Handcrafted items made from discarded seashells are a trademark of Ubay town in the Province of Bohol. It is the only town in Bohol that has invigorated the industry.

An industrial engineer has accepted the challenge of carrying on the tradition so the handcrafted shell industry would continue to thrive for tens of thousands of generations after us. 

Engr. Riche Cutamora Ibale, proprietor, mounted a workshop in 2019 where residents get to earn a living by crafting decors, keychains, ornaments, playthings, embellishments, and other stuff upcycled from empty seashells.

About five tons of seashells monthly are taken to the workshop in Barangay Tapal for sorting, washing and cleaning, drying, designing, and packing.

The seashells add more life and aesthetic value to various items.

Engr. Ibale also said that because the handcrafted items are “Tatak Bol-anon” (a brand of the Bol-anon craftsmanship) he sees the industry to be a fine legacy.

“Akong mindset is lumalabay lang gyud ta sa kalibutan, mawala ra gyud ta, kining tanan natong gipaningkamotan mawala ra gyud ni. Kini akong gibuhat nga at least duna koy legasiya nga mabilin sa katawhan,” Engr. Ibale said. 

(via Leo Udtohan/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)