My ATI Calabarzon Blog Training Seminar Experience!

What happens when you compress ten fruitful blogging years in one day? Info overload, I’m thinking! I expressed all my thoughts into writing my notes and the Google slides for around a week then talked from morning to the whole afternoon at the recently held ATI Calabarzon Blogging and Vlogging Training Seminar 😆 I was able to reflect on what I have learned, where I started and how to move forward on my 10th year as a travel blogger for around two months before the event! It’s quite transforming and surprising, I must say haha. Here are some event highlights for Day 1. The next day, I am joining the vlogging intro so that I can decide to incorporate it or not in the future.

Memorable Farm Stay and 4x4 Tour at Terra Verde Ecofarm & Resort in Maragondon Cavite!

You’ll find this next farm in the heritage town of Maragondon, Cavite. Terra Verde Ecofarm & Resort was a great escape from Manila for me even for just an overnight stay in our 3D2N CALABARZON trip with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). We spent the whole evening with Sir Eric Atanacio just talking about anything and everything - from the farm to blogging to business and most importantly life and being happy. The farm became a retreat for their family from stress and they’ve opened it up for the public, especially the youth for picnics, team-building and hands-on farming experiences. On the other hand, they seek to revive ancient traditions like weaving (Habing Maragondon), provide locals with alternative livelihood, protect the natural resources they have and just found, rediscover the role of Maragondon in history and  build the character of the people in the area.

Farms and Where to Stay Overnight in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon and Tagaytay - Accommodations at the ATI Calabarzon Dormitory and Gorgeous Farms!

From almost a decade ago until now, in support of RA10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, I consider myself fortunate enough to become an Organic Agriculture (OA) blogger in partnership with the Agricultural Training Institute of the Philippine Department Agriculture (DA-ATI). Back then, I didn’t even think about going to farms on my own for leisure. Where can I find them right and who do I talk to? Slowly but surely and with the onset of technological advances, I now look forward to easy DIY farm tours and staying for a few days away from my hectic city life. I am very happy that our current Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Puyat came from the DA and now the two agencies collaborate more to promote farm tourism at last 💕 This year, ATI CALABARZON and DOT published the Agriculturally Awesome: Regional Farm Tourism Guide for Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon farms and ATI learning sites to help us plan more trips and connect directly to farms and farmers 😊 One such farm featured is Gorgeous Farms - located along the  Tagaytay highway! Read my post below on the available accommodations on your way to farms in CALABARZON  and Tagaytay! 

 

Sanctuario Nature Farms in Indang Mendez Cavite - Practical Organic Farming Tips, Vegetarian Vermi, Fermented Plant Juice, FFJ and OHN Recipes!

If you have time to spare and want a ton of practical knowledge and tips, I suggest you visit this NGO operating Sanctuario Nature Farms near Manila! They're devoted to finding new technologies and economic ways of farming and teaching others (esp. future agriculturists) how to farm and earn money from it! They have a partnership with Cavite State University to send OJTs there where they let the students use a plot of land and water to grow what they want as their final entrepreneurial development project (EDP). Any produce is theirs to sell so they learn to grow, research, budget and market the produce at the same time so the younger are reminded that there is money in agriculture and it can actually be fun. We only spent 1.5 hours there and despite the rain, I was on farming info overload from Farm Operator Manager Michelle (Mitch) Razo haha. She is very generous when it comes to tips and recipes so I wanted to share some of the things I learned with you too - on vegetarian vermicompost, plant introductions, concoctions and practical farming! Aside from being an accredited Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Learning Site, they are also TESDA accredited to conduct trainings and seminars for the public on organic farming.

The Steep Climb to See the Parrot's Beak Monolith at Mt. Pico de Loro

There are times when my adventures turn a bit risky on the spot. I still do my best but I listen to my body and honor it when the time comes so I don't regret anything. This is my latest Pico de Loro mountain climb from the campsite to the peak. The rock behind me (below) is the Parrot's Beak monolith that thrill-seekers attempt to climb.

Pico de Loro Mountain Climbing Terrain - A Peek Into Our Mt. Palay-Palay Trekking Route From Nasugbu with Some Reminders

This was my third attempt to climb a mountain in the Philippines with the same set of friends. We planned for a day hike to Pico de Loro (actually Mt. Palay-Palay) this time around! After Mount Pulag and Mt. Batulao, the burning question as to whose crazy idea was this still lingers with every step. I initially thought we were going to Pico de Loro Country Club Hamilo Cove so I said yes. But then I was shy to take back my word and forgot about the details of the previous climb. Haha. Yes, I can laugh about it now. During D-day though, this was what happened...