Albay transforms Sampaguita to wellness product

Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Ligao, Albay now have a source of income rooted in wellness, tradition, and community enterprise from the Philippines’ national flower, Sampaguita.

With support from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Albay, 30 ARB members of the Ligao-Oas Consolidated Irrigators Association (LOCIA) Inc., an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO) based in Barangay Bobonsuran, have completed hands-on training on converting excess sampaguita blossoms into high-value wellness products like massage oils and therapeutic rubs. The training was part of the 2025 Development of Products Project under DAR’s Enterprise Development and Economic Support program.

For years, ARBs like Rosyl Rabe, LOCIA Inc. Secretary, watched their Sampaguita harvests go to waste due to oversupply.

“Our Sampaguita flowers have a new purpose and will not be wasted. This is a great opportunity for us to earn additional income,” Rabe said.

The training, led by wellness advocate Louise Cynthia Matza of IQMK Global Philippines, focused on using natural ingredients such as menthol crystals, beeswax, petrolatum and cellular oil. ARBs learned to slow-cook the flowers in oil for hours to create therapeutic infusions with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and pain-relief properties for massage oil and Sampaguita rub.

“What’s special about this is that I personally developed the procedure after years of study to ensure maximum health benefits. When you inhale the product, you can immediately feel the effect.

To help the ARBs bring their new creations to market, Department of Trade and Industry Specialist Tyrone Guevarra provided additional training on packaging, design, marketing basics and Good Manufacturing Practices, empowering them to build not only products but a viable enterprise.

The training was initiated upon the ARBO’s request, as members sought to unlock the potential of their underutilized Sampaguita plants. What was once seen as excess is now becoming an opportunity. Today, with knowledge, skills and renewed purpose, Ligao’s ARBs are bringing the scent and strength of the nation’s floral emblem to Filipino homes as a symbol of livelihood, tradition and community strength.