Trese: There’s luck and then there’s community building
There was a time when social entrepreneurship translated to microfinance, which some grassroots communities could not penetrate. In the case of Gawad Kalinga (GK) Eagle Village in Payatas 13, one of the first GK sites (established 2003) in Quezon City, th
Trese, named after the GK site, aims to change the perception toward Payatas; from being a dumpsite to a spring of hope thriving with accommodating families and hardworking people. While most social enterprises remained short-term programs with seasonal production and limited retained earnings, Trese found a continuous source of income and discovered the role of dignified work in building not just houses, but a strong community as well.
Recognized for their Less for Self shirt (with Gawad Kalinga) and canvas bags with advocacy messages (with Human Nature), Trese considers itself as a service provider, customizing merchandise requests from clients. This includes anything that can be sewn and (silk screen) printed while encouraging the use of eco-friendly materials and positive messages.
To date, Trese has proudly produced over 100,000 items for corporations like Human Nature, non-profit organizations like Gawad Kalinga, schools such as Ateneo de Manila University, and other enterprises who commit to source local and contribute tangible impact on the ground.
Everyone in Payatas 13 is considered a stakeholder. While Trese employs mostly mothers and out-of-school youth to do sewing and printing, respectively, it strives to become a model of sustainable change in the area. The company funds the rehabilitation of shared infrastructure and facilities in the village, the residents’ continuous involvement in GK events, and community events such as fiestas and paskuhans.
Rather than focusing on production or the innovation of the product, the company is committed to provide continuous opportunities to people who need them most. It believes that clients/ consumers appreciate products more when they see and understand the sustainability mindset put into each item.
Despite the notion that small- scale enterprises are inefficient, unreliable and more costly, Trese strives to prove otherwise as it is motivated to grow for the people at the heart of its advocacy. At the core of everything it does is the firm belief that dignity of work must never be compromised for profit. With this, Trese has been blessed with countless partners.