28 months to mature. The fibers are obtained from the
outer portions of the leaf stalk. Each fiber strand ranges
from 3 feet to 9 feet in length and is glossy, stiff, light in
weight, cream colored and resistant to salt water. The fiber
is chiefly used in the manufacture of high-quality marine and
industrial cordage. Ropes usually used by ships are made of
abaca. It is the strongest of all commercial plant fibers; 3
times as strong as cotton, twice as strong as sisal, and a little
stronger than true hemp.
After the fiber is
stripped from the leaves of the abaca plant, they are washed and
are sun-dried. The fibers are than combed and cut according
to the desired length and are glued one by one on the cardboard
forming the basic body. The wings are made of wire wrapped
with abaca fiber and are sewn strand by strand taking care that
they are finely sewn to conform to the high quality of
craftsmanship. Embellishments are then added according to the
design. The angels are painstakingly handmade by people in
the far-flung villages, mostly housewives. These housewives
can watch their children and tend their households while
supplementing their family incomes. It has generated
employment for villagers, and the company has been awarded
"Countryside Investor of the Year" as a result.