OUTSTANDING HOMEMAKERS: BARANGAY BAGUINGE’S

PRIMEMOVERS
An empowered women’s group brings a lowly root crop to a sweeter level

Who would ever think that a pig’s common food would someday become a prized souvenir
item? Only the homemakers of Barangay Baguinge, Kiangan, Ifugao would have the
imagination to think this is possible, and the guts to make it happen. For indeed, the taro,
which is commonly used to feed swine has become Kiangan’s favorite sweets, the taro nut
cookies and choco crème.

The saga of the Baguinge Rural Homemakers Association- Alabama RIC begun in 2002.
They started with 33 members, organized as a Rural Improvement Club, by the
Department of Agriculture. Their first project was on taro and camote production, using
their members’ capital share as source of funding for their project. It was 3 years later
that they got into root crop food processing, with assistance from the Department of
Labor and Employment. DOLE’s assistance was the provision of training and the needed
equipment. The group went into other projects such as swine dispersal, gardening,
mushroom production and micro-lending, but it was in taro processing where they found
their niche. It was also in 2002 that the group started to get citations and awards.

“As recipients of the Most Outstanding Rural Improvement Club Award by the Capitol for
2 consecutive years, we were moved to improve even more our products,” said _____.
“Thus we were awarded as Regional Outstanding RIC in 2005 and were ranked by Gawad
Saka as Top 4 National Outstanding RIC. These awards not only inspired the members, it
also brought us to the attention of other agencies.”

Agencies other than the DOLE and DA started to give to the association more assistance
through training courses and other equipment. It was the Department of Trade and
Industry who sponsored the group’s Training on Taro Chocolate Making in 2005. The
Department of Agrarian Reform sponsored their trainings on basic bookkeeping, then later
assistance was given on product enhancement and evaluation. The Provincial Agriculture
Office also sponsored other needed training courses. Each training course was valued by
the association, using each lesson learned to improve their products and their organization.

Thus the association was ready for the market linkages that were made possible through
the Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Program (RuMEPP) of the International Fund for
Agricultural Development. RuMEPP is coursed through the Department of Trade and
Industry to assist micro-enterprises through a comprehensive variety of services, and
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among these is market linkage. Marketing support included participation in trade fairs at
the local, provincial and regional levels. The Taro Nut Cookies and the Taro Creams found
their way in bazaars, agro-fairs and other market matching events. Through these
exposures, the association found it easy to supply school canteens, souvenir shops,
bakeries and other outlets. They supply stores in Banaue, Lagawe, Lamut and Baguio.
Lately, they found a new home in the Kiangan Pasalubong Center, where it is one of the
most popular souvenir items.
Nature of Service Year

Rendered cooking Every July

A factor in the success of the BRHA is in the manner
demonstration during from 2005-
that they gave back to the community. For the many
Nutrition Month 07
blessing they have received from the different Celebration
agencies, they somehow found a way to pay back.
Conducted outreach 2005-2007
They actively participated during barangay and activities to indigent
municipal events, manifesting strong community RIC members by giving
involvement and participation. Community service used clothing and goods

was regularly done, organizing novenas and outreach (food)

activities to indigent and disabled members of the Conduct vigil services to 2005-2007
barangay. The number of awards and certificates of 4 bereaved RIC families
and granting Mortuary
appreciation from grateful agencies and recipients
Fund Assistance
attests to the sincere service of the BRHA in the
community. Rendered and advocated 2005-2007
Clean & Green Activities
To date, BRHA has an asset of P____, with 39 and Waste Recycling in
every RIC homes and
members and producing at least 350 boxes of taro
along the road from
nut cookies and choco creams every week. Quite a
Ibulao-Yucco
feat for a womens’ group, whose production five
Active participation Every Dec.
years ago was ___ per week.. However, it is not
during barangay fiestas 2005-2007
difficult to foresee that BRHA will soon be a by initiating agri-
primemover also for the whole town of Kiangan and livestock contested
for the province of Ifugao. After all, it is a model events for farmers,
women and youth
association that used the convergence of assistance
from different agencies to maximize benefits to its Assist other RIC Since 2005
members and to the community. Organization in the
Municipality