July 22-23, 2022, Davao Oriental

Contributor: Rev. Theresa Eleonor Barrientos

It was a historical moment for the Banaybanay Women because for the first time, they were able to meet the representatives of the United Women in Faith who were instrumental in the pursuit of their Peanut Butter Livelihood Program.  United Women in Faith Regional Missionary Emma Cantor,  together with Hannah Abadilla, Volunteer for Program of the United Women in Faith, and Rev. Erlincy Rodriguez, Retired Clergy, visited the Banaybanay Economic Empowerment Team and conducted a two-day leadership capacity building training at Bonhomie Leisure and Resort, Puntalinao, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental. The participants were the Banaybanay Economic Empowerment Team (Country Team) comprised of Evelyn Luzano (Community Leader, Women Society of Christian Service Annual President), three women leaders, one woman clergy, two young women (all from Banaybanay UMC), and one video editor for documentation. Aside from the official members of the team, other women from Banaybanay UMC joined the training.

The first day commenced with a devotion led by the young people, followed by a getting to know you activity. An orientation was given by Emma Cantor and Hannah Abadilla regarding the Economic Empowerment Work.

The next part of the Training was a sharing of experiences from the assigned panelists, focusing on the Peanut Butter Economic Empowerment or Livelihood Program. Rev. Erlincy Rodriguez shared about the reason why Banaybanay Women was chosen to be the recipients of the grant and participants of the Economic Empowerment Program. She was the one who suggested Banaybanay Women Peanut Butter because she saw the potential of the product and the hard work of the Banaybanay Women in selling the product during conferences. Short inputs were given by Fely Solis, Rev. Theresa Eleanor Paano-Barrientos, Lita Robel, and Evelyn Luzano about the beginning of the Banaybanay Women Peanut Butter Community, Enhancing Peanut Butter Making Skills, and the role of the Church in the formation of the Economic Empowerment Program.

The second day was equally motivating. It began with a devotion led once again by the young people. Rev. Theresa Eleanor Barrientos shared about David and Goliath, and that the country team was like David facing a giant (the responsibility as part of the country team). Small and unequipped as he was, David defeated the giant with the Lord’s strength and blessing; and the same thing will happen to the Banaybanay Economic Empowerment team. The lack of training and knowledge will not deter the success of the program because they possess the greatest weapon, the presence and empowering spirit of God.

The devotion was followed by an enlightening and informative lecture by Lorelie Gambong-Cawanan, a Certified Public Accountant and an Accounting Head at AZF Bookkeeping and Accounting Services among many other affiliations. She gave a lecture on the basic concepts of financial management and marketing. She even touched a little on basic bookkeeping and gave an idea on how to register the product eventually to expand its market. She also offered her services to the team for free should the team need some advice on the product registration and the documents needed for it. This offer ignited the spirits of the Banaybanay women.

In the final part of the training, Emma Cantor challenged the group to aim higher and dream bigger for the product and that the United Women in Faith are not after what the team can offer in return but instead what they can do to pay it forward especially to those in need.

One thing that stuck through the participants minds were the words from Emma Cantor, “Napansin nila (United Women in Faith) ang Banaybanay Women. Ayaw na nila kayong pakawalan. Gusto nila magfocus sa inyo.” (The United Women in Faith noticed Banaybanay and they do not want to let you go. They want to focus on you.) The Banaybanay women cannot contain their gratitude for the opportunities provided by the United Women in Faith, especially for noticing them being a humble group of women from a humble community. Honey Seguido, one of the youth representatives, was amazed because it was her first time to join a seminar or training like this and it made her learn a lot about leadership and marketing. In fact, the youth are planning to pursue another peanut product (peanut with dilis) in coordination with the women.  Fely Solis, the peanut butter adviser, expressed her joy that the United Women in Faith representatives in the life of Emma Cantor and Hannah Abadilla, really took time to travel all the way from Manila to Banaybanay to listen to the stories of the women and to give inputs as well.

The Banaybanay Women’s experience has been one of a kind and with that, they are looking forward to the Phase 2 (Grail Training). In the meantime, they are scheming on what to do next with the fresh knowledge they have acquired.