The question of whether to go organic or not wasn’t much of a choice for Genes Estialbo, a retired agricultural technologist and now a staunch organic advocate. After her daughter and husband died from diseases attributed to unhealthy lifestyle, she now devotes her entire life to organic farming to ensure safe and healthy food for her precious grandchildren and loved ones.
The Barren Land
Many Filipinos have become plant aficionados during the quarantine, but lifestyle blogger Marjorie Pineda-Uy, or “Marj” to her friends, started urban farming way back before it became the big thing that it is today.
“Sometime in 2011, I was invited to visit Costales Nature Farms in Majayjay, Laguna. Out of curiosity, I accepted the invitation without any expectations, except to experience a ‘buhay probinsya’ kind of weekend,” Marj recalled.
The trip eventually turned out to be an educational experience for her, even playing a huge part in her lifestyle change.
An Agriculturist’s Rise to Success
Richel, or Don-don as his peers call him, has inspired many farmers and technicians for many years through his skills and expertise. He is currently an agriculturist, a corn specialist, an agricultural trainer, and the current Training Specialist II at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in Region XI. However, the road to his professional career was not entirely a smooth highway.
Humble Beginnings
Known as ‘Nong Frank’ in his locality, this 48-year-old man is indeed a oneof-a-kind farmer. He went from being a typical and conventional one to a
Gawad Saka awardee and Magsasaka Siyentista.
Evangeline Guden Luceño, an advocate of organic farming, continues her passion by producing and selling her certified organic products to benefit the people and the community
“Vangie”, as her friends call her, is an active member of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) in Pagadian City. She was blessed with a loving and supportive husband and four children. She is an advocate of organic farming.
Being a farmer herself, she really walks the talk. All the things she learned in trainings were applied in her farm for farmers to see and experience.
“If it’s meant to be, it will be.” Who would have thought that the person who had wanted to be a nurse someday would end up being an agricultural extension worker and will be awarded as Rice and Corn Achiever for two consecutive years.
| Extension services continue to evolve. With the challenges that extension workers and farmers face, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) continues to explore various strategies to improve its efforts as the extension and training arm of the Department of Agriculture. In over 30 years, the ATI has celebrated various successes and learned from the lessons during hard times. Nonetheless, we are proud to be standing the test of time through the support of our partners and the clientele themselves. This is the ATI Today, more committed to bring you extension services beyond boundaries. |
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