Traveling to Mayjayjay in the Philippines

I visited Costales Nature Farm in the Philippines last year, May 2016. I had abundance of joy and knowledge having to know a family who dedicated their time and life in effort to bring out the best for their people. Read on and you might get enticed to visit Mayjayjay, Laguna province in the Philippines!

Here goes:--
In this fast-moving world, where society is glued to high-tech gadgets and everything seems available within a click away of a computer mouse, people seem to lack interest in sweat-related activities such as farming or outdoor events.

In the municipality of Mayjayjay in the Philippines, a family tried to revive the interest of people in farming by creating a family-farm where the opportunity to experience farming life, growing your favourite vegetables and fruits and eating healthy and fresh food were made available to visitors not only to those residing in the Philippines but also to those from abroad.

The founder of Costales Nature Farm (CNF), the late Ronald Costales started it with humble beginning of only 1,000 square metres piece of land located at Barangay, Mayjayjay province of Laguna that was initially meant for his family ‘hideaway’ place when they needed to relax from the hustle and bustle of a busy urban life.

Developed in 2005 as a getaway for the family week-end activities, the farm was fast being recognised and noticed by friends and relatives who came by under Ronald’s invitation.

Consequentially, over the years, his close associates and friends alike discovered that the ambience of the rural farm gave them the pleasure of relaxation, and that prompted Ronald to develop it into self-sustaining commercial venture benefitting people from all walks of life, especially for the learning institutions where they received impactful knowledge about farming.

By 2009 the farm was fully developed and became a major producer of organic vegetables that were in high demand commercially. The farm maintains its sustainability by integrating various enterprises like high-value crop production, free range poultry and livestock raising, aqua culture, vermi- culture, herbs production and orchard enterprise.

Today the Costales purchased eight hectares of land making it possible to realise their dream to expand their agri-tourism activities having clear objective to benefit people who are enthusiastic about farming.

“I am glad I started it in a humble manner. All I wanted in the beginning was an escapade for my family and close friends to enjoy and relax. With the panoramic view and natural surroundings were enough to make one’s mind to be at ease.

Today, it is enjoyed by many people not only from my country but also guests from Malaysia and other parts of the world.

And it is an honour to have you today visiting my farm,” said Ronald to the writer, welcoming her visit from the 4th to 5th June 2016 to his farm.

The one-night farmstay was indeed a worthwhile experience staying in one of the chalets overlooking Mount Banahaw, which is the tallest and still active volcanic mountain in the area. Mount Banahaw is another tourism product of the municipality.

Having to wake up seeing greenery all over the place, watching mists passing by the window, it was good enough for one’s needs for relaxation and therapy.

“Waking up in the morning, you first see mists passing by your window and then the cool and breezy weather as you open the door. What a good feeling it was. Such a lovely ambience with million-dollar view!” claimed the writer.

A night stay at the farm was indeed a worthwhile experience as the environment and the mood changed into a peaceful and calm toward dusk with only sounds of nature could be heard, otherwise, it was totally still at night.
Sadly, Ronald passed away suddenly on the 10th June 2016 at his farm due to heart failure. It shocked the whole organization and its associates. It was a great loss for the industry having lost such a learned and committed modern farmer.
During the visit, Ronald gave a good insight with apt explanation about his farm and future strategy. He became the instant ‘tour guide’ of the day bringing the writer to every corner and nook of the farm, with details given precisely.

He confided that in the early years being in corporate world for a lengthy period had led him into a work-with-no-play kind of environment where, even on holidays he was expected to be dealing with work elsewhere (out of Philippines).
“There were some years, on Christmas days I was still discussing work on the round table with some Chinamen or convincing some Brazilian business people on products or something, leaving my wife and my two young children then all by themselves in the Philippines.

I said to myself, this wasn’t what I wanted in a family. And this became my strongest reason to have the farm realised later. I never looked back since then,” revealed Ronald saying he had no regrets leaving his four-figure comfortable pay-check behind to be a farmer in his own way.

After the farm was open officially for public, visitors both locally and abroad continue visiting the farm, making it one of the most visited farm in the country.

Photos and stories of farm activities can be gathered in the Facebook website enabling people from other countries to get connected with them easily.

Today, the family purchased eight hectares of land making it possible to realise their dream to improve and expand their agri-tourism products benefitting people from all categories.

Ronald’s wife, Josephine said her husband had inspired so many people and had made impactful and meaningful life for those who stepped into their farm.

“I believe Ronald had done his part in imparting knowledge and giving his best to those who are enthusiastic about owning their own farm and consuming own home-grown vegetation. His legacy would definitely remain in people’s heart for his generosity in sharing knowledge and giving greater awareness to all the people who crossed his path,” shared Josie.

During the visit, Ronald explained that CNF also conduct seminars to school children, promoting the worthwhile activities about farming and so on to various institutions in and out of the country.

“We conduct seminars, training depending on demand. We share the technology and many had adapted it and started their own farms replicating almost all what we have done,” shared Ronald as he brought the writer around his lettuce plots not far from the cottage where they set in for the interview session.

Arrays of food were displayed on the table to let the writer and her entourage to sample the healthy food and freshly picked salad. One of them was called the ‘sexy juice’ which caught the attention of many visitors.

“We have our homemade salad dressing, fresh lettuce from the garden and sexy juice. These are some of our hot items here,” bragged Ronald. ‘Sexy juice?’ asked one curious visitor.

It was a cold smoothie, a combination of some herbal plants such as kale, mint leaves, Japanese Ashitaba, banana and carrots. Juice up together and serve it right away, said Ronald.

He said the juice can give the body endurance, stamina and vigour.

“You may wonder why it is called sexy juice,’ he asked.

He said due to its good medicinal property contain in each of the herbs, it helped to treat some health disorder such as skin aging, shoulder stiffness and production of sperm and increases libido, explained Ronald.

“.. and that explained why it is called sexy juice. It improves your sex life, hahahha,” he laughed.

Josephine shared that the farm is receiving 3000 to 5000 guests per month, which is becoming one of the biggest revenue earner. Other attractions for agri-tourism are catch-and-pay (fish), pick-and-pay (veggies), and feed-and-pay (livestock) activities. Tour guides are available for a guided tour throughout the 5 hectare farm, while livestock is placed on the other side of the area.

An audio-video presentation is also available showing the best practices of the farm. Souvenir items like potted herbs/veggies, processed organic foods and farm fresh produce are available for sale for visitors before they leave CNF.

Keneth De Gracia, Farm Tourism Director who was also one of the chef revealed that, having to work with CNF was one of the best experience he had as he could showcase his skills in cooking, baking and teaching apart from being in the management team.

“I always bake pizza the natural way using charcoal. Visitors enjoy my baking class as all the ingredients used are organic and fresh and easy to prepare,” confided Keneth.

He is the nephew of Josephine and said he is in-charged with exhibitions and seminars outside CNF. Although he is involved in the implementation of the programme in CNF, Keneth enjoyed demonstrating his culinary skills to groups of visitors to the farm.

Josephine said the concept of farm-to-table was Ronald’s idea to bring safe and affordable organic food to the table.

“People flocked to come and taste the organic dishes whenever there are exhibitions going on. We are trying our best to create awareness and knowledge about eating healthy but good food.

We are encouraging people and giving opportunities to farmers to augment their earnings and at the same time increase players in the rural tourism industry,” said Josephine.

She said hearing positive remarks from visitors especially the young people had helped boost their confident levels and increase their effort to serve the nation better.

“Getting down and be dirty at CNF is what makes the visit unforgettable. We give our guests the opportunity to touch the soil, pluck your own favourite vegetable, admire the nature, smell the flowers, tease the animals, feed the chickens and so on.

These are invaluable activities everyone should go through in their life,” advised Josephine.

Lorraine Condino, 20 who is from Barangay, San Francisco, Mayjayjay worked as part time tour guide in CNF.

She regarded Ronald as the father of agriculture and the inspiring force to all those involved in farming line due to his able contribution and his inspiring move to improve the livelihood of his countrymen through this noble activities.

“I work as a tour guide in this farm since a year ago. Each day I guide people through this farm, I myself learn something in return. It has been both benefitting for me as well as the people that I guide.

The passing of Sir Ronald shocked us all but his legacy will remain in our hearts forever,” said Lorraine who was still sad about the loss of his beloved boss last June.

Costales Nature Farms is an attractive result of the application to nature of a mixture of science and technology, nurtured by the vision and entrepreneurship of its founder, the late Ronald Costales.

With his passing on the 10th June 2016, his wife Josephine now leads the organization with her knowledge, experience and determination accumulated over the years. She is however, not alone in this eco-farming endeavour, as her children have also imbibed the same values, principles and love for the environment that she and her husband had established in the past decades.

Reden Constales, 27 is the new President of CNF while his sister Angelica is vice president, taking over all the responsibility to see to the continuous success of CNF that their father had founded.

Unquestionably, Josephine believes that the legacy of his husband Ronald will continue to live on.

Rest in peace, Ronald.