Every person faces different challenges and situations of difficulty. Some people do not even know how to take themselves out of a bad situation, they only keep on worrying, yet they do not take actions to improve their situation. There are some out there, who do everything, anything, to pull their selves together and be able to surpass their difficulties.

Benson Bayan ( ), lives with his wife Patriya and their four (4) children in barangay Sta. Barbara, Zamboanga City. It may be uncomfortable for him to say that in the past, his family was supported by his sister in their daily needs, but it was a reality. Every day he tried to look for a job, even a simple work, but could not find one. He thought that maybe this was because he only finished high school. He had a brief experience in college under the course of Planning Engineering for only a year, because his parents could not afford to pay for his education.

”Para sakin yung buhay ko dati malala, sa isang araw isang beses lang kame kumakain. Dalawa pa yung anak namin noon, nagtitiis lang talaga kame. Paminsan naglulugaw kame, o kanin lang. minsan hindi pa ako nakakakain, humuhingi ako paminsan sa kapatid ko na babae ng bigas para lang mayroon akong makain. Kaya nung dumating sa buhay ko ang Pantawid unti unting umangat ang buhay namin, nakakakain na kame ng tatlong beses sa isang araw.”

But amidst all the struggles in life, things were going to change, a break, that he nd his famiy really needed. Benson was also a 4Ps beneficiary, and in one of their regular meetings, a City Link from the DSWD brought them good news. One of the department’s programs, the SLP ( susjsajs), was offering free skills training to interested beneficiaries. Upon learning about this, Benson became very interested and was overly excited about this opportunity. He and some other beneficiaries formed an association consisting of 25 members, and this was the start of their journey to success.

Their association was given the chance to choose a type of training that is suitable for the type of business they plan on putting up, so they decided to take Bread and Pastry Production.

“Sabi ko sa kagrupo ko, ‘kung gusto niyo bakery nalang kase pangmatagalan’, um-agree naman sila s’akin.”

The training was not conducted as soon as they decided on it, they had to wait for the approval of the proposal. They patiently waited for it, and never doubted it.

“Nag-antay lang kame kase sinabihan na kame na ganyan talaga ang proseso. Kumbaga sa amin “sabr’, magtiis talaga, magpasensya. Gusto sana nila ng pera, pero sinabi ko sakanila na marami ng nag-release pero walang nangyari.” Benson said.

After 6 long months, Benson with his co-participants eagerly underwent skills training under Bread and Pastry Production. They were capacitated through DSWD’s partner TESDA for 15 days. Each member was funded worth 20,000 pesos for the training, and starter kits that they will receive after they finish the course. The venue of training was an easy access for them since it was located at Sta. Barbara barangay hall which was sponsored by the Local Government Unit.

For Benson it was a dream come true to be able to learn to make different pastries. He was very overwhelmed that he can now produce something that he only wish he could do before. After finishing the training and receiving their starter kits, reality of the weight of their new venture, begun to start.

“Pagkatapos ng training namoblema ako kase wala kameng sariling lugar at wala pa akong experience sa pagpapatakbo ng bakery. Tinatanong ko din mga kasama ko dati hindi din nila alam. Pero sige lang, ganun talaga kapag first time mo, tiis tiis lang. ‘Yong doon kame sa dating barangay naming mahirap ang situwasyon doon kasi walang kuryente.”

Eventually he found a place to put up their bakery, but Benson was the only one pursuing the business, the other members did not help him to push through with their business, instead, went to start a business on their own.

“Nung nagsisimula palang ako hindi talaga balance ang income, may 500, 600. ‘Yong mga ingredients na binigay sa amin unti unti ng nauubos, doon na ako namomoblema kaya kumuha na ako ng kasama para gumawa siya ng pan. Kase kung ako pa ang gagawa at mag-dedeliver, pagod na.” Benson expressed.

Facing the struggles of a new business, Benson needed to ask help from his nephew in Pagadian who willingly came here to Zamboanga just to assist him in running his bakery. But even this had to end, his nephew needed to go back to Pagadian because his family and work was there. Each day may be very hard for Benson but he was always happy about what he was doing. He can say that it is now his cup of tea. He also accepts orders of cakes for different occasions such as graduations and birthdays. His cakes cost 250 to 300 pesos, but also gives it at 200 pesos for people who are dear to him.

“Kung nagkaka-income ako ng 2,000, yung 500 ibibili ko ng kagamitan na dagdag sa bakery, tapos yung 1,500 sa baon ng anak ko, kuryente, ilaw, at emergency.” Benson happily said.

Running the business alone, Benson really pursued the bakery, he endures anything because nothing is impossible if you strive really hard.

“Andito na ang bakery, papalaguin nalang natin. Siyempre proud din ang mga tumulong sa atin lalo na kung makita nila ang mga kagamitan na andyan pa na ginagamit. Lalo na yung City Link namin, tuwing dumadalaw sila dito sinasabi nila na okay daw talaga at tumatakbo pa ang bakery. Proud sila pati ang SLP kapag tatawag at mangangamusta.”

“Masarap sa feeling, siyempre yung dating hindi mo makain ngayon kaya mong mabigay sa mga anak mo. ‘Yon talaga ang kinaibahan”

Benson still can’t believe the changes that happened in his life, remembering the day that they were having a hard time looking for food to eat for the day and a work to pay for their needs. He is forever thankful for the opportunity that was given to him.

“Yung knowledge, dati wala akong alam. Kahit mawala man ang bakery ang karunungan hindi mawawala. Ngayon Yung natutunan ko hindi na yan maaalis. Dati nagdadalwang isip ako kung paano niluluto ung mga nkikita ko. Pero ngayon alam ko na ang gagawin.”

“Kailangan kung anong ibinogay sayo pahalagahan mo, ingatan mo para sa sarili mo at pamilya mo. siyempre kabuhayn yan, ingatan. Useless lang kahit tutulungan ka pero di mo tutulungan sarili mo oaano ka makarecover? Wala lang, kung sinong mag bibigay ng tulong ipakita mo na aya mo , panindigan mo ang tulong na ibinigay nila para sayo.”

“Salamat talaga lalo na sa SLP,kugn di dahil sakanila wala itong bakery, maraming salamat talaga malaki talaga ang tulog ng DSWD samin. Sana tuloy tuloy ang pagtulong nila sa taong mahihirap hindi lang gaya sakin.”

Today, aside from running his bakery, he also volunteers as Ustads in their community.

“Nagtuturo ako every Saturday and Sunday. Nagtuturo ako ng Arabic language, mabuting asal sa kapwa: mga dapat na ginagawa sa kapwa, at pagdadasal.” Benson shared.

Because of Benson’s effort, persistence, and belief in having a good life, he saw the beauty of sacrifice and patience where it brought him now. ###