From Dreams to Hope: How ReCASC’s Pira-pirasong Pangarap Continues to Inspire Through Upcycled Fabric Rugs

What others saw as scraps were transformed into upcycled doormats and potholders. The Rotary E-Club of All Star Camanava (ReCASC) showcased not only creativity, craftsmanship, and community spirit, but also the continuing impact of its award-winning service project, Pira-pirasong Pangarap, during the historic Service Project Expo launched by Rotary District 3800 at Mega Trade Hall 2, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on August 24, 2025.

A Milestone for Service

Rotary Year 2025–2026 marked a milestone for District 3800 with the launch of its inaugural Service Project Expo. For ReCASC, however, the event became more than just an exhibit of projects and products. It highlighted the sustainability of a service initiative that created threads of hope not only within a community in Barangay Wawa, Navotas, but also among the club members who dedicated their time, skills, and hearts to the project.

During the expo, the club, led by Unite for Good President Cristina Chua, chose to feature Pira-pirasong Pangarap, a service project that was officially implemented on October 13, 2024. Club members conducted live demonstrations on how to create doormats and potholders using recycled fabric scraps. The finished products were displayed for sale during the event, and all of which were eventually purchased by fellow Rotarians and guests who visited the club’s booth.

Turning Skills into Service

One of Rotary’s goals is to encourage its members to use their skills and expertise to create significant change in communities and uplift them, especially in the area of economic development. ReCASC embraced this vision. Through club member Rotarian Sheryll Rodriga, a fiber arts enthusiast, ReCASC was inspired to learn the craft, master it, and eventually share it with their adopted community, with hopes of reaching more communities in the future.

Pira-pirasong Pangarap was launched to provide skills training and livelihood opportunities to residents of Barangay Wawa, Navotas, particularly mothers in the community. During its initial implementation, ReCASC, together with the Interact Club of Philippine Malabon Cultural Institute, Inc. (PMCI), gathered ten women from different age groups and introduced them to the nitty-gritty of making doormats and potholders.

Through the project, participants learned how to weave discarded fabric scraps, commonly known in Tagalog as retaso, into upcycled yet functional household items that they could later sell for additional income. Beyond teaching a practical skill, the initiative also promoted environmental awareness by showing and educating the residents how recyclable materials can be transformed into valuable and purposeful handcrafted products.

More Than Livelihood

One beneficiary who is a senior citizen shared how the project became more than just a source of livelihood for her.

“Sa katulad ko, senior citizen ako, malaking bagay ito kasi pagka ganiyang senior parang nagkakaroon ka na ng insecurities sa sarili mo, wala ka nang pakinabang. Bukod sa libangan, ’yung nagkakaroon na tayo ng sakit na makakalimutin, makakatulong din ito para tumalas ang ating isipan. At saka nalilibang ka na, kumikita ka pa.” [For someone like me, a senior citizen, this means a lot because when you reach this stage in life, you sometimes begin to feel insecure about yourself, as if you are no longer useful. Aside from serving as a hobby, especially as we begin to experience forgetfulness, this also helps keep our minds sharp. And on top of that, it keeps you engaged while allowing you to earn an income as well.]

Her reflection captured the deeper impact of Pira-pirasong Pangarap beyond the economic value of learning and applying the craft. More than creating handcrafted products, the project gave the beneficiaries a renewed sense of confidence, purpose, and productivity while fostering creativity and strengthening community connection.

The service project did not just focus on Community Economic Development but also reflected Rotary’s commitment to supporting the environment through sustainable ways of reducing waste and protecting the Earth.

An Award-Winning Project

With the notable impact it created within the adopted community of Barangay Wawa, the project’s video documentation was adjudged First Place in the 2024 Service Project Video Contest organized by Rotary District 3800. This further recognized the club’s efforts to combine livelihood, sustainability, and community growth into one meaningful program.

Continuing Dreams and Hopes

With the inauguration of the Service Project Expo, the club found another opportunity to sustain and expand the project’s impact. The event sparked the idea of continuously showcasing and selling products made by adopted communities during future expos, allowing the initiative to become not only a livelihood program but also a platform for ongoing support and assistance.

For ReCASC, Pira-pirasong Pangarap was never simply about the process of weaving something out of scraps of fabric. For the club, it became a tool for creating opportunities, restoring self-worth, and transforming threads of dreams into tangible sources of abundance for communities.

Written by: Rtn. Rhoda O. Dasalla and PP Jemuel A. Pilapil, Rotary E-Club of All Star CAMANAVA