“Samtang nag attend mi sa Family Development Session, niadto usab ang Field PDO sa SLP ug gi-invite mi nga paapilon og barangay assembly. Wala kami mag expect nga katong adlawa makahatag namo og bagong panglantaw sa kinabuhi (During a Family Development Session, the Field PDO of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) was present and invited us to participate in a barangay assembly. We did not expect that this day would provide us with a new perspective on life),” recalls Rosalyn Torreon, president of the Cangmundo Sustainable Livelihood Association (SLPA).
Rosalyn and the 35 other members were surprised by the unexpected turn of events that unfolded on that hot afternoon. After attending the barangay assembly organized by the field staff of the SLP, they discovered newfound hope through another program offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
Together, Rosalyn and the other 35 members proposed starting a general merchandise store, as Barangay Cangmundo is one of the most remote barangays in Getafe, Bohol. Their goal was to create a business that would provide essential commodities for residents, helping them avoid high transportation costs to reach the town. “When we received the news that our proposal was approved and we received the seed capital, it felt like we had won the lottery; we were overjoyed,” Rosalyn shared in her dialect.
By August 2018, the association had established the store, filled with rice, soap, and school supplies. “Gipuno gyud namo ang tindahan (We filled the store),” Rosalyn remarked. From that moment on, the women treated their store like a second home. They made it a point to report to work daily, attend meetings regularly, and offer suggestions to improve our store.
After several months, they saw a surge in profits, and they expanded to an agrivet supply to cater to farmers and neighbors involved in poultry and raising other farm animals. However, they didn’t stop there; they also started raising hogs in a communal pen.
When the first pigs matured, the women slaughtered them and sold the meat in their store.
According to Mary Grace Mejasco, the vice president of the association, why should their neighbors pay more for transportation? She added that they aim to be a one-stop shop for their community.
In that same year, a bakery opened. “Tungod sa kalayo sa among lugar, wala gyud mobaligya ug pan diri inig ka buntag (Due to the distance of our place, no one sells bread here in the morning),” Mary Grace shared. She added that they helped a husband and a son of a member secure employment as a baker and an assistant baker in their bakery.
The association provides bread and pastries within the community and sells its products to neighboring barangays. The husband of a member also helped by selling the bread on a consignment basis.
The grant had multiplied like yeast, expanding from a store to an Agrivet and from hogs to a bakery, ultimately leading to charity initiatives and community jobs.
However, not every day was bright and sunny, especially when COVID-19 struck. It led to a community lockdown that severely impacted their businesses, as people were not allowed to leave their homes. “Everyone was affected, so we engaged in charity work for our members to assist with their needs, and we also provided bundles to our neighbors,” recalls Mary Grace.
In December 2021, another challenge arose when Typhoon Odette struck the province of Bohol. Roofs were torn off, rivers overflowed, many were affected including one member’s house whose house disappeared into floodwaters.
“Wala nakoy laing nabuhat kundi ang masayangan sa akong balay. Pero ang assosasyon wala usab ko biyai, gitabangan ko nila pagbarog ug balik (I have nothing but regrets about my house. But the association didn’t abandon me; they helped me stand up and rebuild),” shared Mercedita.
She was confident that she could rely on the association, and she also had her savings and her shares in profits to help rebuild her home. Mercedita reconstructed her house using funds from the profit she gained from their store. In her local dialect, she expressed, “They gave me more than just a roof; they gave me hope.”
Despite the devastation, the association refused to give up. They organized a charity initiative, providing 5 kilos of rice and groceries for 200 families affected by the disaster.
When the power grid failed, they purchased a generator that allowed neighbors to charge their phones and emergency lights for a fee of ₱20. “Daghan man tuod ug kadaot pero wa jud mi ma tarug, Ang disaster wala maka tay-og namo (There was indeed a lot of damage, but we were not shaken. The disaster didn’t break us),” Rosalyn declared.
One factor that strengthens harmonious relationships and cooperation among members is their shared mindset; they think as one, which is why they grow wider and wiser. “Kada naay mahunahunaan ang usa kung tan-aw maayo kini para sa grupo suportahan gyud na, (Whenever someone thinks of an idea that seems beneficial for the group, they should definitely support it),” Rosalyn confessed.
Today, the Cangmundo SLPA stands as a pillar of strength in their barangay. All members enjoy regular profit-sharing and have secured contributions to their Social Security System (SSS). For elder members who do not have SSS, the association provides a monthly savings of ₱200. They have also made it a tradition to give back to the community by donating ₱300 worth of grocery items to all their patrons during their annual celebration and assisting those in crisis.
Now, the women share a laugh over a metaphor that was once whispered at one of their meetings: “You are like seeds.” Indeed, they have established deep roots strong enough to withstand storms and wide branches that shelter others.
“Ang liso nitubo nahimo nang kahoy; namunga dili lang para sa iyang kaugalingon, kundi para sa tanan (The seed has grown into a tree, bearing fruit not only for itself, but for everyone),” Rosalyn smiles.
From a ₱360,000 seed capital fund, Cangmundo SLPA has built an orchard of resilience, and their harvest has only just begun. ###