A PRICELESS ‘GIFT’ FROM A FATHER TO HIS SON

There is an adage that says “education is an inheritance that can never be stolen”. For Almario Benitez of Brgy. Porais, San Jose City, he gives profuse thanks to his father who not only provided him good education but also guidance in sharpening his ability to do farm works and buffalo dairying.

He said they were valuable assets painstakingly bestowed upon him by his father.

“To me, education and ability are equally important” Almario said. “Although I acquired good education, I followed what my father did in life to secure our livelihood,” he added. It was in 2000 when Almario started helping his father in tending a number of buffaloes. His father is one of the members of the Simula ng Panibagong Bukas Producers Cooperative, which is now a Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIPBU MPC). It was one of the co-ops selected by PCC for its program on entrusting dairy buffaloes. Soon, after seeing that he is already capable of taking care of a buffalo on his own, his father gave him one.

According to Almario, it became a personal challenge. While raising the calf, he didn’t have any income. He struggled financially and was then uncertain on how to support the family’s need especially at a time when his wife was due to give birth.

Instead of losing heart, he continued with sheer determination.

It took three years before he was able to reap the benefits of his labor. He was thrilled to no end when his dairy buffalo finally gave birth to a female calf.

After years of patience and diligence, he was able to increase the size of his herd to 32. Some of them were shared to his siblings and to his mother who also eventually engaged in dairying.

His wife, Sheryl, assists him in some of the works in dairying. From their current six lactating animals, their net income is Php800-900 a day. Yet, in the past, it wasn’t easy for Almario and his wife who had to walk for almost a kilometer to reach their herd.

“The road we traversed then was not yet cemented, that’s why it was quite difficult for us to reach our herd and to carry our milk harvest. There was even a time that we braved the wrath of a typhoon and the flood it spawned just so we can go to the corral where our animals were kept,” Almario said.

Typically, he said, he wakes up at 4 in the morning to go to his animals’ corral for the milking job. His wife, after taking care of the needs of their two children, follows carrying a thermos bottle to serve him coffee. Having done the needed works, they then walk home with their milk harvest to savor together their morning meal.

These days, going to their animal’s corral is relatively easier. Due to their daily income, they were able to buy a “kolong-kolong” (a motorcycle with a sidecar) which they also use for transporting their milk collection.

Almario pointed out that their co-op is of big assistance to them. Aside from the fact that it paved the way for them to avail of the dairy buffaloes from PCC, it also allowed them to receive technical support, among many other services.

“We are claiming now that because of buffalo dairying, my wife and I will witness our children finish their college education someday,” he shared.

As they grow old, Almario and his wife said they hope to pass on the rearing of their buffaloes to their children even though they are already professionals. They both said that buffalo dairying provides benefits that are sometimes better than those received by employees in certain agencies.

“I give back the honor and praises to my father for sharing to me his rich experience and knowledge in buffalo dairying,” Almario said. BY CHARLENE JOANINO