“Life is like a wheel. Sometimes you are on top, sometimes you are at the bottom.” A mother from Siquijor could relate to this reality.

“We need to work hard to succeed; we cannot be picky about jobs,” said Florma Isic, a mother of four from Barangay Simacolong, Lazi, Siquijor.

This powerful statement reflects the determined spirit of a hardworking mother.

“Sauna nag construction worker ko uban sa akong bana. Dayon nag assistant cook ko sa lungsod (Before, I worked as a construction worker with my husband, and then I became an assistant cook at a restaurant in town),” recounted Florma.

Florma shared that life was quite challenging, but it began to change after she became a member of the Ilihan Pantawid Hog Association, a project of the Sustainable Livelihood Program funded under the Zero Hunger Program. The program supports the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, contributing to the Sustainability Plan 1 and DSWD’s commitment to creating a Zero Hunger Community.

On December 22, 2022, the Ilihan Pantawid Hog Association, of which Florma is a member, received a seed capital fund of 450,000 pesos for their backyard farming, launching operations on February 12, 2023. Since then, they have supplied their products throughout the municipality and neighboring towns, especially during special occasions.

Their association had established a list of regular customers for their pork and farm products. “Daghan na gyud kaming gipang supplyan, gani, kami na ang ga supply ug karne sa restaurant nga akong gitrabahuan sauna (We have many clients now; in fact, we are supplying meat to the restaurant where I used to work),” Florma disclosed.

The 22 active members of the Ilihan Pantawid Hog Association take pride in what they have achieved. They continue to work hard, taking turns overseeing their piggery, as they believe the association has significantly improved their lives.

The members are now enjoying their privileges, especially in times of crisis and emergencies. They can now borrow a certain amount with a minimum interest and will also earn patronage dividends. “Tungod usab sa among association, aduna nay madaganan ang mga myembro panahon nga adunay emergency nga panginahanglanon (Because of the association, we now have support system to turn to during emergencies),” Florma shared.

She revealed that the program has provided invaluable opportunities to improve her entrepreneurial skills. “Sukad nahimo kong member, daghan na ang kabag-ohan tungod sa akong share, karon naa nakoy baboyan (Since I became a member, things have really improved; because of my profit share, I now have my own piggery).”

Florma’s income doubled because she has established her own piggery and backyard garden. She now earns more, aside from her share in the association. “Kung magkugi lang gyud ta, mo-arang-arang gyud, dili man dato, kanang sakto lang (If we work hard, we can achieve everything; we’ll be comfortable—not rich, but just enough),” she affirmed.

“Daghan kaayo kong dapat ipasalamat. Karon nga naapil mi sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, dili nako maguol sa edukasyon sa akong mga anak. Mo-focus nalang ko sa among panginabuhian, kining among asosasyon (There’s so much to be thankful for, just recently my family was included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program, I do not have to worry anymore the education of my children. I will focus more on our livelihood and our association), expressed Florma.

When asked about their future five years from now, Florma confidently expressed, “Maybe five years from now, we will still be running our business, thriving and successful, ensuring our livelihood remains sustainable.” ###

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