Homemade Success!

By: Edrian Banania

Cagayan De Oro- In the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro, Jaime and Candelaria Bedro built more than just a source of livelihood, but a life rooted in hard work, perseverance, and strong family values.

Originally from Cebu, Jaime grew up experiencing financial hardships at an early age. Because of the family’s limited income, he was unable to finish his studies. Despite this, he remained determined to help his family earn a living.

Where the story begins

As one of his siblings worked in a business that makes longganisa, a Filipino-style sausage, Jaime started as a helper and, over time, learned the production process firsthand. As they became more confident in their skills, they eventually expanded their knowledge to include other food products, such as pork chicharon, a deep-fried pork belly or rinds.

In search of better opportunities and a fresh start, Jaime and his family moved to Cagayan de Oro in 1982. As they settled into their new home, they began using their skills to make homemade pork longganisa, which they sold within their community, as well as in nearby malls and private offices.
After years of hard work, Jaime met Candelaria, a resident of Cagayan de Oro who later became his wife. They got married in 1987 and worked hand-in-hand in starting their own longganisa business. To help meet the growing family, they also put up a small sari-sari store at home, which provided additional income to support their daily needs.
As time went by, the couple did not settle and continued searching for additional sources of income. In 1998, they began producing pork chicharon, which they sold to market vendors and store owners within their community, particularly in Cogon Market and Bulua Public Terminal.

Their passion for making longganisa remains. Every week, they carefully produce three to four batches of longganisa using fresh, locally sourced pork. Through years of experience, they learned that quality plays a huge role in keeping customers satisfied and maintaining the taste of their products.

“Sa ganitong business, ang major na challenge namin ay ang mga imported na karne ng baboy. Masusi naming tinitingnan kung local at fresh ba ang karne dahil hindi maganda ang kalidad ng longganisa kapag imported pork ang ginagamit,” Jaime shared.

Meanwhile, managing their chicharon business was never easy. Their production was usually done twice a week and involved a long and careful process. From preparing and drying the pork skin to frying it properly, every step required patience and consistency. Aside from the increasing cost of raw materials, unpredictable weather has also become one of their biggest challenges. During rainy days, the pork skin took longer to dry, causing delays in production and affecting their usual schedule.

“Sa chicharon business naman, nakadepende sa quality ng pork skin or rinds ang dami ng magiging finished products mo, kaya hindi pare-pareho ang benta at kita,” he explained.

Despite all the difficulties, they never wavered and continued working hard to sustain their livelihood.

A new door opens

As their business grew, so did the needs of their family. In need of additional capital, a neighbor introduced Candelaria to CARD SME Bank, Inc., a thrift bank under CARD MRI, in 2012. After learning about the institution’s loan and insurance services, she decided to become a client.

She started with an initial loan of PHP 5,000, which gradually increased over the years to as much as PHP 100,000. The additional capital helped them strengthen their business and support their household expenses. Seeing the positive impact on their livelihood, her husband also decided to become a client in 2020.

Together, the couple managed their loans responsibly and used them wisely to grow their business. Through discipline, hard work, and perseverance, they were able to gradually improve their living conditions while continuing to support the education and daily needs of their children.

“Bukod sa aming negosyo at suporta ng aming pamilya, malaki rin ang pasasalamat namin sa CARD SME Bank dahil nabigyan kami ng oportunidad na magkaroon ng mapagkukunan ng dagdag na puhunan para sa aming negosyo. Sa 14 years ko bilang client, napaayos namin ang aming bahay at nasuportahan ang pangangailangan ng aming apat na anak. Isa pa sa aming ipinagpapasalamat ay ang pagiging CARD scholar ng aming bunsong anak,” Candelaria shared.
Despite the growing competition in their businesses, Jaime and Candelaria continue to persist. Beyond earning, they have also shared their skills and knowledge with relatives, some of whom are now starting businesses of their own.
Their sacrifices also helped open better opportunities for their children. Today, two of them are already working in Manila and have families of their own. One now helps them manage and sustain the family business, while their youngest is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management at Cagayan de Oro College as a proud CARD scholar.
Through years of hard work, the couple was able to acquire a house and lot, expand their sari-sari store, and sustain their business despite the many challenges they faced along the way.
Looking ahead, Jaime and Candelaria remain committed to further growing their livelihood. They plan to expand their market reach and strengthen their brand presence. As part of their long-term goals, they also aim to officially register their longganisa products with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and comply with other relevant government agencies to formalize further and expand their operations.
Working side-by-side through the years, Jaime and Candelaria proved that simple beginnings, when driven by perseverance and love for family, can lead to lasting success.