OPINION: Willie the “Water Buffalo”: The Unlikely Hero of Laoingen’s Water Revolution
By Frank Gayaldo, February 25, 2025 8:00 am
PHILIPPINES- In a tale fit for the silver screen, an unassuming, wrongly named bull has proven that not all heroes wear capes—some have horns, hooves, and an unexpected knack for heavy lifting!
Mistaken Identity:
Turns out our hero, Willie the Water Buffalo, is not a water buffalo at all. Often mistaken due to his impressive strength, love of water, and gentle demeanor, this zebu bull has shown that heroism isn’t about labels—it’s about heart. (And maybe a little confusion at the naming ceremony.)
A zebu is a type of domestic cattle (Bos taurus indicus) native to South Asia but now found in many tropical countries. They are easily recognizable by their distinctive hump on their shoulders, large floppy ears, and a dewlap (loose skin) under their neck. Zebus are well adapted to hot climates, resistant to diseases common in tropical regions, and are often used for dairy production, meat, and as draft animals. They are also known for their hardiness and ability to thrive in harsh environments where other cattle breeds might struggle.
The Big Splash:
In Barangay Laoingen, Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur, an inspired coalition of barangay leaders, the Philippine Nurses Association-Ilocos Chapter, Saint Paul nursing students, the Rotary Club of Vigan, and their sister Rotary Club in Galt, California, decided that 400 households deserved consistent, fresh, and clean mountain spring water. Last May, they launched a brilliant and cost-effective project designed to transform the village’s landscape and uplift its spirits.
A Hefty Helping Hoof:
Enter the unlikely hero: a powerhouse bull that quickly became the village’s superstar. Known for their strength and stamina, bulls are no strangers to hard work—but this one went above and beyond. When it came time to haul several hundred pounds of construction materials up a steep mountain to build a large concrete water catchment near a natural spring—four kilometers from the barangay center—this bull didn’t hesitate to leave his grassy comforts behind. With incredible power and unwavering determination, he carried those heavy loads like it was just another day in the pasture. (No gym membership required.)
The Ripple Effect:
Thanks to the combined efforts of the Rotary Club of Vigan, local ingenuity, and the bull’s muscle, the village secured over 300,000 Philippine Pesos ($6000 USD) to complete “phase two” of this life-changing water project. Within the next few weeks, an overground pipe will begin delivering pristine mountain spring water directly to a community that currently relies on trucked-in water during the dry season.
A Symbol of “Service Above Self”:
This extraordinary bull is more than just a beast of burden—he embodies the spirit of “Service Above Self,” the very motto of Rotary International. Willie’s strength, determination, and willingness to help ease the burdens of his human companions remind us that sometimes, heroes come on four sturdy legs. (And sometimes, they don’t even know they’re heroes—they just think they’re doing chores.)
So here’s to the bull misnamed a water buffalo who became a legend, and to every person (and animal) who dares to make a difference in their community. May this hoofed hero’s story inspire others to blaze their own trail to a brighter, wetter future for all!
The author is a former Director of International Business Development based in California who is now dedicated to advancing micro-economic development at the Barangay level in the Northern Philippines. If you have innovative ideas for water, food, or environmental projects that could improve living conditions in the province of Ilocos Sur, you are encouraged to reach out at frank@tuktukinnbythesea.com
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Calay-ab, Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur is the ancestral village of his wife, Edythe.Frank and Edythe’s main joint project, the philanthropic “Tuk Tuk Inn by the Sea”, is only seconds away from the politically and environmentally sensitive West Philippine Sea and minutes away from the UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan.
Frank met Edythe over twenty years ago at a Stockton, California jail while she worked as a Registered Nurse and he as a sheriff correctional training officer.At that time, Frank, an ex-bounty hunter and San Quentin State Prison guard that had worked with some of the most dangerous criminals on the entire planet, had zero idea how such a stunningly beautiful Filipina American wouldtotally change the trajectory of his life.
Since retiring from a twenty-year career in law enforcement (city, county, state, federal and self-employed) in 2004, Frank has helped raise global awareness and profitability for several US based agricultural producers. Frank worked as a passionate promoter of value-added US agricultural exports.Frank’s motivation came from growing up on his family’s vineyard in Lodi, California that he still farms today.
Frank’s eclectic experience has given him an extensive network of government, media and business connections that literally spans the globe. In May of 2006, he organized an international wine tasting event that resulted in Costa Rican President and former Nobel Peace Prize winner, Oscar Arias, serving three boutique wines from Lodi, California at his presidential inauguration. Frank has been an organizer of several inbound and outbound trade missions to China that have resulted in the purchase of multiple container loads of various California agricultural products, including wine and tree nuts.
Over the years, Frank has personally hosted numerous high ranking foreign dignitaries from China, Costa Rica, Japan and Russia at his vineyard home in the spirit of friendship and promoting California agriculture. Frank’s international successes have received coverage in the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Central Valley Business Times, Honolulu Star Advertiser, Sacramento Bee, Stockton Record, AM Costa Rica, El Financero, Russian Observer, Jing Daily, China Wine News, China Daily and World Journal.
In 2012, Frank was awarded the “Tourism Advocate of the Year” for his work in promoting international opportunities for his hometown. Frank has served as the very first Director of International Business Development for the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce, the past Chairman of the Board of the Visit Lodi Tourism bureau, and as the Executive Director of the Galt District Chamber of Commerce.
Frank was a previous guest columnist
for the Lodi News Sentinel and has served as a Senior Investigator Reporter for 209 Times where his investigative journalism efforts led to the capture of a serial killer, prevented a school mass shooting and assisted in curtailing various other acts of extreme violence.
In 2018 Frank wrote a children’s book called “Rosa and Guapple” designed to help Filipino children learn English and provide Filipino grape growers a unique way to promote agricultural tourism.
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