The municipality of Titay through the support of the LGU made a bold move in choosing drum hito production as the type of BPP project for the twenty-five (25) BPP beneficiaries of the said municipality. Jennifer P. Bagonoc, being the Titay municipal 4-H club federated president, was a fresh graduate at the time the BPP opportunity came. It was good timing for Jennifer who at that time was not able to land a job yet to help her family financially.

As a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA), it was a bit of a challenge to handle hito fingerlings and be able to sustain it but Jennifer took this challenge as an opportunity to enhance her knowledge and skills in agriculture and possibly to have a livelihood.

Knowing that her co-participants for the training are also the 4-H club members from her municipality inspired her more to do so. Her starter kit included 112 hito fingerlings, 2 drums, and 4 kilos feeds. She managed to grow the hito fingerlings but lost 20% due to the absence of free-flowing water or a water pump. This caused her delay in income generation.

Jennifer remained optimistic about it. While talking to the other BPP beneficiaries and sharing first-hand experience, they were able to make alternative food for the hito like chicken intestines and mosquito larvae. Jennifer and the other beneficiaries plan to multiply the hito, roll the funds, and be able to buy a water pump.

Amidst all of these, Jennifer was motivated to take the LEA and was able to pass the exam. According to her, the BPP experience gained knowledge and skills, and new learnings helped her to become a licensed agriculturist. She now works at the Municipal Agriculturist Office of Titay while her family helps her in the drum hito production.

“Your success story is not truly a success unless you are able to learn from it and help others”, Jennifer said. Being engaged in something that is outside of her comfort zone became truly a life-changing experience for Jennifer. She might be far from where she wants to be in the future, but she’s already far from where she started. Malayo pa, pero malayo na.