Change is never easy, especially when one man finds himself carrying the hopes of an entire community. For Felix Sta. Cruz, a 46-year-old swine farmer from Patnanungan, Quezon, that responsibility has landed squarely on his shoulders.
As a seasoned farmer, he understands the hardship, knows the value of hard work and has long considered his swine as a “piggy bank” for his family’s future.
“Ang pagbababoy po ay parang alkansiya. Kada ako po ay kikita ay nagtatabi ako, para sa panahong wala po ay mayroon po akong makukuha na pangtustos sa aming pangangailangan at suporta sa tuloy-tuloy na progreso ng aking hanapbuhay,” he shared.
[Raising swine is like a piggy bank. Every time I earn, I save so that in times of uncertainties, I have something to sustain our needs and support the continuous progress of my livelihood.]
This belief was put to the test during the pandemic, when lack of markets and rising feed costs forced him to sell 13 fatteners for less than half of their value. With his livelihood decimated, Felix currently has only one boar left. However, this is also where his story begins, having a new chance to not only rebuild his own future but also to help his community.
Felix is a member of the Barangay Luod Hog Growers Association (BLHGA), a group formed in 2019 out of a shared desire for progress. The group struggled and was once on the verge of collapsing, but that is when the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) CALABARZON stepped in 2024, providing the support needed to hold them together.
Through organizational strengthening activities, such as Leadership Development and Team Building, the program helped the association grow stronger. Members gained crucial operational skills through training on Financial Literacy, Bookkeeping, and Parliamentary Procedures. They also completed a Specialized Training on Swine Production under the Food Production and Livelihood (FPL) component, prior to the delivery of intervention.
BLHGA decided to continue with the swine farming venture as it is their primary source of income, especially during the off-season for fishing. As a result, they are set to receive a Swine and Vegetable Production project worth more than Php 700,000, which includes 5 gilts, 1 boar, feeds, biologics, and various vegetables seeds and farm tools, targeted for distribution between the third and fourth quarter of the year.
To ensure the project’s success, the association decided to designate a single caretaker for the initial cycle to minimize the risks and ensure the safety and health of the pigs. Despite the challenge of swine farming and the fear of shouldering such a massive responsibility, Felix willingly and bravely accepted the role.
He didn’t just take the tasks; he embraced the trust of his fellow members. This commitment comes with a personal cost, he’ll be sacrificing time he could have spent tending to his own animals. As a consideration, he will receive a piglet for every gilt he successfully raises.
Felix sees the project as his long-awaited opportunity to rebuild and a chance to fill not only his family’s piggy bank but also that of BLHGA once more. “Blessings po ang pagdating ng SAAD, ito po ay isang napakalaking oportunidad para sa amin,” said with a filled heart.
The association’s plan for the future is as bold as Felix’s commitment. The piglets from the first cycle will be distributed among the members. For the second farrowing, it will be given to those who have not yet received one, and any remaining piglets will be sold to generate funds and savings for future needs, like purchasing feeds, should the program conclude. Though succeeding cycles are not yet planned, their minds are set on a singular goal: long-term progress and sustainability.
The story of Felix and BLHGA is a reminder that progress often starts with a single act of courage and the trust of a community. ###
