Juvilyn Simbulan, 44 years old, lives with her husband in Brgy. San Nicolas, San Simon, Pampanga. They make a living by farming and raising ducks. To make ends meet, her husband takes odd jobs like working part time in construction sites.

When Typhoon Ulysses struck their barangay, Juvilyn and her husband was so distressed. The strong wind almost destroyed their house, which was made of light materials. They stayed up all night, looking at their roof, waiting for it to be blown away by the typhoon.
The waist-deep flood also destroyed their livelihood. The vegetables that they planted were all submerged in water. Her husband immediately made a makeshift boat from banana shrubs in an attempt to save their ducks. Unfortunately, most of their ducks died. They did not know how to start again.

Juvilyn’s family was one of the beneficiaries of the vegetable seeds and organic fertilizer provided for the people affected by Typhoon Ulysses. After receiving the seeds, they immediately planted them.
“The vegetable seeds and organic fertilizer were of great help to us. Now, we will have food to eat. I will also be able to sell some of the vegetables so we can have money for our other needs like rice, cooking oil, or fish. I will also save money so we can have the capital to raise more ducks. Little by little, we will rise from this disaster.”
Now, Juvilyn and her husband is very happy to see the vegetables that they planted growing. To them, they symbolize hope that they will eventually recover from Typhoon Ulysses.

Juvilyn also actively participated in the training on Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Fertility Management. She was actually teased by her co-trainees as the “first honor” because she was always the first to answer the trainers’ questions.

She said she learned in the training that everyone in the community has an important role in ensuring a sustainable agricultural system.