#SerbisyoBandera: Old military uniforms may bagong misyon, bida na sa fashion

PHOTO: Curtesy of Sean Jimenez

ISANG makulay at makahulugang proyekto ang inilunsad ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Bayo Manila Foundation, Inc.

Ito ang “Weave for Peace” project na isang espesyal na kolaborasyon na hindi lang basta fashion statement, ito’y isang hakbang tungo sa mas maliwanag na kinabukasan para sa mga pamilya ng sundalo at retiradong kasapi ng AFP.

Present ang BANDERA sa naging launching event ng nasabing inisyatibo at ito ay pinangunahan nina AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr., kasamai ang presidente ng Bayo Manila Foundation, Inc. na si Ms. Anna Lagon, pati ang kanyang mister na CEO rin ng kumpanya na si Mr. Leo Lagon.

Ayon kay Ms. Lagon, hindi lang basta pagsasalba ng lumang uniporme ang layunin ng proyekto dahil ito’y isang upcycling revolution! 

Baka Bet Mo: Geneva certified member na ng Philippine Air Force: Sergeant Cruz, ready to serve and protect!

“This initiative is a meaningful partnership between the BAYO Foundation and AFP, this is rooted in a shared commitment to honor, support and uplift the families of those who serve our nation. More than just an initiative, this provides solutions for the life cycle of military uniforms –recycling and repurposing them, to continue serving the purpose beyond active duty,” sey niya.

Binigyang-diin naman ni Gen. Brawner ang kahalagahan ng military uniforms at kung paano ito madalas na ginagamit ng mga sibilyan nang walang wastong pagpapahalaga. 

“Our uniforms are actually very sacred to us, and we just not throw them in the garbage when we don’t need them anymore,” sambit ng heneral.

Kwento niya, “[But] we found out that our uniforms are the favorite of tricycle drivers. They would wear the upper garment. Okay lang samin if they will wear it properly, but they will reverse it to protect them from the wind, from rains, etc., so we gave an order to our soldiers not to throw or dispose of the uniforms in the garbage.”

Patuloy na chika pa niya, “Sometimes they would give it [also] to their relatives, so sabi namin, bawal, you cannot do that. If you want to dispose of your uniforms, either burn them or keep them, but don’t give them to the civilians.”

“So this is a very good idea, a very good initiative in which our old uniforms transform into yarn/threads that can be used for weaving,” aniya pa.

During the event, nakachikahan namin ang sikat na fashion designer na si Francis Libiran

Para sa kanya, ang pagsali sa Weave for Peace Project ay isang paraan upang tugunan ang problema ng fashion waste. 

“Being in the fashion industry, we see a lot of waste, like the retasos and everything, and it all goes to waste. But with BAYO Foundation, we were able to save, sustain the small retasos into other fabrics to use. So it’s really a good cause,” sambit niya nang ma-interview ng BANDERA.

Nakausap din namin ang Bayo co-CEO na si Mr. Leo na ang sabi niya samin, ang proyektong ito ay higit pa sa negosyo dahil ito ay isang simbolo ng kapayapaan at pagkakaisa.

Saad niya sa amin, “This is the time to give back, to give back to communities because we always believe when we empower the communities, we empower the nation. That’s our small little way of helping the country…what we are doing is we are doing our share in small maybe but we are trying to draw inspiration that other people might be the same.”

“So imagine if there are a lot of people doing the same thing then who will be empowered,” ani pa ng CEO.

Dahil sa Weave for Peace Project, ang lumang uniporme ng sundalo ay nagiging isang simbolo ng bagong pag-asa, pagkakaisa, at kapayapaan. 

Hindi lang ito simpleng tela, kundi isang piraso ng kasaysayan at isang hinabing pangarap para sa mas magandang bukas!