Sweet Success Story: The Ice Cream Makers of Bani’s SLP Story

Sweet Success Story: The Ice Cream Makers of Bani’s SLP Story

It was in 1993 when Fernando S. Verceles of Sitio Don Pascual, Brgy. Bani first discovered how to make sorbetes or 'dirty' ice cream. He said he learned the technology from Dagupan.

Using a capital of P1,500, he was able to produce 10 gallons of 2-flavored ice cream, which he sold around his neighborhood for P5.00 to P10.00 per cone.

His relatives and neighbors soon took interest in the trade and began to learn the ropes from Verceles.

In 2016, there were 15 of them making ice cream and began selling their products outside Bani. With the initial expansion came the experimentation with other flavors:  ube, cheese, and chocolate

In 2017, there were 17 of them, and apparently, they needed to do something more. This is when the Municipal Operations Office (MOO) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Field Office 1 (DSWD RFO1) entered their lives.

According to Arlene Sison, DSWD Project Development Officer II, the Bani ice cream makers were officially organized into an association in February 2017. This was in order for them to be able to avail of DSWD benefits, as organizing into an accredited association was among the prerequisites.

Now as the Bani Delicious Ice Cream Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA), the members headed by Verceles were able to avail of seed capital funds and technical assistance in their chosen livelihood.

After 1 year and 8 months of working hard and with the MOO's monitoring of their progress, ice-cream making proved viable in the long run, as the group continued to capitalize on Filipinos' weakness for sweet cold treats especially in the summer months.

By 2018, they were earning a total of P48,000 per year.

Verceles speaks words of gratitude to benefactors, DSWD, LGU-Bayambang, and KKSBFI

It was in April 20, 2018 when the SLPA received another round of support in the form of a new seed capital fund. In a ceremonial handover of checks at the Balon Bayambang Events Center, the members of 12 different SLPAs in Bayambang received P10,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. There were 15 lucky recipients from the Masaganang Maigpa Workers SLP Association, 23 from the Manambong Sur Farmers SLPA, 15 from the Pangdel Rice Retailers SLPA, 13 from the Mangabul SLP Workers Association, 21 from the Manambong Norte Workers Association, 28 from the Warding Farming SLPA, 19 from the Managos Farming SLPA, 16 from the Hermoza Farmers SLPA, 12 from the San Vicente Rice Retailers SLPA, 10 from the Aangat Tayo SLPA of Bongato East, and 17 from the Bani Delicious Ice Cream SLPA.

According to then Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Lerma Padagas, they were chosen as beneficiaries for the project because the Municipal Links of the DSWD RFO1 saw that they were ready to continue the program started by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and they could now stand even without the conditional cash transfer.

In his desire to lift the economic lives of his constituents, and as part of his declaration of a Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan or intensive anti-poverty campaign, Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao made a dare. He promised to double the amount of savings of whichever SLPA would have the highest earnings saved in their bank account every six months for two years.

Among the 12 SLPA beneficiaries, it was only the ice cream-makers of Bani that rose to the occasion. An audit of their books indeed showed P154,000 earnings within the period being considered.

Mayor Quiambao also delivered on his promise. On March 18, 2019 he handed over a ceremonial check worth P100,000 from his own private funds through the CS1^st Bank.

Eventually, it was agreed upon among the parties concerned that the award be converted into a mini-ice cream factory right at their place in Bani.

Mayor Quiambao’s private foundation, the Kasama Kita Barangay Foundation (KKSBFI), was tapped to help the Bani ice cream-makers to build a Mini-Ice Cream Factory along the Bayambang-Basista Rd. beside the Brgy. Bani Talipapa.

In May 9, 2019, a simple blessing rite was organized by the Bayambang Poverty Reduction Action Team under the leadership of Dr. Joel Cayabyab, and it was a happy occasion attended by Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao himself, Councilor Martin Terrado II, KKSBFI Managing Director Romyl Junio, Liga of Barangay President and Bani Punong Barangay Rodelito Bautista together with his entire council, Municipal Administrator Atty. Raymundo B. Bautista Jr., Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Lerma Padagas and the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilya team including the Municipal Links led by Randy Cacayan, other department heads of LGU, and members of the Bani Delicious Ice Cream SLP Association headed by Verceles.

Verceles welcomed everyone as he formally accepted the small building that would serve as their new workplace. Included in his thank you speech is the Engineering Office under Engr. Eddie Melicorio and the original DSWD Project Development Officers who helped them in establishing their association.

In his inspirational message, Mayor Quiambao counselled the members not to be content with their achievement, but instead to raise their standards and dream bigger. “Learn marketing, research how to make your product reach the shelves of SM supermarkets,” he challenged them.

It seems a daunting new dare for Bani’s ice cream makers, but with their newly acquired facility, the dare appears to remain in the realm of possibility.

(by Resty S. Odon, MOO Bayambang)