FAITH IN BUFFALO DAIRYING YIELDS BLESSED FORTUNE

For Bernadette Dela Cruz, 27, of Diliman 1, San Rafael, Bulacan, her ambitions in life demand hard work, passion and fortitude. She courageously believes, just like what her name indicates— “brave as a bear”, that she wouldn’t fail.

She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Food Technology degree through buffalo-based enterprise that her family ventured in. Aside from her, her brother, Jherico, 22, also earned a Bachelor of Animal Science degree from the Bulacan Agricultural State College.  

Bernadette narrated that before her family knew about buffalo dairying, her parents, Bernardino and Evangeline, really had a hard time in providing for their basic needs and much so in sending them to school.

 

On the other hand, her father said that even if it pained his heart for not being able to provide all the needs of his children, he still didn’t lose hope that someday all the hardships would come to pass.

 

As fate would have it, his hope started to materialize. This happened when Bernardino was encouraged by PCC@CLSU to venture into buffalo dairying in 2001.

 

He started by having one dairy buffalo and with patience and diligence, he started to nurture it to grow into a herd of 10 buffaloes. Four of them lactated at the same time, giving him a daily income of not less than Php1,000 and, plus the earnings he got from selling the male offspring of the animals. All these afforded him to support the college education of his children.

 

In 2012, Bernardino was recognized as “Outstanding Dairy Buffalo Farmer” by PCC during its 19th Founding Anniversary.

 

Unlike others who spend unwisely when they have money, Bernardino and Evangeline saved much in order to invest in other businesses. They acquired two taxicabs and a few tricycles. Describing what their house looked like before, they said the whole structure was simple and plain and the walls were only made of bare hollow blocks. But now, they have fully renovated it. It’s now a two-storey house with tiled floorings, the walls were white-painted, which symbolizes buffalo’s milk, and inside it is a spacious living area with complete appliances and more than three bedrooms.

 

The overall interior and design of the house can now be described as “very cozy and inviting”. It somehow showcases how buffalo dairying helped them improve their daily living. Bernardino worked harder to support the education of his children. For him, education is the only treasure in one’s life that cannot be stolen. Needless to say, he and his wife had the glory of their lives when Bernadette and Jherico came up the stage to receive their diploma, in separate years, for completing their respective courses.

 

The Dela Cruz family has become a living testimony that there, indeed, is “light at the end of a tunnel”.

 

“We Filipinos should not suffer from too much poverty. If we are diligent enough and if we know how to save and manage our finances, we are certain to succeed in life,” Bernardino said.