Hope has often felt out of reach for this remote mountainous community. For years, families in Sitio Alog, Barangay Pallogan, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur worked tirelessly on their sugarcane fields, but without modern tools, their hard work brought little reward. That changed when Pure Bayanihan, together with the 103rd Maneuver Company and key partners, delivered a solution that would transform lives—a set of sugarcane juicer machines.
Why Sitio Alog Needed a Boost
Sitio Alog is a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA), often the last to receive support from the government. Here, 35 families depended on small-scale farming, struggling with limited access to markets, resources, and basic services. Their ability to earn and provide for their families was severely constrained by the arduous and inefficient nature of their traditional farming methods.
Before modern equipment arrived, sugarcane processing in Sitio Alog relied on sheer human and animal effort. Farmers like 72-year-old Simon Fajardo endured the grueling work of using “kalabaw na nagiikot doon sa gilingan” (carabao that goes around the mill) to crush sugarcane. This traditional method was incredibly labor-intensive and slow, yielding only a fraction of the cane’s potential juice.
The physical toll was immense, particularly for the community’s many elderly farmers who refused to let age stop them. As 78-year-old Maria Fajardo stated, “Hindi hadlang yung edad namin para kumita ng pera” (Our age is not a barrier to earning money). Yet the manual methods made their daily toil exponentially harder.
Trapped by Slow Production
This inefficiency directly impacted families’ livelihoods. Elder farmers augment their income by making and selling barbecue sticks. Maria Fajardo explained, “Konti lang po ang kinikita namin sa paggawa ng barbecue sticks. Pinagkakasya na lang po kung anong meron. Kasi hindi naman kami mabilis gumawa ng stick” (We only earn a little from stick making. We just make do with what we have because we can’t make sticks quickly).
The cruel irony was that demand for sugarcane products existed. People from other barangays—even distant towns like Banggar and Dipon—would travel to Sitio Alog specifically to buy their renowned suka (vinegar) and basi (sugarcane wine), sometimes arriving in cars to purchase gallons. However, the community couldn’t meet this demand. Without proper equipment, they couldn’t capitalize on market opportunities, keeping them trapped in subsistence farming despite their industriousness.
Building the Partnership
Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, Pure Bayanihan collaborated with the local police force to maximize impact. The organization worked closely with the 103rd Maneuver Company and Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1 (RMFB-1) under Police Captain Johnny Fataek, who understood that their mission extended beyond security to community development. Police Corporal Romeo Rafanan III became an instrumental bridge between the community and Pure Bayanihan, making multiple trips despite challenging weather conditions to ensure project requirements were met.
This collaborative approach also involved local government units and NGOs, creating a comprehensive support network that would prove essential for the project’s success. As Police Captain Fataek noted, their goal wasn’t just to provide equipment but to strengthen relationships with the community and create lasting change.
With this united front established, the stage was set to deliver the tools that would directly impact the farmers’ lives.
A Project That Changed Lives
The sugarcane juicer project was more than equipment delivery—it was a catalyst for transformation. Five juicer machines, along with collection drums and burners, were distributed to 35 qualifying households. Beneficiaries received comprehensive training in machine operation, maintenance, and business management, enabling them to produce higher-value products like juice, rice wine (basi), muscovado sugar (tagapulot), organic vinegar, and balikutsa with unprecedented efficiency.
For many, this fulfilled a long-held dream. Angelina Minela expressed deep gratitude: “Medyo naitigil po yung mga unasan (sugarcane) dahil kulang-kulang po kami ng equipment tulad ng juicer na ganyan. Kaya nagpapasalamat po kami sa Pure Bayanihan at naisip nila na magbigay ng ganun kahalaga para po sa amin” (Our sugarcane production somewhat stopped because we lacked equipment like a juicer. That’s why we are thankful to Pure Bayanihan that they thought of giving something so valuable to us).
The project fostered more than improved livelihoods—it built empowerment, valuable skills, and stronger community bonds. Mothers like Ivy Fajardo can now provide better for their families. “Malaking tulong talaga kasi pag may ganyan na kaming maraming makina ma’am, lahat kami nakakapagtanim at nakakapaggawa ng suka at basi para matugunan ang mga kailangan ng pamilya namin,” Ivy shared (It’s a really big help because if we have many machines like that, all of us can plant and make vinegar and basi to supplement our family’s needs).
Continuing the Mission
The success in Sitio Alog is just the beginning. A community-based association now sustains the project, while new partnerships are being explored to expand market access and replicate this model elsewhere. Ivy Fajardo spoke of the community’s commitment: “Sisipagan pa namin talaga. Pararamihin po namin, ma’am, yung binigay na patubo. At saka iingatan po namin yung mga makina na binigay sa amin” (We will really work harder. We will propagate the sugarcane seedlings they gave us. And we will take care of the machines given to us).
The story of Sitio Alog shows what’s possible when we come together for a common cause.
Help Us Spark More Change
Our mission is to give a hand up to more communities like Sitio Alog and help them create sustainable livelihoods that will be their tools to rise from poverty. You can be part of this movement—make a donation now or become a monthly supporter to help us reach more families in need.
Let’s keep building a future where every community has the tools and opportunities to thrive. Join Pure Bayanihan and turn hope into action, one project at a time.
