Andre V.
Rojo
Grade 5
1. Gil T. David
Gil T. David, a retired officer of the Philippine Army and
son of a farmer in the barrio of San Isidro, Bacolor,
Pampanga, embarked on a successful orchard
business. After purchasing a 10-hectare farm, he
strategically planted rows and rows of mango trees,
specifically focusing on the sweet variety of carabao
mangoes. His family diligently cultivated the orchard,
resulting in bountiful harvests of 40 to 45 "tiklis" (a unit
of measurement for mangoes) of native carabao
mangoes each season. Marketing his produce was
never an issue, as middlemen from surrounding towns
eagerly visited the farm to purchase the mangoes
directly. Today, Gil's mango orchard stands as one of
the most prosperous in the barrio, a testament to his
entrepreneurial spirit and agricultural expertise.
2. Ben M. Santos
Ben M. Santos, an orphan at the tender age of 12,
found solace and opportunity in his uncle's five-
hectare jackfruit farm in Bataan. Adopted by his
maternal uncle, Jose, young Ben witnessed
firsthand the farm's success. Renowned for its
exceptionally large, plump, sweet, and juicy
jackfruits, the orchard had been a profitable
venture for over a decade. The farm employed local
pickers who carefully extracted the inner fruit to
create delectable langka preserves. Upon his uncle's
passing, Ben, alongside his two sisters, assumed the
responsibility of managing the thriving orchard,
ensuring the legacy of their uncle's successful
agricultural endeavors continued to flourish.
3. Senen Bacani
Senen Bacani, a former Department of Agriculture
(DA) head during the Presidency of Corazon C.
Aquino, exemplifies success in both public service
and private enterprise. Now the CEO of La Fuerta
Inc., one of the Philippines' largest banana
exporters, Bacani embodies the company's motto,
"We excel because we care." This commitment
extends beyond producing world-class bananas to
valuing and supporting the hardworking farmers
within their community. Driven by a desire to uplift
his Mindanao community, Bacani transformed his
land into a thriving banana plantation, achieving an
impressive output of 5 to 6 million boxes of
Cavendish bananas annually. These high-quality
fruits are exported to various destinations,
including the Middle East and other Asian countries,
solidifying La Fuerta Inc.'s position as a significant
player in the global banana market.
4. Alfredo Yao Alfredo Yao, the "Juice King of the Philippines," is a prominent
Filipino entrepreneur with a diverse business portfolio. Aside
from heading Semexco Marketing Corporation, Asia Wide
Refreshment Corporation (makers of RC Cola), and Harmon
Foods (Phils) Inc., he owns a farm in Negros Occidental and
founded Zest-O Corporation. Recognizing a gap in the market
for high-quality local fruit juices, Yao took matters into his own
hands when major companies showed little interest. He
successfully launched his own fruit juice brand, which quickly
gained popularity and became a household name in the
Philippines. This success spurred him to introduce other fruit
juice brands under the Zest-O umbrella, expanding his reach
internationally with exports to countries like China, Korea,
Singapore, and parts of America and Europe. Yao's
entrepreneurial spirit and keen understanding of consumer
preferences, coupled with his focus on utilizing a variety of
Philippine fruits like oranges, calamansi, and other citrus fruits
in his juice production, have solidified his position as a leader in
the Philippine beverage industry.
5. Patricio Base
Patricio Base, a successful orchard grower in
Alicia, Isabela, transitioned from rice farming to
cultivating watermelons, honeydew melons, and
papayas on his three-hectare land. Recognizing the
limited profitability of rice farming, Base embraced
melon cultivation, which he describes as a
potential "jackpot." His entrepreneurial spirit has
not only yielded significant financial rewards,
enabling him to send all four of his children to
college, but also demonstrates the transformative
power of diversifying agricultural practices and
embracing high-value crops. A prime example of
his success is a 2013 harvest of Diana watermelons
from a 3,500-square-meter plot, yielding 12 tons
and generating a substantial income of P480,000
at P40 per kilo.
