Renato Catiempo's Organic Farm at Bago City, Negros Occidental - Rice Farming, Plant Container Ideas, Cute Piggy and the Best Merienda Ever! Corn with Coconut, Homemade Cassava Cake and Purple Kamote Brew, Anyone?

Here we were during our last day in Negros - looking out into the sunset. This first trip to Bacolod was very unusual because I went with ATI (the Agricultural Training Institute of the Philippine Department of Agriculture). Who knew that I would get to experience Negros Occidental (not just Bacolod) as a thriving province when it comes to organic agriculture? My previous thoughts of Bacolod (if I were to plan on my own) only consisted of food trips involving chicken inasals and pastries, as well as a shattered image of The Ruins. Who knew that I would get as far as Bago City (different from Baguio City)? I first heard of Bago City from a missionary friend while we were working on a project on water treatment several years ago... This daytrip to Bago City was one of my favorite parts - being welcomed into Mr. Catiempo's small organic farm, eating an unforgettable slice of homemade organic cassava cake and drinking their own brew of purple kamote juice. We have to make time for moments like this - embracing simple joys, slowing down and marvelling at how wonderful things unexpectedly turn out. 

My Raw Food Experience, Wellness Lessons and Farm Tour with Dr. Albert Jo at the Rapha Valley Organic Farm in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental

When I got back home from my Negros trip, I was amazed with the diversity of the experiences I had. I've been to quite a number of organic farms so far (the most this year thanks to the ATI-DAR, Agricultural Training Institute of the Philippine Department of Agriculture) and you would think that I'd get tired of all of it already. I learned something new though each time and got to see a different side of having or visiting a farm per location... A very good example below is our visit to the Rapha Valley Organic Farm of Dr. Albert Jo. I tasted the best asparagus of all time and started to think about the things I put in my mouth all these years. I think this was a turning point for me - that there could be another alternative to eating beef and steak only every day and it may be about time already. Haha.

The Ruins Near Bacolod - The Taj Mahal of Negros, A Romantic Location in Talisay Negros Occidental

I've seen the praises, photos and posts about Bacolod's infamous The Ruins before (it's not really in Bacolod too...). It's just a little overhyped, I initially thought, and I had no plans of flying to Bacolod just for that. I went to Negros to see organic farms, on assignment, and not the usual spots. It was so interesting to not succumb to the chicken inasals and pastries that this place is so known for and take a journey towards healthy living on my first ever trip there. Who knew that this little last-minute side-trip would bring about a little spark? I was completely enamoured at first sight with none other than Talisay's The Ruins within minutes of getting there. I was quickly absorbed with the tales of history with our very animated guide and was super glad that we had time for me to explore it on my own in silence. I had one too many speechless and daydreaming moments while we were there. Haha. I'm committing this to memory and listing this down as one of my most memorable experiences that travel blogging has taken me so far. 

Fresh Start Organic Farm near Bacolod and Organic Market Cafe at Central Citywalk Robinsons Place Bacolod

We made a brief stopover at the Fresh Start Organic Farm in Silay City near Bacolod. I spent this time just going around and playing with my camera while expanding my plant knowledge =) After that, we headed over to the Fresh Start Organic & Natural Store at the Central Citywalk in Robinsons Bacolod for some organic Artisan Piaya and bruschetta. Fresh Start is owned by Mr. Uy's family (second generation) - check out our stay at May's Organic Garden and our RU Foundry intro ;)

Penalosa Farms in Negros Occidental - Organic Lunch, Very Educational Workshop and Tour near Bacolod!

When I go to the provinces in the Philippines, I see endless farmland and I'm reminded that if no one wants to go into farming, then we'd all starve. Transforming the farmers' mindset from barely surviving into thriving agripreneurs - this is one of the goals of MS Penalosa. I think it includes encouraging a city-bred person like me to not discount farming as a viable business idea. I learned a little bit more about the language of the soil, the language of plants, the language of the animal and the art of war against pests and diseases at Peñalosa Farms in Negros Occidental (read about Part 1 of this visit here). I was constantly reminded of the 4 Ls of Mr. Penalosa while we're there - Live (you're alive and there is life around you), Learn (that farming is constantly a work in progress), Love (love what nature is giving us, love pigs, there is income in sh*t) and Laugh (to have fun, smile and never take yourself seriously). Haha. ;P

AgriTecture at Penalosa Farms in Negros Occidental - Integrated Organic Farming and Swine Business near Bacolod

When I think about organic farming, I can't help but look back on the one-of-my-many unique experiences in Negros (I feel like I really learned a lot about organic agri thanks to ATI-DAR last year and the desire to eat healthy slash growing my own food is kinda rubbing on me hehe). As I said before, they said that the whole island has the most organic farms in the Philippines and it is vying to be the organic capital of Southeast Asia. The Agricultural Training Institute of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (ATI-DAR) took us to Bacolod on this trip and we made our way by car to the Penalosa Farms. Mr. Penalosa's style of telling us about the organic journey was to let us discover it by ourselves and literally had us interacting with every plant, animal and material in his farm. It felt like I was back in school during our brief stay LOL. He made us understand the intricacies of integrated farming, that everything is intertwined and that one should really understand the different kinds of plants (and everything's special place in the cycle) before we even start having grandoise notions of having our own farm. It was fun and definitely not as easy as Farmville but doable and can be replicated :) 

What to Do in Negros - My May's Organic Garden Bacolod Stay and Tour, Review and Awesome Farm Technologies by RU Foundry

I never thought I'd make it to Bacolod this year. I didn't have time to do my research so I was left with thoughts of only chicken inasal and pastries - from what I've heard and read before of Bacolod haha. I thought this would be like my Iloilo trip since it's just an hour or two away by boat.. Bacolod is also just Bacolod City for me (now it's Negros Occidental haha). Who knew that the whole Negros (Oriental and Occidental, where Bacolod is) is vying to be the organic bowl of Southeast Asia? I'd like to thank the ATI (Agricultural Training Institute) of the Philippine Department of Agriculture for showing me a different side of Negros. After all, the Philippines is primarily an agricultural country. The learnings I got to take home from this spontaneous trip definitely beat going here on my own for the first time =) We stayed at May's Organic Garden - an organic farm with accommodations, a training community for farmers and home to RU Foundry's many innovative technologies and heavy-duty farm equipment (proudly made in Negros).