High in the mountains of Tinglayan, Kalinga, where narrow trails cling to steep slopes and the wind sweeps through pine and rice fields, lies Barangay Butbut Proper—one of the oldest and most established settlements of the Butbut Tribe. Its remoteness is not merely geographical—reaching the community requires grit. Travelers must endure an hour’s motorcycle ride over rugged pathways, or either nearly two hours on foot before finally arriving at the cluster of homes that make up this upland barangay. Only dump trucks and a few sturdy vehicles can reliably make the journey, bridging the settlement to the lowland centers below.
Despite the difficulty in reaching it, Butbut Proper hums with quiet resilience. Home to 123 households, the community shares its borders with Barangay Loccong and thrives on self-sustaining livelihoods shaped by tradition and terrain. Farming remains the lifeblood of the area, supplemented by blacksmithing and the customary kaingin or slash-and-burn system. Families harvest legumes, a variety of vegetables, and rice—crops that serve both as staple food and modest income sources.
Education, however, is a privilege many here did not attain. Most residents were unable to pursue college degrees, limiting access to formal employment and technical work. With few opportunities available, people rely heavily on their land or take on labor jobs to support their households. Yet, in the midst of economic challenges, a profound strength binds the community together—their unbroken culture of bayanihan. This collective spirit—passed down through generations—remains the invisible force that makes life lighter, work easier, and hardships bearable.
It was this same spirit that shaped a new chapter in 2023, when the Department of Social Welfare and Development introduced the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) initiative to the community. Sixty-two men, including 36 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, organized themselves into a livelihood association. They chose to name their group the Ongá Ababwhujug Association, drawing deeply from their collective identity. In July 2023, they received the Seed Capital Fund amounting to ₱300,000, and by September of the same year, their community store officially opened.
“Ongá” was the original name of their barangay—a reminder of their roots and ancestry. “Ababwhujug,” in the Butbut language, captures the very essence of bayanihan. Combined, the name honors both their cultural past and their shared determination to move forward together.
The formation of the Association was more than a requirement under SLP—it was a declaration of unity. As the members gathered to envision a livelihood project that would benefit their families and neighbors, one need stood out unmistakably—access to basic goods. For years, residents of Butbut Proper had to travel to Poblacion or even Tabuk City just to buy rice, LPG, and other everyday necessities. The trip was time-consuming, physically taxing, and often expensive—especially during the rainy season when trails turned dangerous.
The Association decided to confront this challenge head-on. They proposed a small-scale enterprise that would bring essential commodities directly to the barangay. The idea was simple but transformative: a retail livelihood project offering rice, LPG, frozen products, and other necessities so families would no longer have to make long trips just to meet their daily needs.
Understanding that all members had their own livelihood responsibilities, the group hired a female storekeeper—the wife of one of the members—to oversee daily operations. The men continued farming and wage labor while remaining actively involved in meetings, financial discussions, and decision-making. To strengthen the association’s financial discipline, DSWD provided one-on-one bookkeeping sessions for the Treasurer and Secretary, ensuring that the enterprise was managed with transparency and accountability.
As the store’s operations grew, so did the Association’s confidence and unity. The members reinvested earnings into the business, carefully growing their savings and expanding their revolving fund. Their dedication was rewarded with their first profit sharing, during which each member brought home two sacks of rice—a meaningful reminder of what collective effort can achieve. Their consistent performance and responsible management later qualified them for the second tranche of livelihood assistance in November 2024, providing another ₱300,000 to expand their operations further. This allowed the store to maintain and widen its supply, strengthening its presence as a vital service provider in the community.
For many members, whose income depends on seasonal farming and unstable daily labor, the Association has become a crucial pillar of stability. Despite earning only modest daily wages, they now have a livelihood project that supports them year-round. After one year and nine months of operations, the Association had accumulated ₱121,741 in savings and built a revolving fund amounting to ₱678,615—clear indications of their discipline, unity, and readiness to grow.
More than convenience, the initiative promised empowerment. By operating their own community store, the Association strengthens their local economy, keeps resources within the barangay, and eases the burden on households already facing financial strain. For a community long shaped by cooperation, the project was a natural extension of their bayanihan ethos—each member contributing to a shared vision of progress.
Beyond their enterprise, the Ongá Ababwhujug Association continues to embody the spirit of bayanihan. Whenever the barangay implements local construction projects, the members volunteer as laborers. Instead of accepting individual wages, they contribute the payment directly to the Association’s fund, which helps support the ongoing construction of their store. They also assist in building homes and community structures without expecting compensation, strengthening not only their organization but also the entire barangay.
For former SLPA President and now Barangay Captain, Pedro Bugawit, the project’s value goes far beyond income. “Dakkel nga tulong daytoy haan laeng kadakami a members, nudiket para amin nga tattao dituy Butbut,” he said, expressing his gratitude. “Immasideg ti paggatangan mi ti kasapulan. Agyaman kami ti DSWD ken kadagiti staff nga saan nga napudot ti panangtarabay yo kadakami,” he added. Their gratitude reflects how deeply the community feels the impact of having essential goods close at hand and how meaningful the support has been in strengthening their livelihood.
Today, the Ongá Ababwhujug Association stands as a symbol of pride for Butbut Proper. Their story reflects a community grounded in its culture yet eager to embrace new opportunities. In a place where the mountains both isolate and protect, where tradition guides daily life, and where unity is a way of living, the association has taken a meaningful step toward self-reliance.
Here in the highlands, amid the echo of hammers in blacksmith shops and the rustling of rice stalks in the wind, a quiet transformation is taking root. The people of Butbut Proper—through their unwavering solidarity and the nurturing support of programs like SLP and PAMANA—are proving that progress grows even in the most remote corners, especially when a community rises as one.#DSWD FO CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Joanna Marie M. Caponpon-Apostol, PDO II – SLP SMO, with Charmaine Kathrine M. Baga-an, PDO II, SLP Kalinga
