MILITARY ENTREPRENEUR: THE PFC ROMNICK CAMAYRA STORY

MILITARY ENTREPRENEUR: THE PFC ROMNICK CAMAYRA STORY

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work” – Colin Powell

Everything started with a DREAM…..

Romnick “Nico” Camayra came from a struggling family.Their family owns a communal land in which they grow crops for their own consumption for a period of time. This has been their family’s practice since then.Nico was the 2^nd child of the 6 children in the family. As he could vividly recall, every Christmas Eve, due to the fact that they can’t afford buying presents, cooking/buying food for Noche Buena, he and his siblings would just go to a  hilltop which they called “banglid” to just watch the fireworks which can be clearly  seen from the town celebrating the occasion.

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work” – Colin Powell

At a young age  Nico felt the difficulty of  having less in life. And this had developed in him a strong desire to  finish his studies so that he  can help his parents as well as his siblings – whatever it takes.

Nico  was a consistent honor student from elementary  to high school and had excelled even in extracurricular activities. However, after he had graduated from high school, Nico had experienced one of the greatest turmoil of his life – his parents could no longer afford to send him to school.

Desperate…Disappointed…Nico  went away from their home. He seeks employment for the purpose of proving  his father that his decision of not sending him to school is a gesture of being irresponsible. He worked as  a “kargador” to one of the soft drinks distributors in town. He experienced not having his wage for he has incurred damages and would even still pay for his employer for the numerous soft drinks bottles which were broken accidentally.

Unfazed by the situation, Nico continued to persevere so that he can gather the necessary amount to get him to his dream- to be enrolled in college.

Out of the little  saving he has from his job, he  enrolled in college and took up BS Agriculture and not getting any support from his parents. Impossible as  it may seem, Nico focused on his dreams. He refused to believe that he will be a “kargador” nor  poor forever.

Hardship…perseverance…dreams, Nico started to  pursue in an entrepreneurial endeavor while still in school..  He surveyed their  family owned land and found out that they have substantial land ready for growing crops. With his knowledge learned in school, he decided to cultivate the land. He planted eggplants, tobacco, banana, corn, okra, squash, pepper, mongo seeds, kadios, rice etc.

Every day was challenge for Nico.Every morning, he made sure that he is already awake even before the rooster crows, to tend for his carabao, water his crops and gather some woods. Only after  doing these chores that Nico can  go to his class. Every day, he  has  to walk for almost 2kms. In going to school just to save on transportation.

After 2 months of cultivating their land, Nico’s first harvest were ready. Nico sold his harvest to his classmates, teachers and to other people he knew. This has been his routine for almost 4 years.

At last, the most awaited time has come, his graduation day. Nico got his college diploma from West Visayas College of Science and Technology – Leon Campus.

For lack of opportunity in his chosen profession, Nico entered the  AFP(Armed Forces of the Philippines). But despite his full-time job, he still managed to run the family farm which made  him to send his other siblings to school.

As of this writing, 2 of his siblings  had already earned a degree, and the other 1 is currently taking up BS Agriculture. He also put up his own house and still managed his farm which he already expanded through the years. He is now supplying various carenderia in their town and distribute his harvest to various resellers in the municipal market.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world” – Harriet Tubman

 

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 Contributor: Jasmine Grace Dominguez,is a graduate of BS Operations Management at the Universityof St La salle- Bacolod .Currently working at Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology(NONESCOST) as a College Instructor and Bookstore Manager of the school..