22/02/2020
Tatay Jesus’ Bukayo: The Sweet Treat to a Better Life
Patience, determination, and commitment. These three are the traits that make a great entrepreneur. As for Mr. Jesus “Tatay Jesus” Pabilona, the owner of Pabilona Foods, these same traits helped him survived and sustained his business for more than 17 years now.
Being the head of the family, Tatay Jesus always makes it sure that he can provide his family’s needs. Hailed from Barangay Salabaca in the Municipality of Esperanza, the main source of income in this community is through farming. But due to the increasing needs of the family, farming alone could not sustain the day-to-day needs of his family.
It was in 2003 when Tatay Jesus first started his venture in bukayo processing. Bukayo is a Filipino dessert made from sweetened coconut meat strips. It is traditionally made by simmering strips of young, gelatinous coconut (buko) in water and muscovado sugar until chewy consistency.
“Nag-umpisa ako sa pagawa ng bukayo dahil hindi naging sapat ang kita ng aming pamilya sa pagsasaka,” said Tatay Jesus.
Tatay Jesus was able to provide the need of his family and send all of his children to school. In fact, when their community was badly affected by the drought in 2016, bukayo became the family’s bread and butter.
“Napatay ang akon mga tanom kag wala gid kami sang kwarta, ang baligya ko lang nga bukayo ang amon ginasaligan sa pang adlaw-adlaw,” Tatay Jesus emotionally shared. “May ara gid panahon sang kapigaduhon nga daw wala gid magbakal sang akon nga baligya.” But Tatay Jesus did not lose his faith, and determination. He persisted and continued his bukayo making.
Last August 2019, Tatay Jesus attended the roll-out of DTI’s Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay with an entrepreneurial mind setting seminar. It was the first time that he heard about the services of DTI and its Negosyo Center. He immediately sought the assistance of DTI Negosyo Center Esperanza in improving his products. He also attended a seminar on Good Manufacturing Practices and Product Labeling, and applied all of his learning to his business and product.
A significant increase in the number of orders and positive feedbacks received were among the results observed by Tatay Jesus after undergoing DTI’s interventions. “Sa tong may label nako kag nagnami ang packaging ko, mas nagdamo na ang naga order kag nagatext sa akon. Madamo man nagahambal nga mas nag namit pa gid ang akon bukayo”, he said.
Today, Tatay Jesus continues to seek improvement for his product. He is looking forward to having his processing facility be certified by the Food and Drug Administration so that he could expand further his market. “Dako gid ang pasalamat ko sa Negosyo Center kag sa DTI kay sa bulig nga ila ginahatag sa amon nga mga galagmay nga negosyante”. –Bendylle Jade F. Sabado/Negosyo Center Esperanza
