Filipino women create a better future – a global issue

The Balaigay Ladies Producers Cooperative is made up of native girls from the fishing village of Lumbayanague in addition to girls displaced from the close by metropolis of Marawi after an assault by Islamist militants in 2017.

Forward of the SME Day held yearly on June 27, Daniel Dickinson spoke with Beliante Matanog Cayongat, a long-time resident of Lumbayanague and Nobaida Arig who arrived after the terrorist assaults, to find out about their recipe for fulfillment .

nobaida alig: “I work one shift every week within the bakery, beginning at 4:30 within the morning and baking for 2 hours. Now we have six most important merchandise, banana muffins, Spanish rolls and coconut bread, in addition to chocolate cake, banana bread and normal white bread. bread.

I used to be one among 20 folks within the cooperative who fled Marawi when it was attacked in 2017.

Beliante Matanog Kayungate: The Co-op runs the one bakery within the neighborhood and often all our bread and pastries are bought out by early afternoon.

We produce 2 kg of every product. Our flatbreads had been so fashionable throughout Ramadan that we bought out regardless that we made 60 a day. Every flatbread prices 40 pesos ($0.70) and since it is a very tight group, if folks cannot pay, we enable them to take a look at later.

nobaida alig: We’re a profitable bakery as a result of our breads, desserts and pastries are scrumptious and reasonably priced. While you love your job, you bake scrumptious meals.

I had no concept the way to bake earlier than we opened this bakery. We had been educated and given supplies, together with ovens, to place our coaching into observe. As I gained sensible expertise, I received higher and higher as a baker.

I might study 200 pesos ($3.40) on a shift, which was good, however not sufficient to assist my household of six. I additionally run a small store promoting snacks and merchandise.

Beliante Matanog Kayungate: On busy days, the bakery could make 1,500 pesos ($25.50), however after we are very busy with orders, we will make 2,500 pesos ($42.50) a day. After wages are paid, the rest is returned to the cooperative.

nobaida alig: Baking is definitely fairly straightforward should you comply with the recipe, and I am at all times in search of new concepts. I used to be actually keen on baking, so I watched a video on YouTube at dwelling that taught me the way to make pizza with pineapple, mushrooms, and tuna. We baked a particular pizza for Ramadan. I am comfortable and proud that my pizza is so fashionable and that I contribute to the group.

Beliante Matanog Kayungate: Throughout the five-month siege of Marawi in 2017, we welcomed roughly 100 folks into our group who had fled their properties within the metropolis. Many have household connections, together with Nobeda, whose husband fishes within the village.

nobaida alig: When Marawi was attacked and we heard gunshots, I believed it was a household feud and we had been very used to that. However two days later the college burned down and we realized one thing was extra severe and we determined to flee. Now we have nothing on us.

There have been many males carrying black garments, holding weapons, and driving Islamic State autos on the scene. [ISIL Islamist terrorist group] There was a flag within the metropolis however they allow us to cross and we went to the village. It’s surprising and unimaginable that Marawi must be attacked on this approach.

Beliante Matanog Kayungate: We wish to construct a much bigger bakery and promote our merchandise additional afield. However we additionally wish to diversify and supply extra employment alternatives for the ladies who reside right here.

We wish to provide tailoring and workplace companies, so we do want computer systems and a great web connection. Ladies right here need peace and prosperity and a greater future for his or her kids, and we’re working to make these hopes a actuality.