It has been almost six months since we signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Kooperatiba ng Maliliit na Magniniyog ng Brgy. Kanapawan (KMMBK), Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC) and Gawad Kalinga (GK) implementing the One Heart for One Community (OHOC) Program which turned over 100% of our profits from our number one selling product, the Citronella Bug Spray, as an investment fund for our farming community engagements. This may be uncommon for companies to pursue, but our leap of faith has resulted in productivity investments (repair and installation of additional extractors, construction of drying hall, water system and road network) and community development projects (textbooks for and renovation of Kanapawan Elementary School, construction of KMMBK office, provision of Philhealth and Red Cross insurances) that will enable the citronella farmers of Kanapawan to scale up their production and inspire the rest of their community to work together for their needs.

On August 8, 2011, these productivity investments and community development projects were inaugurated in Brgy. Kanapawan, Labo, Camarines Norte. Along with human nature employees headed by our very own President, Ms. Anna Meloto-Wilk, the event was attended by government officials, government agency heads, NGO partners, GK partners and even foreign visitors from France and the US. It was also graced by the founder of Gawad Kalinga, Tito Tony Meloto, who was very pleased to see a first non-GK community transformed in the GK Way, as he took pride in telling his foreign visitors that Filipinos are truly world class. Adhering with GK’s vision of uplifting 5 million poor families by 2024 by raising 500,000 social entrepreneurs, the transformation of Brgy. Kanapawan is a template in transforming our provinces via creative partnerships with LGUs, NGOs, Community Organizers and private corporations.

The day started with a tour to the Citronella Oil Production Center located in the middle of citronella plantations deep inside the forest. The visitors braved the 30-minute trek including crossing a river and traversing muddy and hilly terrain. They were greeted by a landscaped pathway with a concrete hanging bridge leading to the production center where they saw the huge drying hall and the extraction house with three hydrosteam extractors. The demo began with PFEC’s Executive Director, Dr. Roger Guzman, giving a brief orientation about the beginnings of the project. Kathleen Ramilo, PFEC’s Enterprise Development Officer, explained the different facilities in the production center. PFEC’s senior field officer, Jona Crisostomo, described the process while the farmers were showing how it is done. The farmers themselves answered the questions of the visitors, taking pride on their production center.

After the trek back to the main road, the program was held highlighting a video presentation showing everyone how this journey began and how much impact it has made on the lives of the farmers and the community as a whole. The coop now has its own office where they can hold meetings and have their files neatly kept in one place. It is a good start in their desire to professionalize their transactions as they become more competitive in the market. The school children are also happy that they do not need to wait for the others to finish their assignments before they can do their own because they already have new books to use. They and their teachers are also delighted with the newly repaired roofs of the school that they do not need to bring umbrellas inside the classroom anymore. They can now focus on studying without disturbance even if the heavy rains come. Their smiles were as bright as their newly-painted school buildings.

The farmers were also very thankful for the values formation given by GK. It has helped them re-live the spirit of bayanihan and padugo to be able to unite themselves and finish these projects and be able to show the world how their lives have been transformed by the One Heart for One Community Program. Indeed, this project is a testament to our commitment in empowering the Filipino farmers by providing them opportunities and capabilities to become productive and competitive in supplying world class products.