Lakad Pamana Tours Three Farms and Shares Blessings to a School

Lakad Pamana

First off, what is Lakad Pamana?  Lakad Pamana is an organization that aims to encourage people to explore local tourist destinations, historical sites and discover other areas in the country worth visiting.  Lakad Pamana believes in the slogan, "Huwag Maging Dayuhan sa Sariling Bayan."  Lakad Pamana works closely with the LGUs in promoting local tourism.  During their previous activities, Lakad Pamana focused on visiting the northern part of the country, like the Ilocandia.   They have since included other parts of Luzon, such as the province of Bulacan.

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Lakad Pamana participants holding mushrooms taken from the Teodoro Farm

Agri-Tour

One of the activities that Lakad Pamana had organized was the Farm Tour in the municipalities of San Ildefonso and Bustos both located in the province of Bulacan last June 16, 2018.   Farm tourism is a new trend in tourism.  Farm owners have opened their properties to travelers and they offer different kinds of activities that can be done in the farm.   The concept of farm living has changed a lot and travelers have discovered the many things they can enjoy in a rural setting like farms. 

During this activity, participants visited first the Teodoro Farm in Bustos Bulacan.  The major produce is mushroom which is kind of a backyard industry for them and in the area as well because there was another mushroom producer in the next town that Lakad Pamana toured.  The mushroom darkroom (because mushrooms are planted in hanging fashion in a room where light, temperature and humidity are controlled) is quite a revelation.  Mushrooms are not really the typical seed-planted-in-soil plant because it grows from spores and in saw dust or straw.   Seeing the mushroom darkroom was already worth the travel from Manila but eating freshly cooked mushroom was the best experience.  The farm owners prepared spring rolls, soup and 'sisig' with msuhroom as the main ingredient.    Mushroom can be marketed fresh or by snack items like crispy mushroom in varying flavors.  These snack items are affordable and nutritious.  A small pack costs P75 and a bigger one is P150  It is a nutritious substitute to the unhealthy, fatty 'chicharon.'
 
A typical mushroom saw dust planter
Food with mushroom as major ingredient





Other things to see in the Teodoro Farm are the rabbit production area, mini-fruit orchards and duckyard,  It is just a pity imagining the furry, cute rabbits on the dinner table. 

The second farm on the agenda was the Flourish Farm located in Barangay Basuit, San Ildefonso.  Flourish Farm is a well-established mushroom grower and mushroom-production supplier.  Meaning to say, part of their business is assisting would-be mushroom farmers with the different materials a start-up mushroom farm/facility needs.  The owners took the participants around the facility and it was very impressive and informative indeed. 
planters used to grow mushroom.  
                                               

The next farm gained popularity when it was featured in the popular travel show, "Biyahe ni Drew."  Duran Farm is a farm and a training center for would-be farmers.  Duran Farm is a partner of TESDA in training would-be farmers before they work overseas like the farms in Japan.  They really play a big role for our young agriculturists.  The owner, Ms. Daisy Duran, came from humble beginnings, but now a very successful entrepreneur.   She is now known as the "Seedling Queen." Duran Farm is roughly 5 hectares in size and well-utilized both as a farm and training center.  The major produce of Duran Farm is the seedling that many small farm owners get from them.  The seedling that Duran Farm supplies is already a big help to farmers because all they need to do is replant the seedlings, irrigate, fertilize and wait for the time of harvesting.   With seedlings that can be bought from Duran Farm, farming has become easy and manageable.

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The Joy of Giving

In a remote area of San Ildefonso in Bulacan, lies a barangay reachable by a road that is partially cemented.  After a long, bumpy ride, the group arrived at a well-maintained elementary school that has been in existence since the post World War II era.   It has seen better days, but thanks to the helpful parents and resourceful teachers, signs of disintegration are concealed by fresh paint and beautification of the surroundings.  Elementary school students immediately lined up upon the group's arrival.  They have been informed by their teachers about our arrival  and that donations such as school bags, notebooks, pens, crayons, umbrellas with whistles will be distributed to them.    They say it is better to give than to receive, never have these words echoed so loudly after taking part in this outreach activity. 

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The group spent the night at the Daily Bread Organic farm and resorts, which was also located in Bustos.   The outstanding feature of this farm seem to be the inviting pool.  Check out its deep blue shade amid the surrounding greenery.   Don't you want to just dive in?



Farm tourism is a growing trend in tourism and it is helping the farming industry in a sense that their produce go directly to the buyers who are able to buy these products fresh and straight from the plantation.  It is a great marketing strategy that is beneficial to both the farmer and the buyer.   On top of that, it is educational and helps in increasing awareness on healthy lifestyle.  People have also learned to appreciate farm living and farming itself.

                           
Part of Druan Farm taken from the viewing deck
     

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