ILOILO CITY – During the day, Mayflor Subong Janagap Cepeda works at the Iloilo provincial capitol here as safety and security officer.
MAYFLOR Subong Janagap Cepeda, from Calinog town, Iloilo province, and one of the top trainers of agri-based food development in Western Visayas region, with her products. (Tara Yap)
But in her spare time, she empowers women, especially mothers.
The native of Calinog town is one of the top trainers for community-based women entrepreneurs of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in making food by-products from agricultural products.
Her journey in empowering women began in the 2000s when she separated from her spouse and became a solo parent. The initial driving force was to earn extra to feed her child.
“But let us have an honest talk, especially for women. They should not be afraid to be on their own. It’s very painful to be separated when you are (financially) dependent on your partner. Women can survive as long as they strive and work,” Mayflor said.
The 47-year-old recalled that she had her initial training when she pursued an industrial education degree from the Calinog campus of West Visayas State University (WVSU).
Mayflor got the idea of food production as a rehabilitation officer when the provincial jail was still managed by the Iloilo provincial government.
She was sent to workshops intended to train lady jail detainees to become more productive during their incarceration with a livelihood program.
Mayflor would later start her own food development program by producing banana chips.
She also has other delicacies such as cassava cake, embutido (Philippine meatloaf), and atsara (pickled papaya). When she had enough products, she obtained proper permits and licenses from the government.
Mayflor was encouraged by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) to display her products at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol where DA executives saw her and started hiring her to train women in other areas of Western Visayas.
From 2017 to 2018, Mayflor was the coach and mentor for the Western Visayas regional team that won a national award for the DA food development for corn and cassava.
Mayflor has been cited for her work over the years. She is a scholar of the Bayan Academy, the women entrepreneurship program of the ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation and backed by the Lopez Group of Companies.