FROM A BORROWER TO A LANDOWNER: Jaina I. Retulin's Journey

Jaina I. Retulin, 59, of Barangay Silakat Nonok, Lezo, Aklan, once knew only the life of a borrower. 

Mrs. Jaina Retulin recalls her struggles from being a borrower to now a landowner.

As a tenant farmer with seven children to feed, every season was a cycle of planting, harvesting, paying rent, and still falling short.

Today, she stands on her own 2.5-hectare farm, with a home she calls her own, and she credits not just her determination but also the support of Lezo Multi-Purpose Cooperative’s Commodity Loan and ANYO Program for helping her turn that dream into reality.

Her journey began in 1990, when she and her husband farmed rented land. Farming was never easy, but it was the only way they could provide for their growing family. They subsisted on their farm's produce. The rest they sold for income.

But income was never enough, and their family lived on the edge of survival. What little they earned was spent on rent, loans, and daily necessities.

When Life Turned Upside Down

Hardship deepened when tragedy struck. Her husband’s hand was cut by a jealous neighbor, leaving him unable to work from 2004 to 2008. Suddenly, Jaina had to do it all—farm the land, care for her children, cook, and find ways to earn just enough to live.

Mrs. Jaina Retulin did the tilling, the farming, and everything in the farm when her husband's hand was slashed by a neighbor.

“Paalin baea maubos ang nalibod ngara ag paalin ko baea mapa igo-igo akong kita ngara sa pang adlaw-adlaw namon ag saang tatlo nga unga nga ga tueon pa sa Kalibo. Alin eoman baea ang ubrahon hinaga para may kitaon eoman ako?” she shared, recalling days when she cried while selling her products.

“Nagpangutang eoman ako sa ibang lendingan. Uwa man ako nag isip nga magpangayo sang pamilya hay uwa uwa man abi sanda,” she said.

Faith, Forgiveness, and Moving Forward

Even as she worked tirelessly, new challenges came. Her eldest daughter, whom she once hoped would become the family’s breadwinner, came home pregnant. Jaina felt crushed and could not accept her at first.

“Gin patawag ako it mga madre sa monesteryo para ayuson kami ko akon nga unga ag pagkatapos it mahabang istorya hay naghakos habang gatangis nga gapangayo it pasensya kakon ang unga. Sa ngaean nga indi mo matiis imo nga mga unga hay ginbaton ko imaw it uman basta indi eon nana pag-umanon pa,” she said.

Despite heartbreak and struggle, Jaina never stopped trying. Her perseverance caught the attention of a Department of Agriculture technician in Lezo, who encouraged her to attend trainings and seminars. These opened doors for her, teaching her modern farming methods and other livelihood ventures like piña fiber weaving, embutido making, papaya and corn atchara, and mushroom production.

“Gapasaeamat gid ako sa mga opurtunidad nga gintao kakon nga maka attend it mga seminar ag trainings nga nagamit ko gid sa pag pangita ag kapin gid sa tama nga pagpanguma,” she said.

Turning Point Through Cooperative Support

The turning point came when Jaina learned how to access the Lezo Multi-Purpose Cooperative’s Commodity Loan and ANYO Program. With financial support from the cooperative, she was able to invest in her farm properly, manage her resources, and start small ventures that steadily grew her income. This step was crucial in lifting her family out of the vicious cycle of debt.

Typhoon Frank devastated Aklan in 2008, including Jaina Retulin's farm, which was submerged in deep water for several days.

Then, in 2008, Typhoon Frank struck, destroying their home, drowning their animals, and covering their rice fields in mud. For a decade, her family lived in a rice warehouse.

Jaina's family lived in the rice warehouse for almost 10 years, following the devastation of their house by Typhoon Frank in 2008.

“Paalin baea kami kara maka bangon it uman ag makahalin kami it maistaran,” she asked herself.

Still, Jaina never gave up.

With her husband’s election as Barangay Official and her children’s scholarships, they started to rebuild. She also expanded her catering services, a skill that proved valuable during difficult times.

Surviving the Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, some of her children lost their jobs. They decided to rely on their farm and small business to get by.

“Nagdisisyun kami nga magbaligya it Binakoe nga Manok, Tilapia, ag mga tinuea nga ginaharvest namon sa among gulayan, ag dahil gani pandemya, ro mga tawo hay gaagto sa amon para boe-eon andang order bisan delikado ag bawal mag guwa. Uwa kami it mahimo dahil kung indi kami magdiskarte hay uwa man kami it kitaon,” Jaina said.

The Harvest of Perseverance

By 2022, Jaina’s greatest dream came true—all six of her children had completed their education. Among them are a licensed architect, a teacher, a fireman, an HRM graduate, an aircon technician, and a machinery shop owner.

After years of struggle and hard work, the Retulin now has a four-bedroom house they can call their own.

With their help, Jaina was finally able to purchase 2.5 hectares of farmland, a 1000 sq. m vegetable garden, and a 4000 sq. m fishpond. They also built a spacious four-bedroom home with three restrooms, a home they could finally call their own.

“Kabahoe gid a ang pasaeamat sa ang mga unga dahil maskin makara kalisod among haagyan sa among pangabuhi hay naghinguha gid sanda nga matapos nanda andang pagtuon ag sobra pa sang ekspektasyon,” she said proudly.

Borrower Turned Landowner

Jaina’s story is not just about farming or business. It is about rising from the lowest points of life, borrowing with courage, and using every opportunity wisely to build a better future.

With the help of Lezo Multi-Purpose Cooperative, she turned her small beginnings into something lasting and meaningful.

“Sa pagtinguha namong mag asawa ag mga unga kaibhan ro grasya ko atong Ginuo hay nalagpasan gid namon ro grabe nga kalisod it pagpangabuhi ag daya ro bunga sa akong pagpangutang sa kooperatiba,” she said.

From a borrower who once cried over her debts, Jaina is now a landowner, a mother who has given her children not just education but also the strength to rise above hardships. Her journey of pangungutang to finally being debt-free through hard work and enabling mechanisms is, indeed, inspiring and commendable.

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