Born on August 16, 1992, Ms. Azzil Vancere M. Cantos is a 31-year-old Farm Administrator of the Revitalizing Agri-Tourism Vocational Training Center, a farm ray of hope and innovation located in Barangay Proper Bansud, Bansud, Oriental Mindoro.
As the eldest among her five siblings, she shoulders the weight of responsibility with grace and determination. It is through her strong dedication that she guides her family towards a bright future, where each sunrise brings with it the opportunity for everyone. Rice farming is not only the primary source of their income but also the lifeline that puts food on their table. Her family runs deep within the land itself, with her father owning one (1) hectare of land, adjacent to which are another two (2) hectares of rice fields.
Since childhood, she has been barred by her father from participating in farm work. “Naaalala ko noong minsang sumama ako sa pagtatalok. Pagkauwi ko sa bahay, nagalit si tatay at pinalo niya ako. Pagkatapos nun , ipinaliwanag niya na ang kanyang pagsusumikap sa pagbubukid ay para sa aming ikabubuhay, upang mabigyan kami ng maayos na edukasyon, at upang hindi namin maranasan ang hirap na kanyang pinagdaraanan,” she recalled.
This incident served as a profound eye-opener for her, which ignited a fierce determination to improve the lives of her family. When she was in high school, her parents eventually stopped farming as both sought employment opportunities abroad. This caused to leave the family’s farm sorely neglected. Meanwhile, she studied college in the urban part of Mindoro and pursued her degree in Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management. After she graduated, she worked as a Tourism Instructor at Mindoro State University for six (6) years.
Her Journey into Farming
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”, Ms. Cantos shared.
As a farm tourism instructor, her advocacy is to have a harmonious combination of agriculture and tourism. She believes that farming is not just a place of productivity but also living canvases of natural beauty and artistry. She knows that by sharing her passion for farming with others, she can sow the seeds of curiosity and appreciation for farmers.
However, her enthusiasm for farming was hindered by the demands of her occupation. Despite this, she remained determined to pursue her passion for farming. She initiated the utilization of her father’s farm to start her agricultural venture. Her father agreed to the proposition and offered support for her aspirations.
She took the first step by introducing pigs to the farm and started their farming enterprise. Then, she introduced the Rhode Island Red chickens along with an incubator to facilitate the breeding and multiplication of their poultry stock. Leveraging her experience, she ensured the success of their farm operations.
As she was very eager to acquire new skills, she sought knowledge and capability enhancement through the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) – MIMAROPA. She immersed herself in numerous trainings provided by ATI to revive her family farm. She attended a series of trainings under the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program, such as Training of Trainers (TOT) on High-Quality Inbred Rice Seed Production and Rice-based Farm Machinery Operations, as well as TOT on Digital Agriculture Course (DAC) for RCEF. She yearned to translate her newfound expertise into a successful agricultural business venture.
As their farming activities gained momentum, they set their sights in formalizing their involvement with the RCEF Program. On November 21, 2022, their efforts bore fruit when ATI conducted a site visitation and approved her farm to be one of the Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA) under the RCEF. It indeed marked a significant milestone in their farming journey and opened the doors to further support their resources.
She poured her efforts into improving the farm, and her vision expanded to include the idea of establishing a farm school. She believed that her growing knowledge could merge seamlessly with her ambitious aspirations.
She sought guidance, reached out to various farm owners, and consulted with farm experts to gain insights into the farming systems or approaches she wished to adopt. On December 12, 2022, her farm became a farm school accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The farm, named Revitalizing Agri-Tourism Vocational Training Center was inspired by their family’s initial names: “RAV” which stands for Ramon, Analiza, and Vancere. As the farm embraced its new role, it cultivated not only crops but also cultivated minds, nurturing a new generation of skilled farmers.
In 2023, she made a crucial decision to leave her job as Tourism Instructor and pursue the development of her farm. It became increasingly evident to her that the potential for profit outside of traditional employment and freelance work far surpassed what she could achieve.
Breaking Barriers to Overcome Challenges
“Ang buhay ay tulad ng isang hagdanan. Kailangan mongdaanan ang lahat ng proseso upang marating ang pinakamatamis na tagumpay,” Ms. Cantos said.
She was confronted by the challenge of the African Swine Fever, a devastating blow that left her facing the grim reality of losing her entire swine herd. The outbreak continued until almost all of her poultry stocks were lost as well. She began to face financial strain that jeopardized the stability of her farm.
Her father's declining health also posed a significant obstacle to their financial stability. Rather than focusing on initial farm development, her priority shifted towards ensuring her father received the necessary medical care and attention. Consequently, it was redirected to prioritize the well-being of her family over anything else.
Another challenge was the firm adherence of older farmers to traditional practices and beliefs. They were often resistant to the integration of modern farm technologies. It took her time and effort to persuade them to accept and learn the new methods and equipment for farming.
However, she insisted that she did not merely view these challenges as obstacles to be avoided. Instead, she chose to perceive them as opportunities for growth and development.
“Mahirap magturo ng pagsasaka kung nakikita nilang hindi mo pinapractice ang itinuturo mo. Kaya kung dati, lipstick at foundation ang hawak ko, ngayon leaf color chart at MOET kit na ang kaagapay ko sa pagtuturo,” she proudly shared.
Effective Strategies and Approaches for Navigating Farmer-Student Learning
It is important to gain knowledge on how to properly manage students. She deliberately avoids wearing formal clothing, opting instead for fieldwork attire. This is because she knows that formal clothing frequently intimidates farmers, and she wants to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and approachability.
Moreover, she understands that language can be a barrier to good communication. Therefore, she avoids using technical English terms when speaking to her students. She ensures that the modules or subjects are understandable by using the mother tongue and breaking down the ideas into simpler terms for a deeper exchange of thoughts.
But perhaps her most valuable quality was her ability to relate to people. She made an effort to build relationships with her students by being kind and sympathetic. Her aim was to allay any fears or discomfort through these exchanges, building a bond and trust that went beyond the conventional teacher-student relationship. By doing this, she fostered a friendly environment where learning thrived and her students felt appreciated, valued, and equipped to take on new information and skills in farming.
Through her hard work and perseverance, she was awarded and recognized as a Certified Tourism Professional, an Exceptional Professional Educator, and the Compassionate Trainer of the Year.
Mapping Out Her Future Plans
She sees her farm school and learning site not merely as a traditional educational establishment, but as a dynamic learning hub and a site for broader educational experiences. She envisions a farm-to-table market that offers fresh produce directly sourced from its own farm. Adjacent to it stands a restaurant whose menu proudly boasts dishes crafted solely from ingredients cultivated on the farm.
She also sees this as a "trading post”, a bustling marketplace where the diverse products of her community find a common stage. Here, farmers and other people will converge to showcase their goods and products.
Moreover, she commits to maintaining active engagement with the ATI. She will steadfastly uphold her dedication t to nurturing the next generation of agri-youth and ensuring that the legacy of sustainable farming endures for generations to come.
“Lumisan man ang aming Tatay, maiiwan niya ang kanyang legacy sa pamamagitan ng RAV. Kaming magkakapatid ay committed na ipagpatuloy ang aming naumpisahan. Sa bawat sulok ng farm na ito, nakikita ko ang sakripisyo ng aming Tatay at nararamdaman kong proud siya sa amin,” she shared.
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