SIBALOM, Antique – Trips by enthusiastic bikers and tourists to Solong Bridge in Sibalom, Antique will not be complete without dining at a local restaurant just along the stretch of the Sibalom river. Dorog ni Isko is an al fresco type of garden restaurant offering a variety of meals, refreshments, desserts, and an array of local delicacies. The restaurant also offers catering services for local events and celebrations.
This farm-to-table concept is owned and managed by Gilda A. Abao, a 61-year-old native of Sibalom, Antique. She and her husband are blessed with 5 children, 4 of which are now working professionals in their respective fields, and the youngest is currently taking up a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.
“Kauna pigado gid ang amon income, gasagod lang ako kang baboy, manok kag ang akon bana nagatanum kang nanari-sari nga laswa, mani kag monggo sa amon durog. Ang amon capital katandus kag determinasyon. Ginakulang man gihapon kami tungod barato ang bakal kang amon produkto (Our income back then was not enough for our daily expenses. We only reared livestock and my husband plants a variety of vegetables for selling. Our capital was only hard work and determination. Despite our efforts, our income was still not enough since we sell our harvests at a low price to ensure that are buyers could afford to purchase such.)” Gilda expressed when asked on how their livelihood was before the program’s intervention.
The food business of Gilda sprouted from a group project organized by the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program last August 2, 2018. With 29 other members of the Sibalom Hog Raisers Association, Gilda in need of assistance for her hog-raising business was identified to be a part of the association and have completed the social preparation activities as a requirement for the provision of Seed Capital Fund. Due to her active involvement, Gina was also elected as Secretary and is responsible for the secretariat functions of the newly-formed organization.
On March 15, 2019, Gilda received ₱15,000 worth of funds as additional capital for her proposed Piggery and Native Chicken Production. Along with her small vegetable production business, Gilda continued to manage all of her sources of income which in the long run gave her the opportunity to utilize raw materials for her vision of having a garden restaurant of her own. Dorog ni Isko started on January 24, 2021. The name of the restaurant came from its location and family roots. “Dorog” means a reclaimed land beside the river that is ideal for growing legumes such as peanuts and mongo beans. “Isko” is from the name of Gilda’s grandfather who owns the land.
Instead of selling her fresh produce, Gilda now practices the farm-to-table approach where their farm harvests are directly used to cook meals for the restaurant. This not only shows her ability to cook but also highlights the food heritage of Antique. The place also serves as an area to showcase the products of associations and individual entrepreneurs whose enterprise was funded by the program. Among the products that could be purchased in the diner is the brewed coffee of Calooy Coffee Processors and the Mushroom Fruiting Bag of the SMS Mushroom which is readily available in handy packs
“Sa pag attend ko kang seminar, rugto ko narealize ang akon kakulangan nga bukot lang gali katandus ang kinahanglan kundi kaaran sa pag manage kang kwarta kag kon paano mapabahol ang kita kag mapuslan ang mga dunang manggad kag mga oportunidad sa palibot (As I participate in the seminars, I’ve realized that it does not only take hard work but also a handful of knowledge on financial management and being able to know how to generate income. The activities also highlighted how we should make use of available resources and opportunities around us.)” when asked on how the set of training conducted by the program helped her.
Aside from the knowledge and skills that she acquired, what made her enterprises more successful is having the support of her family. At present, her daughter, who is a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate, is helping her in the day-to-day restaurant operations and other family members are also involved in some areas of the business. From a simple nipa hut cottage, now Dorog ni Isko has a garden setting, two cottages, and a venue for peoples’ organization assembly meetings. With their hard work, they now earn an average net income of ₱20,000.00 per month and sustain the employment of around 17 part-time working students.
The Abao family plan to improve the place by building a function hall for training and seminars and improving the parking area for motorcycle riders as well as guests, who usually drop by the restaurant for meals and refreshments. Gilda is grateful for the financial and capacity-building assistance she received from the Sustainable Livelihood Program. With her enterprises, she was able to send her children to college and put up a profitable business that she will continue for generations to come.
