After losing her husband, Pinukpuk woman turns handicraft skills into hope for other women

FEATURE

PINUKPUK, Kalinga — Behind the hands teaching women how to turn simple strips of cloth into useful foot rags is Rubilyn Flores, a registered midwife, solo parent of four, and a woman who found purpose and strength through handicrafts after experiencing a personal loss.

Flores, of Cawagayan, Pinukpuk, served as one of the skilled trainers during the second day of the two-day Women’s Livelihood Enhancement Training conducted by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of Kalinga on August 13, 2026.

Held at the PSWDO Conference Hall in Bulanao, Tabuk City, the training focused on foot-rag making for 16 members of the Kalinga Association of Local Indigenous People (KALIPI) under the Female Welfare Program.

Following the previous day’s hands-on session on macramé bag making, the participants learned practical techniques in creating foot rags that could potentially become an additional source of income for their families.

Turning grief into something useful

For Flores, teaching the participants is more than simply sharing a livelihood skill. Handicrafts have also become part of her own journey in coping with the loss of her husband.

A registered midwife, Flores is also the president of the OFW Federation of Kalinga and the municipal president of Solo Parents in Pinukpuk. As a mother raising four children on her own, she understands the challenges of carrying family responsibilities while dealing with personal struggles.

“Solo parent nak gamin. Tapno haan nga sumrek ti negative thoughts. Ti scapegoats ko ket dagituy trainings,” Flores shared.

After her husband passed away, Flores turned to trainings and handicrafts to keep herself occupied and prevent negative thoughts from taking over.

Macramé and foot-rag making became her pastime and source of comfort, helping her cope with the pain of losing her husband while remaining productive for her children.

What started as a way to keep her mind occupied eventually became something more.

From pastime to livelihood

Over time, Flores' passion for handicrafts became a source of additional income.

Through the macramé bags and foot rags she makes, she helps provide for the personal and daily needs of her four children. A skill that initially served as an outlet during a difficult period eventually became a practical means of helping sustain her family.

Now, she is passing that knowledge on to other women.

As a trainer during the PSWDO livelihood activity, Flores guided the 16 KALIPI members in learning foot-rag making, sharing the practical techniques and experience she has gained through years of working with handicrafts.

For the participants, the training offers an opportunity to learn a skill that could potentially be turned into additional income. For Flores, it is also an opportunity to demonstrate how even a simple skill can become valuable during life's difficult moments.

Her story reflects the deeper purpose of livelihood programs—not only to teach women how to make products, but also to help them discover skills that can provide confidence, purpose, and opportunities for self-reliance.

From a grieving wife who found comfort in keeping her hands busy, Flores has become a trainer helping other women discover what their own hands can create.

With every strip of cloth she weaves and every technique she teaches, Flores continues to turn her experience into a lesson in resilience—showing that even after loss, there are still ways to rebuild, provide, help others, and move forward.