Aling Puring, magkekeso A documentary on Purificacion Alfonso-Lucena of Puring's White Cheese Factory

• Main Author: Malolos, Ceirene D.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2013
• Subjects: Communication
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/2627
• Institution: De La Salle University

Imagine a community without its people. It will be just a piece of land without a name. To a person, tradition is like its identity it would not be complete without it. There would be no distinctions between individuals if there is no identity. The individuals living in the community are its 'identity.' In the municipality of Santa Cruz, Laguna, its identity has always been the kesong puti. They pride and celebrate for this project. Barangay Bagumbayan has been the center of this industry. Families and neighbors shared this industry as a communical knowledge. As communities became urbanized in the rural areas, certain ingredients of the kesong puti became scarce, the Laws of Demand and Supply apply in this situation. In situations when the demand is great but supply is scarce, the price will go up. Since around 1977 to 2006, the price of kesong puti increased as much as 5354.54%, from P 1.1 tp P 60 (Tobias an Laguna Travel Guide). In addition, the advancement of science and technology has evolved this humble industry to a commercialized product. The methods of making this product in a traditional way have changed. The government and sciencetists are now encouraging the use of laboratory made milk coagulant rather than the old fashioned bahay-asim. This tradition and communal knowledge in Sta. Cruz has helped a lot of families especially the families in Barangay Bagumbayan. Some people were recognized with this product, the kesong puti has become their identity. An individual like Purificacion Puring Lucena, a magkekeso, has established her life and her family's life with the help of kesong puti. The family business of kesong puti had sent her seven children to universities and they eventually had careers outside the family business, and outside the country. In her family, the tradition started with her and ended with the care of her children. None of her grandchildren, nor her great-grandchildren want to re-establish this family tradition. Thus, year 2005 became the end of the kesong puti era in the Lucena family.