Deep within the Marag Valley, where the rugged mountains of Apayao meet the sky, lies Barangay Cagandungan. For those who lived through the 1980s, this land was defined by a chilling title: “No Man’s Land.” It was a notorious stronghold of insurgency, a place where conflict cast a long shadow over the lives of its residents. It wasn’t until 1993 that the government began the slow work of rehabilitation, gradually turning a landscape of violence into a destination for natural beauty and tourism.
Yet, despite the peace, life in Cagandungan remained a quiet test of endurance. Located 45 minutes from the business district of Luna, the community struggled with a lack of transportation, high inflation, and the constant threat of typhoons. For the Pantawaid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of the village, survival required more than just hard work; it required a new kind of courage to step away from the traditional.
A Brave Departure from Tradition
In 2023, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) introduced an economic intervention that would change the village’s trajectory. While the community was familiar with older versions of the program, the 21 members of the newly formed GO CAGALA (Go Cagandungan Livelihood Association) decided to do something different.
Instead of the usual farming or livestock projects, these 21 members—originally all women, two of whom have since been replaced by their husbands after moving abroad for work—took the risk of introducing a modern concept: a small snack station. With a seed capital of P420,000.00, they launched the area’s very first burger station. It was a gamble that traded traditional skills for entrepreneurship, serving burgers, hotdogs, and refreshments to a community that had never had a quick-service food hub.
The Growing Pains of Progress
The journey officially began on 16 March 2024, but the initial months were far from easy. Because the concept of a shared, association-led project was so new, it led to role confusion and frequent misunderstandings. In the beginning, even the smallest concern caused panic and arguments among the members.
“Narigat idi mangrugi kami paylang ta addu iti apa, ngem tadta ket awanen unay (It was difficult when when started, there were lots of disagreement, but now we encounter none)” admits Salvacion Pedronan, the association’s president. However, they didn’t let the friction burn them out. By working closely with Project Development Officers (PDOs) and attending training in bookkeeping and food preparation, the group matured. Today, they handle restructuring and business challenges with a calm, rational mindset. “Nu ada barbaro nga problema ket sublian mi laeng nu kasano kami nangrugi, ket kasla bassit lang dagitoyen nga banag (When we encounter new problems, we just go back from when we started and realizes that these are just minimal issues compared to then) Salvacion adds.
Innovation and “Bayanihan”
What makes GO CAGALA truly remarkable is their proactive resourcefulness. They don’t just sell snacks; they manage every resource with a “zero-waste” mindset. They filter and resell used cooking oil at a discount and sell empty dressing containers for profit rather than throwing them away. They even segregate plastic bottles to sell to scrap buyers, ensuring that every centavo is returned to the association.
Their “Bayanihan” spirit was most evident when they noticed their customers were struggling with the heat. Together, the members built a custom shed made of labig and paved the floor with concrete. This wasn’t just for comfort; this sturdy foundation saved their stall from being swept away when Typhoon Marce devastated the province. In the aftermath, as a massive blackout gripped the valley, the association became a lifeline. They used their generator not just to keep their frozen goods from spoiling, but to allow neighbors to charge their phones and radios—keeping the community connected during a time of crisis.
The Harvest of Empowerment
The financial growth of GO CAGALA is built on steady discipline. When operations officially began on 16 March 2024, the members were entering uncharted territory. By December of that same year, they had already reached a milestone that many thought would take years: their first official profit-sharing. Each member received P3,600.00 in dividends—a sum that served as a symbol of their prosperity. Though it represented months of patient labor, receiving this payout within their first year of operation proved that their unconventional gamble on a snack station was not just working; it was thriving.
This success is built on a rigorous 70/30 income split designed to protect the Association’s future. With daily earnings ranging from P1,000.00 to P2,000.00, the group ensures that 70% of the net income goes directly back to the SLPA. This majority share acts as the lifeblood of the business, functioning as a revolving fund that sustains daily operations, replenishes inventory, and builds their growing savings, which now stand at P190,000.00. The remaining 30% serves as the commission-based wage for the hired individual managing the stall, ensuring that local employment is both fair and sustainable.
For treasurer Eloisa Dawang, this first dividend was a tool for further independence. She used her share to improve her kulong-kulong (motorized sidecar), which she now uses to transport members to bank transactions and training sessions. Other members, like Rovie Pedronan, invested their shares into small loans to generate long-term interest. By providing these dividends and even offering weekend work to local students, GO CAGALA has ensured that the sizzle of their burger grill echoes as a sound of economic victory throughout the entire Marag Valley.
A Budding Future
The transformation of GO CAGALA is more than just a business success; it is the story of a community reclaiming its identity. By choosing the path of entrepreneurship over the safety of the status quo, these 21 families have turned a “No Man’s Land” into a land of “New Possibilities.” They began as a Punla—a tiny seedling planted in the soil of a post-conflict zone. Through every typhoon, every disagreement, and every lesson learned in financial management and computer literacy, they have grown into an Usbong, a resilient bud pushing through the hard ground of poverty.
Today, they are blossoming into Sibol, reaching for the light of a future they built with their own hands. As they expand their operations to include ice-making and catering for local graduations, they stand as a living testament to the fact that peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of opportunity. In the quiet heights of Marag Valley, the sizzle of a burger grill is now the sound of victory—a reminder that when people are given the tools and the trust to lead, even the most forgotten corners of the province can flourish into a beacon of self-reliance and hope. #DSWD FO CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Joanna Marie M. Caponpon-Apostol, PDO II – SLP SMO with Jehan E. Keyaten, Implementing PDO – SLP Apayao
