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.