IT ALL started in 2009.

Diolenda Garsola patiently lined up along with more than a thousand others in the municipal gym of Isabela in Negros Occidental to be validated for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

With four young children then and relying heavily on her husband’s unstable income from driving a motorcycle, Diolenda’s family was found eligible to avail of financial support from Pantawid Pamilya to augment their needs on health, nutrition and education.

Several months later, Diolenda got hold of their very first conditional cash grant from Pantawid Pamilya. Of the lump sum amount, Diolenda consulted her husband Greg on how to best utilize their grant.

“Gin-una namon ang mga kinanglan sang mga bata. Tapos nagpaminsar kami nga magbakal sang baboy nga salagudon agud kung ano nga emerhensya, may mahulag kami (We prioritized our children’s needs. And then, we thought of buying piglets which we will take care of so that we’ll have something to fall back on in the event of emergencies),” Diolenda said.

With the P7,000 that they set aside, the couple bought two piglets.

FRUGALITY
Since early on, Greg said they lived frugal lives, recalling the time when they were still living in the upland barangay of San Agustin in Isabela.

“Kinot gid sa gasto. Budlay daan ang pangabuhi kay gabyahe ako motor, init kag ulan ang sulay. Maayo na kung makakita ka P200. Kung tion sang panguma, ubra man sa uma para dugang nga kita (We’re very prudent on expenses. Life is hard especially since I have to bear the heat or rain whenever I drive the motorcycle. It’s good if I could earn P200. During planting season, I also work in farms for additional income,)” Greg said.

Their hard work and prudence bore fruit when, after raising the piglets, they were able to sell it at P10,000. Inspired, the couple continued their swine business.

While they manage to meet their day-to-day needs, Greg longed to provide their four growing children a better shot at life and better accessibility to schools. On a personal level, Greg also wanted to pursue a skill that he has acquired when he was still single: baking.

Secretly, he looked for an available and affordable space in the town proper where he envisioned putting up a bakery shop.

In July 2013, he found the place he was looking for. There was enough space to bake and display their products and rooms for them and their children. Above all, the rent was affordable. He and his family then took a major decision to sell their piglets, leave Brgy. San Agustin, and transfer to the Poblacion.

GD BAKERY

Greg, who only reached second year high school, said he had no formal training on baking. But he applied his eight years of experience working in a bakery in Bacolod City in his new venture. Such was his determination and passion that he worked so hard, preparing the mixture until 10 in the evening and waking very early the next day to sell the breads in different barangays while Diolenda and their children man their bakery.

Now more than eight months after they first opened, Greg was happy to share that their customers kept on increasing.

“Damo na order subong. Mayo man kay ang mga customer wala nasum-uran sang timpla (We get so many orders now. It’s good that our customers like the taste of our breads),” he said.

To meet the orders, Greg has hired one person to assist him. He no longer has to vend the breads himself as bulk orders of pandesal, the bestseller, are pre-ordered and resold by itinerant vendors in the different barangays.

“Nabawi na namon ang kapital kag ga-umpisa na kami savings subong (We already earned back our capital and we are starting to save nowadays),” Diolenda said. The couple called their bakery GD Bakeshop, from the initials of their first names.

Greg said the bakeshop made a great change in their lives. They now have a stable source of income to speak of, earning them an average of P6,000 a month. It has helped ensure that the school needs of their children are met. Their children Gerelyn, now 14 years old; Greg Jr., 12; Gideon, 8; and Glenn, 6 do well in school.

The 38-year-old Greg was not able to hold back tears as he expressed gratitude to the help their family got being a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilya.

“Kung wala ang Pantawid Pamilya, ara man siguro gihapon kami sa San Agustin. Gabakas pa gihapon sa ulan kag init… pati mga bata kay gabulig sa panguma. Ang kita husto lang sa pang adlaw-adlaw (Had it not been for Pantawid Pamilya, we might still be in San Agustin. Working under sun and rain… even the children because they also help in the farm. Our income would only be enough for a day),” Greg said.

“Pantawid Pamilya gid ang ginhalinan kun ngaa naka-pondar kami sang negosyo. Bulig halin sa programa ang ginahalinan sini tanan. Makaluy-an lang, ini na ang negosyo nga padayunon namon (Pantawid Pamilya was the reason why we were able to put up a business. Assistance from the Program started all of this. With God’s blessings, this is the business that we would want to continue),” Greg said. (DSWD6/ Alma Jornadal-Estember)