Young couple Allen Paul Santos, 23, and Mikee Anne Castañeda, 23, of San Francisco, Tarlac City, each had to live a life of hard work and perseverance until they met each other and decided to embark on their newfound adventure.

Allen was then a student working as a delivery guy for a fast food restaurant while Mikee’s scholarships helped her tide over her schooling. Both of them were taking their bachelor’s degree in Education Major in Technology Livelihood Education at Tarlac State University.

In 2021, Allen had an accident while on his way to delivering food, which badly led him to leave the job. Although finding a different source of income became challenging, Allen was able to save from his earnings and Mikee was able to do the same from her scholarship grants. Finally, without any luck for a new job opportunity, the couple decided to use their collective savings to purchase one dairy buffalo after learning about DA-PCC’s program.

Allen knew that it was not easy to take care of a buffalo, but their first, which they named “Big Momma” gave them hope and purpose. According to Allen, love and passion is the key to carrying on a project, he added, “walang mahirap kung gusto mo, mas mahirap kung wala kang gagawin”.

He also claimed that many people do not believe in what they are doing. They heard a lot of criticism and they lacked moral support. They trudged on despite the hardship and soon proved that there is life in dairying, but only if one has perseverance, hard work, patience, and unfailing faith.

Allen and Mikee consulted with the DA-PCC at Central Luzon State University through its center director Dr. Ericson N. Dela Cruz who encouraged and exposed the couple to becoming a successful young dairy farmer.

After months of consultation, the couple decided to request for a training on processing value-added products such as pastillas, pasteurized milk, flavored milk, and yogurt.

In 2022, the pair participated in the Department of Agriculture Young Farmer Challenge Program for Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service where they won and received financial assistance to help them achieve their current goal of building a small product processing facility for their value-added milk products. With the prize money that they received amounting to a total of PHP100,000, they decided to create the brand “Ka’Gatas”, which means Kapamilya, Kaibigan, Kapatid, Kabukiran at Kaagapay, and has since became popular in their barangay.

Ka’Gatas products are supported by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tarlac City with the endorsement of the city’s agricultural officer.

During lean months when the supply of milk becomes low and the demand is high, the young carapreneurs would resort to personally scouting milk from other dairy farmers. This situation also prompted them to put up an organization with initially 15 members. They named the group “EDEN Youth Association (EYA)”.

Adding to the many benefits that EYA members are so far enjoying, the organization was recognized as Most Outstanding Youth Social Enterprise” last July by the Villar Sipag Awards – Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge. The group intends to invest their prize money in the establishment of their dream dairy outlet.

Allen said their passion and enthusiasm to keep winning in their dairy venture is because they want to create an indelible impact on their community. This is why, he said, they keep studying to further the business.

They believe that sharing their story will inspire others and help their community appreciate the benefits of joining DA-PCC's CBED program. All their efforts are dedicated to their four-month-old daughter Alora Freya C. Santos, a product of their marriage in 2022.