How Cedie Vargas, Marimel Francisco, Maritess Pineda, Suzie Quiros, and Mita Rufino found their ikigai
The Japanese call it ikigai. It means finding joy and purpose in life, through a combination of passion, talent, and contribution to the world.
Some people find joy by joining book clubs, ikebana clubs, cooking clubs or even mahjong clubs.(Yes, mahjong sharpens your mind, develops better cognitive and psychological abilities.)
But five ladies—Cedie Lopez Vargas, Marimel Francisco, Maritess Pineda, Suzie Quiros, and Mita Rufino—found their ikigai when they formed ArteFino eight years ago.
“ArteFino champions Filipino craftsmanship and heritage by providing a platform for local designers, artisans, social enterprises, and sustainable brands and stores,” explains Cedie.
“Yes, ArteFino has evolved into a cultural movement that aims to promote a Filipino lifestyle and uplift Filipino craftsmanship,” adds Cedie.
These five ladies have it all and don’t need to prove anything else outside their careers. Because they have found joy and purpose in ArteFino where they have been touched by what they’ve experienced.
Every artisan who joins ArteFino has a story to tell.
On a road trip to Maribojoc in Bohol, the ArteFino ladies had a heartwarming experience. A group of river tour guides let them see fireflies during a kayaking tour that lit a flicker in their souls. This group that formed Nova Project recycled/upcycled the materials from their decommissioned inflatable kayaks, making them into bags and wallets.
Cedie explains that this Nova Project group won their HeArteFino Award this year, earning for them the P500,000 prize as seed money to boost their sustainable project and help their community.
Mita narrates that one time, the ArteFino group went to Argao, Cebu to visit women who were weaving products that were displayed and sold at ArteFino. “One woman said that she was able to send her children to school and could now buy a television set,” says Mita.
Maritess was impressed with how participant Zarah Juan elevates Filipino products by studying new techniques. “She went to Jakarta to learn the organic process of using leaves, flowers, barks and stems to create prints directly on fabrics. The result of this technology of eco-printing? One-of-a-kind patterns,” explains Maritess.
Suzie proudly tells about how the artisans behind Lakat, another HeArteFino grantee, have come a long way from weaving to using wider looms for the materials for making their sneakers. “These are my favorite sneakers now,” Suzie says.
Marimel exclaims: “ArteFino is my passion project—it doesn’t feel like work at all! I feel incredibly fortunate to be doing something that does not only bring me joy—but also allows me to work closely with communities that inspire me.” One of Marimel’s favorite discoveries is a beautifully beaded jacket from the first HeArteFino collaboration with Zarah Juan and the Bagobo Tagabawa indigenous community in Davao.
Whenever I sit down with the ArteFino ladies, I sense the sparkle in their souls. Their joy is contagious.
