Weaving prosperity and heritage: How microfinance empowers indigenous entrepreneurs

For Estrellita Godwino Tuan fondly called Jie - the rhythmic weaving of t'nalak cloth is more than art.

- 

Born and raised in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Jie belongs to the T'boli indigenous people, one of the Philippines' most culturally rich ethnic groups known for their intricate weaving traditions.

T'nalak is a sacred, traditional cloth woven from abaca fibers. For Jie, designing it is a prayer, a memory, and a promise to keep the spirit of her ancestors alive. Through her enterprise, Jie T'boli Design, Jie has turned her creative heritage into both a livelihood and a legacy — proving how cultural conservation and entrepreneurship can beautifully intertwine with the help of microfinance.

Jie’s journey began when her family relocated to Davao. While studying, she worked part-time at her mother's workplace, learning the art of combining colors and patterns, as well as how to design and craft t'nalak dresses. Though she did not imagine it then, this passion would later define her life's purpose.

After working overseas for five years, Jie returned home in 2016, determined to build something meaningful back home. She and her husband, Jomel, first considered opening a restaurant, but her heart pulled her back to her roots - to the handwoven fabrics and beadwork of her youth. That same year, with an initial capital of P150,000 and the support of her family, she founded Jie T'boli Design.