In the heart of the Philippine countryside, farming is more than a livelihood — it is a test of endurance, skill, and hope. For many, the land has been both a source of sustenance and a stage for life’s toughest battles. Yet, in recent years, a wave of transformation has swept through rural communities, carried by the Upscaling Agro-Ecology Based Rice Farming Systems for Increased Food Security, implemented by the Integrated Rural Development Foundation, Inc. (IRDF) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture.
This initiative has not only provided seeds and fertilizers but has also planted something far greater — the seeds of resilience, knowledge, and a renewed sense of purpose. The journeys of Lorenzo Balbido, Juve Gillego, Lina Germedia, Analisa Rodrigo, and Ceasar Competente tell the story best.
From Flood to Fortune – Lorenzo Balbido
For 40 years, Lorenzo Balbido, 56, has tilled the soil of his 2.4-hectare rice field. A father of seven, he has seen abundant harvests and devastating losses. However, in January 2025, unrelenting rains brought the worst floods, reducing his yield to just 150 sacks of rice, barely enough to pay his debts.
Then came the Agro-Eco Program. With free seeds, fertilizers, and planting materials, Lorenzo replanted — not with rice, but with squash and watermelon. His gamble paid off: ₱26,000 from squash and ₱70,000 from watermelon. He cleared his debts, reinvested in his farm, and expanded to grow other vegetables, such as okra, eggplant, and bitter gourd.
“In farming, you need alternatives. Diversifying crops is the key to survival and success,” he says. Today, he proudly supports his children’s education — some already professionals — proving that perseverance is the real seed of success.
The OFW Who Came Home to the Land – Juve Gillego
Juve Gillego, 71, spent more than three decades as an Overseas Filipino Worker before returning home to care for his ailing family. Farming became his new path. For over 41 years, he grew rice, but soon realized it wasn’t enough to sustain his needs.
The high cost of fertilizers pushed him toward organic practices, and training from the Agro-Eco Program gave him the skills to make compost, practice intercropping, and rotate crops. Despite floods that ruined his initial rice trials, his vegetable harvests kept him afloat.
With his earnings, he bought his own farm equipment and even converted flood-prone land into a corn field, pechay plots, and an integrated fishpond-vegetable garden. Juve’s story is one of constant adaptation — a farmer who proves that learning never stops.
Farming as a Calling – Lina Germedia
From Batang, Irosin, Sorsogon, Lina Germedia, 61, has farmed alongside her husband for 35 years. Even before joining the Agro-Eco Program, she embraced organic practices, creating fertilizers from fermented fruits, plants, fish amino acids, and compost.
Through the program, she gained new techniques, including the use of Bokashi and liquid organic nutrients. Her husband was skeptical, but their thriving fields turned him into a believer. Vegetable seeds from the program not only fed the family but also brought extra income, transforming their farm into both a kitchen and a market.
For Lina, farming is not just about yield — it is about purpose. “Diligence and perseverance are the secret to a fulfilling life,” she says.
Turning Setbacks into Strength – Analisa Rodrigo
At 40, Analisa Rodrigo knows the weight of relying solely on the land. With six of her seven children still in school, her family depends entirely on farming. Her lowest point came when an April harvest yielded only 14 sacks of rice, most of which went to debt payments.
The Agro-Eco Program gave her a lifeline: vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and training in organic methods. Her new crops became both food for the table and income for school expenses. Learning to read weather patterns also empowered her to better prepare for disasters.
Analisa’s resilience turned hardship into empowerment — not just for her, but for her entire community of fellow farmers.
A New Purpose After Working Abroad – Ceasar Competente
After years abroad as an OFW, Ceasar C. Competente, 62, returned to Busay, Ligao City, to start a new life as a farmer. Seven years into rice farming, the Agro-Eco Program became a turning point. He learned the System of Rice Intensification, intercropping, and the use of Bokashi combined with Oriental Herbal Nutrients — practices that brought noticeable improvement to his fields.
Now, Ceasar is planning to expand his banana plantation alongside his rice fields, fully embracing organic methods. His transformation shows that even seasoned farmers can find new purpose through innovation.
One Program, Many Stories of Triumph
From Lorenzo’s flood recovery, Juve’s land transformation, Lina’s lifelong dedication, Analisa’s perseverance, to Ceasar’s late-blooming passion — these farmers embody the heart of rural resilience.
The Agro-Eco Program has proven that with the right support — seeds, tools, training, and knowledge — farmers can overcome hardship, diversify their livelihoods, and secure their families’ futures.
In every furrow they till, in every seed they plant, lies not just the hope of a good harvest, but the story of a life rebuilt and a future made brighter.
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