Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

PHOTO ESSAY: How bamboo coinbank making helps a family save

Article (news)

Maria Virginia Sy

How bamboo coinbank making helps a family save

Colorful bamboo coin banks are displayed near the entrance of the Monasterio de Tarlac where passersby can purchase them.

Melvin Ryan  Fetalvero

Melegrito Gusto Jr., 38, carefully inspects each piece of buho (bamboo)  before turning it into a handcrafted coin bank. His detailed process  ensures that every tube meets his standards for durability and quality.

Gusto carries rough cuts of buho down the mountain, navigating the steep  and slippery path. It is tiring work, but he must transport the bamboo  home to begin the preparation process.

Each pole of buho is cut to the correct length, ensuring uniformity.  Sawdust scatters as he works, highlighting the manual effort that goes  into every coin bank.

The cut bamboo segments are washed to remove dirt and sawdust, ensuring the material is clean before the next steps. Cleaning the surface prepares the bamboo for drying and easier handling. Jose Mari Canasa, PCP

Melegrito then assembles the handle onto the bamboo, attaching it carefully to ensure a secure fit. This step properly positions the handle, providing both functionality and ease of use. Jose Mari Canasa, PCP

Varnish is applied to the bamboo for protection and decoration. It shields the bamboo from moisture, insects, and everyday wear and tear while enhancing its natural strength. Jose Mari Canasa, PCP

After the varnish dries, Rosabel Gusto, 32, gathers the bamboo pieces for designing. She wears a mask to shield herself from the strong, pungent odor. Jose Mari Canasa, PCP

With her tools spread around her, Rosabel works with steady hands and unwavering focus to decorate the handcrafted coin banks. Jose Mari Canasa, PCP

Details are added to an almost-finished Spider-Man design. The red mask and web lines are nearly complete, bringing the artwork to life. Jose Mari Canasa, PCP

The finished bamboo coin banks are displayed in front of the Gusto residence, set out carefully for drying. Each piece showcases the detailed craftsmanship that went into its design. Jose Mari Canasa, PCP

Unfinished bamboo coin banks dry in the sun while the couple's son, Jayron S. Gusto, 11, plays kadang-kadang. Bamboo’s natural versatility and sturdiness make it ideal not only for crafting coin banks but also for creating traditional stilts. Jose Mari Canasa, PCP

Located in the mountains of San Jose, Tarlac, is Sitio San Pedro, a small community of the Aeta Abellen tribe where farming and hunting remain the primary sources of livelihood. On days off from tending the fields, a number of families engage in alternative livelihoods such as coin bank making using &quot;buho&quot;—a bamboo species characterized by its thin walls and long nodes—as their raw material.Among them are Melegrito &#x27;Junior&#x27; Gusto, 38, and his wife Rosabel, 32. The couple has been producing bamboo coin banks together for the past five years. While many use their weekends to rest, Junior dedicates his time to crafting the banks. For him, this is not merely a sideline, but a way to build a better future for his family.Melegrito takes charge of harvesting &quot;buho,&quot; while Rosabel does the designs and paints the coin banks. Their finished bamboo coin banks find their way outside the Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose, where tourists buy them as souvenirs.Most people are probably unaware of the story behind those coin banks. Each is crafted by families working together, hoping to earn enough to support their children’s schooling and daily needs. For Kuya Junior and Ate Rosabel, this isn’t just about making extra money. It’s their way of slowly building a better future through hard work, patience, and cooperation. In the end, families are not defined by what they have, but by how they hold each other up by turning simple tasks into shared victories, and ordinary days into stories of strength, love, and unity. [[PHOTO ALBUM]]  NOTE: This story was produced as part of the 17th Professional Photojournalism and Documentary Photography Workshop, organized by the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines and the Tarlac Provincial Government on November 26 to 30, 2025.

In San Jose, Tarlac, a number of families belonging to the Aeta Abellen tribe engage in alternative livelihoods such as coin bank making using "buho"—a bamboo species characterized by its thin walls and long nodes—as their raw material.

In San Jose, Tarlac, a number of families belonging to the Aeta Abellen tribe engage in alternative livelihoods such as coin bank making using "buho"—a bamboo species characterized by its thin walls and long nodes—as their raw material.

PHOTO ESSAY: How bamboo coinbank making helps a family save

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

People, Culture, and Events

PHOTO ESSAY: How bamboo coinbank making helps a family save

Jose Mari Canasa,

PCP

Published December 12, 2025 05:20 PM PHT

|

Updated December 12, 2025 06:19 PM PHT

Read More:

bamboo coin bank making

Sitio San Pedro

Barangay Iba

San Jose

Tarlac

buho

Aeta Abellen tribe

Melegrito 'Junior' Gusto

Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines

PCP

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.