MANILA, Philippines?Unused to sudden idleness and with a wealth of time in their hands, the displaced women of Barangay Sto. Niño, temporarily housed at the Paoad Elementary School social hall in Caponga, Tublay, Benguet, issued a request from the Baguio-based volunteers.

Could they please send crochet and knitting needles, yarn and thread along with the relief goods?

Their female counterparts in Baguio responded quickly. Among them was volunteer Toottee Chanco Pacis, a retired teacher-businesswoman. She not only brought in some raw materials, she also offered to train those not yet facile with crocheting, lend her unique patterns for bed covers, throws, vests, glass holders and the like, and find a ready market for the finished products, if it meant arm-twisting her friends and relatives in Baguio, Metro Manila and even Australia. Other outlets include Christmas bazaars.

As last week wore on, the crochet team increased in membership from seven individuals to 14: Clarita Mainem, Julia and Mercy Bangcado, Jenny Guitala, Angelina and Fe Decoyna, Dominga and Dakmay Salibad, Jocel Depenio, Casenia Yubos, Shirly Bucacao, Julie Lag-asan, Justina Bugtong and Elsie Maoting.

Before long, the middle-aged members, accustomed to handling the soil in their now ruined chayote gardens, said they needed reading glasses for their new work that required fine-motor skills.

Nonnette Bennett, who doubled as debriefing person for some traumatized adults, volunteered to solicit glasses from her optometrist friends.

By Saturday last week, the women wearing stylish glasses were beaming and more confident. Angelina Decoyna completed the multicolor square accents that rimmed the brim of a bonnet. She and a few others received her first payment for their labor.

The 60 centavos for each crocheted square pattern, the P6 for a crocheted small glass holder, the P10 for a big glass holder and P25 for the bonnet accents seemed insignificant compared to the potential thousands they could?ve earned if their pigs and piglets intended for the holiday market had not died with the mudslides.

But, as one of the women said after she counted her first post-Typhoon ?Pepeng? earnings, ?You can?t pick up this kind of money just by walking around.?

Pacis taught them Business 101. She said the initial batch of raw materials was a gift from various donors. She would buy subsequent supply of these through her suki at the Baguio market, and these would be returned to her on a ?pay when able? terms.

She stressed she wasn?t in it for profit, but would like the Tublay women to reap all the profit so their little venture could continue until they?re settled in more permanent shelters.

Also crocheting has become more than a way to while the time.

Ruth Elyn Dino, Tublay civil registrar, noticed a change in the mood of these 14 women. They and their families have become her wards. She said, ?They love what they?re doing.?

Hopefully, memories of the sound of landslides will fade over time.