Sweet Grit: Choco-dipped banana chips advancing an out-of-school youth’s entrepreneurship

At just 21 years old, Roel Caoyonan of Brgy. Arac, Passi City, is making significant strides in agri-entrepreneurship. Life’s unexpected twists and turns may have temporarily derailed his college plans. However, his determination to lift his family out of sheer poverty was never put on hold. What could have been a period of despair instead became the sweet beginning of PintaChoco Banana Chips, a unique and delectable twist on traditional banana chips infused with rich chocolate.

In 2024, Roel took a decisive step toward his objective by joining and ultimately winning the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Startup Category. His product won hearts and palates, securing wins at both the provincial and regional levels.

Growing up, Roel witnessed how his mom, Socorro, used her wit, creativity, and resourcefulness in preparing banana chips, siomai, and other healthy goodies. Roel and his younger sister would help sell these homemade treats to their teachers and classmates, supporting the family during difficult times. His father was a laborer earning a minimum wage then. This meant survival for them was often uncertain. The circumstance prompted all four family members to hustle together, making nutritious snacks for a living. Without a stable income and with limited resources, the family, fortunately, survived on hard work and hope.

“Since elementary school, I have sold my mother’s banana chips in school. We were poor, and this was one of the few ways we could help to make ends meet,” Roel recalls.

In 2023, a motorcycle accident interrupted his civil engineering studies. What could have been a setback became a turning point.“Even if I couldn’t finish school yet, I realized I could still lift my family out of poverty by continuing what my mother started,” Roel shares.

When friends encouraged Roel to apply for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) program, he hesitated initially as he lacked any business training and the financial means to launch an enterprise. He doubted whether he stood a chance of being shortlisted. However, after some thorough pondering, Roel began to see the YFC program as a potential turning point that could boost his entrepreneurial pursuit and confidence.

His innovative idea of upgrading his mother’s traditional banana chips into chocolate-dipped delights appealed to YFC evaluators and judges. To his surprise, he was declared a winner at the provincial and regional levels for the food processing category.

With only basic kitchen tools at his disposal, Roel began using a manual kettle, eventually upgrading to a rice cooker to prepare the chocolate ingredient. Armed with an initial Php 80,000.00 grant after winning the provincial level, Roel upgraded from basic kitchen tools to a proper chocolate melting pot, improved his packaging, and invested in quality ingredients.

But Roel didn’t stop at acquiring proper cooking equipment. He actively sought training from the DA, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Science and Technology, learning about food safety, logistics, and marketing. He collaborated with local cacao artisans to refine his skills, and sourced bananas directly from local farmers, helping reduce waste while supporting local livelihoods. These efforts have made PintaChoco more than just a snack but a market-ready product.

PintaChoco comes in three mouthwatering variants, including milk, dark, and white chocolate, offered in 110g packs at Php 140. Each batch of 30 kilograms of bananas yields about 100 packs.

The family works during cooler hours at night to preserve the chocolate’s texture.

“Every night, we can produce at least 17 packs,” Roel says.

Every step, from peeling and frying to dipping and packaging, is done carefully, turning a simple home recipe into a competitive product.

With guidance from DA-Western Visayas’ Agribusiness Division, Roel gained exposure through events like ILOBEX Dinagyang Trade Fair 2025 and SEC Investor Forums, growing his brand’s visibility across Western Visayas. Passi City Mayor Atty. Stephen Palmares also helped promote PintaChoco to local tourists and foreign visitors.

Roel’s mission with PintaChoco doesn’t end with gaining profits and accolades. He sets aside a portion of his earnings for the future training of other young farmers.

“I want to inspire other out-of-school youths to realize they can also pursue agribusiness.”

With the Php 150,000.00 grant from the regional YFC award, Roel plans to establish a processing facility equipped with proper equipment and ventilation for daytime production. He also plans to establish a small banana farm intercropped with coconut and cacao to ensure a steady, reliable supply of raw materials. While PintaChoco has no local competitors as to date, Roel aims to diversify its product line by experimenting with chocolate-dipped pineapple snacks. This innovation builds on Passi City’s One Town, One Product (OTOP) initiative, further embedding his enterprise within the local economy and culture.

Roel designed the initial packaging for PintaChoco which he later improved the labeling after he attended training and seminars organized by the DOST and DTI. Notably, the logo of Pintados de Passi, a cultural festival of his hometown, is incorporated into the PintaChoco logo, modified to appear modernized and appealing to younger generations.

His mother, Maria Socorro, could not be prouder of her son’s agri-entrepreneurship journey.

“Since he was little, he saw how hard life was for us. I only made banana chips by hand, placing them in plastic bags. Now, Roel turned this simple snack into something extraordinary,” she tearfully shared, assuring that she and her husband would continue to guide the young man towards the fulfillment of his dream.

From scraped knees to scraped kettles, from classroom corridors to trade fair booths, Roel Caoyonan’s journey is painted in banana chips, chocolate, and courage.

“We change not just our lives, but the lives of farmers. We innovate to preserve culture. We grow crops, opportunities, and dreams,” Roel says.

Even if he hasn’t finished college yet, Roel has achieved something just as valuable, helping his sister stay until he graduates in Food Technology degree and turning his family’s humble snack into a legacy of hope. He proved that what happened two years ago, is only a redirection, not a denial of success for Roel. He stated that he plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering once he stabilizes the management and growth of his now budding enterprise.

PintaChoco is not just a sweet snack. It symbolizes the strength of a son who dared to dream and deliver. Still a novice in agri-entrepreneurship, Roel strives to make PintaChoco truly live up to its tagline, “artistically crafted and deliciously painted.“###Text by Sheila Mae Toreno & Photos by Khrysma Dei Caldina/DA-RAFIS 6