T’boli, South Cotabato – Caretaker and vegetable farmer, Johnny Tolentino, never imagined himself to be a never imagined one day, he would be called an expert in agriculture.

Manong Dyoni, as he is fondly called, was in disbelief when the local government informed him that he was chosen to be the municipal agricultural technician.

Manong Dyoni ‘s  family became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Later on, they were given seed capital assistance through the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) which they used to start a vegetable enterprise.

Mang Dyoni’s family is one of the 9,210 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries from  Central  MIndanao who received seed capital assistance from the DSWD as of June 2014, since it began in January 2011.

Nationwide, there are 4,090,667  beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya, as of June 25.

From backyard gardening to bell pepper business

The couple used to tend a simple garden in the backyard of their neighbour, the Tanco Family. They grew okra, string beans, and sweet potatoes in the small parcel of land.

Since 2005,  this had been the family’s main source of income, but it was not sufficient for their growing family.

In 2011, Mang Dyoni became a recipient of P10,000 seed capital assistance from DSWD’s SLP.

The couple decided to venture into vegetable gardening enterprise.

Manong Dyoni started sowing bell pepper crops on a half-hectare land they rented even before they received the capital assistance.

When the seed capital was released, the bell pepper plants already had small fruits and fully-grown leaves.

Mang Dyoni got a big relief when Mr. Tanco, who is also the Muncipal Officer, contributed money for the venture. With the money at hand, Mang Dyoni purchased fertilizers for his plants.

Soon, the plants grew and bore fruits. The family was able to harvest their crops.

Manong Dyoni could not believe the big gains he earned.

Annalee already started imagining having their own house and sending their three healthy kids to school.

“Ngayon, kami ay mga simpleng magtatanim lamang, pero balang araw ay makaka-angat din ang aming buhay (We are simple tenants and caretakers today, but soon we can move up to a better economic condition),” she said with high hopes.

In 2012, they were finally able to expand the enterprise and eventually purchased a truck to transport their harvest to the market.

Remembering their humble beginnings

Before receiving the livelihood assistance from DSWD, Manong Dyoni could not afford to buy household appliances. Furthermore,  the couple had to entrust their eldest daughter to Annalee’s  parents so that she would be able to attend school.

They  would endure the 23-kilometer walk on rough road to visit their daughter because they could not afford  the 20-peso fare to Surallah, the town where Annalee’s parents live.

Manong Dyoni can still recall the times when he would silently cry while walking to his daughter.

Persevering amidst adversity

The couple also had their share of difficulties with their bell pepper business.

On some occasions, they experienced having to spray detergent soaps on their crops using a bamboo stem because they could not afford to buy insecticide.

There were even times when the bell peppers were washed out by floods and typhoons.

During such times, Manong Dyoni’s paningkamot  (hard work) and optimism were his weapons in overcoming those difficulties.

Reaping the fruits of their labor

At present, the family’s income depends on the vegetable harvest.

Manong Dyoni has devoted much of his time to the vegetable garden. He spends the entire day tending the crops and only goes home to take his meals.

Their bell pepper harvest in the half-hectare land can earn as much as P300,000  in six months. Their income is then reinvested back into the business for expansion.

Today, the couple can proudly send their children to school because of their bell paper business.  In addition to that, they have finally been able to buy household appliances, which have made their lives easier and more enjoyable.

The Tolentinos plan on purchasing their own land to expand their enterprise. Manong Dyoni has also considered growing coffee. With a heightened interest in agriculture and support from the government and their neighbors, his family is a step closer to the life they imagined.

“Sa anumang pagsubok, kaya natin ito. Kaya natin ang pagbabago (In every challenge, we are sure to prevail as long as we are determined to change),” Mang Dyoni concluded. ###