Loreta C. Rafisura
President and CEO
Loreta Capistrano- Rafisura, the second of 10 children of a Filipino-Chinese family, grew up in Salay. Her middleclass upbringing revolved around school, church and family in the very rural, simple town – no electricity, TV, or shopping malls. Instead she grew up in the midst of nature, in the midst of a town where everyone she knew was a relative.
She graduated high school from Lourdes College, and got her Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University Cagayan de Oro. She then went on to the St. Paul Charter Sisters in Manila to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, where she graduated Cum Laude, and later became one of the topnotchers of the Philippine Nursing Board exams. But it was during her studies with the nuns and the Jesuits that her love for service to others and her deep love of God were developed. Her work experience includes service in hospitals, in the private clinic, and in public health with her husband, Dr. Reynaldo Rafisura.
Her 2-year stint as an exchange student in the US early in her career as a nurse changed her life. She came home to the Philippines, loving her country more but with a wider perspective of life, enriched as she was by the exposure to different cultures she experienced in the US. She resolved to do all that she could to help in the development of the Filipino in her own little way, wherever God will bring her.
Blessed with 3 children, Neil, Loreen and J Emmanuel, Dr Reynaldo and Loreta used to spend their time in civic and religious activities after clinic hours. But their apostolic work became more focused when they first started Salayhandmade. They dreamed of the holistic development of their townspeople through entrepreneurship. And 23 years later, they continue to live this dream!
Loreta’s aspirations and ideals serve as the heart of Salayhandmade – it is her means of helping in nation-building, as a private individual, and as a Christian. She is tickled pink to be used as an instrument of God’s goodness and greatness!
Click to read her Poem from a Papermaker
Dr. Reynaldo Rafisura
Chairman of the Board
Dr Reynaldo Gaspar Rafisura, Chairman of the Board, is the person to whom the grace to see the Product Development and Design Center,Philippines Mobile Unit showing of handmade paper activity from grass fell. On the way home from a medical conference one night ,he chanced upon this and the idea inspired him to start handmade papermaking from cogon grass to help his community.
He is the quiet force behind Salay Handmade Products Industries Inc . He was past Municipal Health Officer of Salay for 15 years, Municipal Councilor and Vice Mayor for 2 terms each.. His interest now is farming and backyard piggery, aside from his love for the sports, mainly boxing, and music.
Neil Francis C. Rafisura
EVP and General Manager
Neil, son of Dr. Reynaldo and Mrs. Loreta Rafisura, now leads the new generation of workers and artisans of Salayhandmade who have joined the company in order to help attain its vision and mission.
Neil however, is not new to the business. After his graduation from college with a degree of BS in Commerce and Management from Capitol University in 1992, Neil helped professionalize the management of Salayhandmade. In 1996, with the help of sponsorship from the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), he participated in a two-week seminar on export marketing at the Centre of the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) in the Netherlands. Subsequently, he went on a one-month European Marketing Tour and Global Technology Search. This time, he was sponsored by the Association of Partners for Fairer Trade, Inc. (APFTI) and the Department of Science and Technology’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI). In 2001, he spent one month with fellow Salayhandmade staff Noel Capistrano in Jaipur, India, at the Kumarappa National Institude of Handmade Papermaking.
Shaila Mae S. Omahoy
Marketing Manager
23-year-old Shaila is pretty, slim, and humble, but she is also tough, efficient, thorough, and hardworking. It only took 2 years before she was promoted from a marketing assistant to Marketing Officer for European Accounts.
This Office Management graduate has proven her worth in marketing, and has been designated Head of the Marketing Department since 2009. She is organized, creative, and innovative – certainly the characteristics required of someone who constantly needs to think out of the box!
Shaila is also active in outdoor activities and social networking, yet she puts her young heart to her work and closes deals successfully without so much of a fuss. She is learning fast in a field that is new to her.
Amie Lovella E. Paalam
Marketing Officer
Amie joined Salayhandmade one month after she received her diploma of BS in Elementary Education from Bukidnon State University-Salay External Studies Center in 2008. She started as the secretary to the General Manager. A few months later, she was assigned to join the Marketing Department handling Asia/Australia/North America Markets accounts.
Though she is a neophyte in marketing, Amie has shown that with wit and energy, she can handle external clients as well as negotiate with the Production Department and the Product Development Section to respond to client demands. Hard work, dedication and good communications skills are Amie’s best qualities. She manages to coordinate the company’s efforts to meet shipping deadlines. Her internet savvy allows her to respond to emails promptly and communicate with clients effectively through Skype.
Being pretty, fit, and sociable are additional assets – proven by the countless times Amie has hosted (or danced in) Salayhandmade’s social affairs.
Christie C. Angob
Production Manager
You’d think she is Japanese by her looks, but she is a true-blooded Salayano! Christie Capistrano Angob is a lovely wife to Engineer Alan Angob of Surigao and a loving mother to 3 kids aged 15, 13, and 11.
She joined Salayhandmade in 2000 as a Marketing staff and has been in service in many other departments before she become the Production Department Head in 2008. Firm and thorough, Christie attends to details and analyzes matters quite objectively especially in Production Planning and Quality Control.
In 2009, she attended a seminar on Logistics Management for the Philippines in Yokohama, Japan through the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) program.
Christie also serves as the Chairwoman of the SHAPII Multipurpose Cooperative, putting her degree in BS Accounting from San Jose Recolitos University of Cebu City to good use.
Kirsi T. Delos Santos
Creative Design Manager
What makes a person, formally educated to teach young children, effective in Product Development? Talent and innate creativity!
Kirsi Tadle Delos Santos has always loved working with pressed flowers on handmade paper. It was only a small town preoccupation with her peers when she joined the home-based clusters of “designers,” pasting flowers on greeting cards while on vacation, and whenever she had spare time while in college. Her neat workmanship however, distinguished her from other housewives wanting to earn a few pesos. She was fascinated by the Fair Trade principles practiced by Salayhandmade, and this was what finally convinced her to join the Design workforce in 2007.
Her positive attitude, generosity, and innate creativity soon led her to the lead position of the Creative Department, Product Development section. No one in Salayhandmade studied art professionally, but Kirsi’s teaching knowledge is an asset when she deals with her co- artisans. She is grateful for the constant opportunities for training and exposure as an artist, and truly enjoys each development activity.
Kirsi, 27, is a mother of 2 children aged 5 and 1. She finished her Bachelor of Elementary Education from the local Bukidnon State University-Salay External Studies Center in 2007.
Elena Palamine
Human Resource Department
Resilience must be the middle name of this grandmother of 5! Eternally young-at-heart, Elena goes through life unfazed by its ups and downs. Her good spirit, generosity and contagious smile keep her on top, as she accepts challenges and tries her hand at whatever life brings her way.
Elena is a BS Accounting graduate who started her career working with the Local Government Unit of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental as a Community Relations Officer. She joined Salayhandmade nine years ago and was assigned in the Product Development section and subsequently the Marketing Department. Her strength, however, lies in people management, and this is why she has now been at the helm of the Human Resource Department for 2 years.
Elena shares her passion for life with the large number of artisans and support workers she looks out for on a daily basis in this handicraft company. To top it all, Elena can also dance, sing, host, or talk, whenever an occasion presents itself!
Board of Directors
From left: Mr. Neil C. Rafisura, Ms. Marilou Atasan, Ms. Loreta Rafisura, Mr. Joe N. Nebrao, Dr. Reynaldo Rafisura, Ms Josephine D.Antiquina and Atty Vizminda V. Siapno.
Mr Joe N. Nebrao is a Marketing man who was Manager of RISE Foundation, a venture capital enterprise in Cagayan de Oro City. He has worked with Salayhandmade as Board director for many years offering his wisdom and connections to help develop the Company through the years.He is President of Rosevale School, is an Opus Dei, a leader in Rotary, Red Cross and many other civic organizations.
Atty Vizminda V. Siapno , is a Salayano who has moved to the city of Cagayan de Oro after marrying the former Region X Director of Agriculture Manny Siapno.She was connected with the GSIS and now is s active in civic activities such as the Soroptimist, Rotary, jaycees, Free Masonry.
Ms Josephine D.Antiquina is a devout catholic and a gentle , loving soul. She is engaged in insurance business.
Workers’ representative to the Board Ms. Marilou Wayan- Atasan came to Salayhandmade as an eighteen year old fresh college graduate about 20 years ago. No one is more loyal or work harder than she does at the Accounting Department. No wonder she is known as Ms. Shapii.
President Loreta Rafisura and Neil C. Rafisura , GM , complete the 2009-2010 Board of Directors of Salayhandmade, elected by the 48 stockholders in its Stockholders’ meeting once a year.
