It all started when the municipality of Moncada enrolled sweet potato in the One Town One Product Program of the Department of Trade and Industry in 2003. Known for its abundant production on sweet potato, particularly in Barangay Ablang-Sapang, Moncada has been the major supplier of raw materials for animal feeds manufactured by major local feed millers like B-MEG Philippines of San Miguel Corporation.
Having known the nutritional benefits of sweet potato for human consumption, the LGU of Moncada organized the Moncadenian’s BUSILAK-RIC, a group of trained women to venture into sweet potato processing. They were able to process sweet potato chips, crunchies, pulvoron, buchi and beverage.
After developing these sweetpotato-based products, the LGU continued to identify products which can lengthen the shelf-life of their main raw material. With this need in mind, in 2009, Maria Divina Gloria G. Ramos, DTI-CARP Provincial Coordinator, suggested to former Mayor Benito E. Aquino the prospects of sweet potato as a wine. He approved the idea, thus, a skills training on sweetpotato wine making was immediately conducted with the assistance of Michelle Gorospe, a professor from Tarlac Agricultural University whose expertise is on wine making.
In 2010, El Vino De Benito Wine Manufacturing Plant was born. After some time, several product development and packaging activities were conducted. The one-year old-aged wine undertook an alcohol content analysis test. It registered 13.8% volume in alcohol. The trademark – Don Benito Sweetpotato Wine – was then registered at and approved by the Intellectual Property Office. The packaging and labeling were also improved. The search for the appropriate bottle took some time until finally Don Benito found the right packaging for their wine. Today, the wine is being packaged in slim 375 ml- and frosted 500 ml- bottles. They have the Classic Dry and the Citrus Sweet Blend variants available any time.
The product was launched in the market on February 12, 2010 during the celebration of Moncada’s Balikbayan Night. It was a crowd-drawer, generating curiosity among those present.
From the time it was launched, Don Benito Sweetpotato Wine has joined several provincial and regional trade fairs. Most of its consumers are balikbayans who would want to bring back home something new from the Philippines. It has become a favorite pasalubong and token among the locals, as well. In several instances, it has been featured in TV Programs like Rated K and Kapuso Mo, Jessica Sojo. It was endorsed by King of Talk, Boy Abunda, in his show, Tonight With Boy Abunda.
Don Benito was also a recipient of various wine making tools, machines and equipment under the DTI Shared Service Facility. The SSF was launched on May 29, 2015 and was upgraded last Dec. 29, 2016. The SSF was tied-up with Moncada LGU’s OTOP Express Store funded under the DTI’s Buttom-Up Budgeting Program. The OTOP Express Store is strategically located along Mac Arthur Highway, beside the Moncada Negosyo Center.
Today, Don Benito Sweetpotato Wine is not only marketed in Moncada and Tarlac Province. It has reached international shores because it has become a favorite pasalubong by Filipinos who wanted to bring some Filipino spirit with them whenever they leave the Philippines.
Most of all, Don Benito opened a lot of opportunities for farmers in terms of value-adding their existing crop, through processing and the generation of jobs. It enabled them to learn and to engage in entre-farm activities. All of these boosted their confidence and self-worth and empowered them to be better people.♦