Just like anybody else, our perception of Pestales is automatic. We associate them, with a family name or surname, or for others, it is a place and a religious denomination. However, none of us are correct because, PESTALES is an acronym that stands for “People’s Empowerment through Social, Technological, Active Livelihood Economic Services” but in 2021, it was amended to “People’s Ecosystem for Societal Transformation, Advanced Leadership and Economic Sustainability,” an Agricultural Cooperative duly registered with the Cooperative Development Authority. But, on one note, we at least agreed, that Pestales is a farm, whose goal is to promote sustainable agriculture through organic farming and live by their mantra: “from farm to table, value adding to generate income and change lives for the better.”

How Pestales started?

In 2014, three (3) women who became friends in Manila the likes of Rodelyn F. Gabayoyo (Bacolod), Delia Bargamento (Surigao del Sur), and Jenalyn A. Entoy (Masbate) agreed to take a vacation in Rodelyn’s Province. There, they met her friends, Raymund C. Alpon and his wife, Cristy. Then, the group proceeded to Cebu for a vacation and met Melodina Esconde, a farmer’s daughter of Barangay Caleriohan, Dalaguete Cebu, who also tagged along another friend, Mark Anthony C. Luaña of Catmon, Cebu.

The five of them stayed at Melodina’s house for 2-weeks and never thought, that the short period of time, made Jenalyn’s life turn 180 degrees. She witnessed how farmers suffered because of middlemen’s unjust treatment of buying their produce (chayote at P1/kilo and cabbage at P10/kilo) which they manually transport from the hinterland to the town proper. Such lamentation worsed, when these farmers shared their story that they do not have the means to tap government services because they can only write and read, but can’t speak and comprehend English.

With that experience, it was Jenalyn’s idea to come back to Cebu to help these farmers by translating her advocacy into reality that is, sustainable agriculture through organic farming. After sorting all her life in Manila, both personal and her job, she presented her plan to her other 2 friends, and without hesitation or doubt, they all agreed, packed their things and their journey began in the same year.

When they arrived in Cebu, they started organizing a core group advocating sustainable agriculture where Raymund and Cristy Alpon with Mark Anthony C. Luaña joined in, reaching out to friends for possible networks and collaboration. With Jenalyn’s sheer passion for working with people, being, a child of a farmer/fisher father and farmer-mother from Masbate, she met Juan Lapa of Argao, Cebu who happened to acquire a 200 square meter lot on an installment basis. Unfortunately, Juan is incapable of sorting finances to pay the lot in full because of his family’s financial dire need.

Hence, Jenalyn offered to assume the lot via staggard through the income of their agri-herbal products. The lot became their quarter that sits in the processing center of their 10n1 Moringeric and other Agri-herbal produce.

Pestales, thriving against all odds

The success of Pestales is not laden with sugar and spice because they hurdled their ups and downs with grace. Among the challenges that they met was when they were tagged and accused as thieves, rebels, maute group that supports ISIS, and worse, killers. They were even summoned by two (2) barangays to be scrutinized for the reason that their agriculture activity was only a frontline with rebellion allegedly at hand.

There were even instances that during night time, they were thrown with stones and their dogs were killed sending messages that they were next. Branding them as cults and threatening government agencies who wish to visit them to extend intervention to retreat because they will not return in one piece. They even exhausted all their savings in order to make the farm run, where, the first 23 founding families voluntarily became members because they were positive that Pestales would make their life productive and changed. However, without a track record to prove and no proper registration to present to possible funders, the core group had a hard time meeting ends, hence, they ate porridge or lugaw in Cebuano vernacular for seven (7) long months.

With their drive to make a change, parents made kakanins or desserts like Salbaro (native bread made from pounder sun-dried and fried cassava), hotcakes, and ice candy which their children sell to the streets and proceeds will be for the community’s food consumption. With meager sales, the core group learned to eat their produce vegetables raw with camote/taro/cassava as their source of carbohydrates, making them, vegetarian, a healthy practice, and discovered that some of their illnesses were cured. Until such time, the community embraced the kind of diet they have had since 2017 until to date.

Meanwhile, the children of the family are active community members and potential leaders. They even organized the Pestales 4H Club and held National Certificates (NC II). These children were sent to school and Pestales made sure to bring and fetch them every day for safety because of their profound love of the farm, most of them, stopped until they reached 12th grade. Their purpose is to make Pestales sustainable, so that, at their tender ages, they will become the next generation to run the cooperative, hence, they made sure that they are equipped with enough skills and knowledge, through the tutelage of the founding members.

From 23 founding members, they already have 37 households and counting in the community and are now slowly being recognized by the Local Government Unit of Argao, Cebu.

With all the challenges that they have hurdled day by day, the Pestales community agreed to never give up. They always gambled and were not afraid of taking the risk. They always planned ahead, have meetings every now and then, strategize on their own, and pray together for enlightenment and blessings.

The Rise of Pestales Eco Village and Pestales Agriculture Cooperative

It was in 2016 when Pestales registered as a cooperative, wherein, they wanted for so long to have a legal identity. In 2017, someone offered them 2.8 hectares for farm development (a variety of vegetables and crops planted with a small area for livestock). Due to the absence of the Memorandum of Agreement with the owner, the operation stopped in 2018.

In 2019, Pestales Eco Village, a 3,000 square meter area was acquired by the cooperative with a garden, and centers for processing, wellness, training, and pasalubong were established plus a housing facility for its members. These were realized through the support of LifeBank Micro Finance Foundation through then Vice-President, Nicanor Perlas who granted them 3.1 Million pesos.

Pestales Braveheart Farm (PBF)

In the same year, when the COVID-19 Pandemic threatened the entire humanity, Pestales acquired another 6.4 hectares of land in Jampang, Argao, Cebu, duly financed by LifeBank Micro Finance Foundation through a soft loan with zero interest. This is where the Pestales Braveheart Farm (PBF) sits in.

PBF, is an accredited Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) of the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 7 in 2017 and renewed last March 7, 2019, and also an accredited farm school of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on June 11, 2021.

The farm produces a variety of organically grown vegetables, crops, and herbs. Livestock, tilapia, and mushroom production. The farm offered six (6) competencies, to wit: a) Raise Organic Chicken; b) Produce Organic Vegetable; c) Produce Organic Fertilizer; d) Produce Organic Concoctions and Extracts; e) Raise Organic Hogs and f) Raise Organic Small Ruminants. There are already four (4) batches conducted on the farm with 136 graduates from nearby municipalities of Cebu Province.

They also conducted trainings like inner conditioning, disaster preparedness, simple book keeping and basic accounting for agri-preneurs. Moreover, there are also visitors who come just for a quick day tour and the farm offers vegetarian menus with juices for both walk-in visitors and accepts catering services.

They are now considered as millionaire cooperative in the Province of Cebu who touched so many lives not just farmers but fishers to youths and other agriculture advocates.

The men and women behind the PBF who are also the Board of Directors (BOD) of the Pestales Agriculture Cooperative (PAC) are as follows: Ms. Jenalyn A. Entoy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer and BOD Chairperson, who is the all-in charge of the projects, overseer in its proper management, responsible in finding fund sources like grants, established linkages and networks. A strong woman and a dedicated leader. An advocate for sustainable agriculture/organic farming, youth development, and healthy lifestyle. Thus, recognized as among the awardees of the International Filipino Leader during the Ladies of All Nations International World Summit 2023 held in Manila, Philippines on October 19, 2023. As an awardee, among the perks include a wide network and linkage among women leaders, funders, and philanthropists all over the world.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mark Anthony C. Luaña is the BOD Vice Chairperson, who is in charge of the farm school at the same time Trainer and Assessor of PAC and Chairman of the Education and Training Committee.

Ms. Rodelyn F. Gabayoyo is the project proposal development officer who handles all papers and documentation. Mr. Raymund C. Alpon took charge of the Marketing and most of the time attended and participated in seminars and summits while Mr. Noli E. Salibongcogon is the point person on their Massage and Reflexology and at the same time on the construction projects respectively.

The farm was named “BRAVEHEART” because the community never gave up on all the challenges, issues, and problems that they encountered and brought Pestales to where they are right now. Besides, it really takes courage and a brave heart to be sustainable and successful in every endeavor they have undertaken.

The success of Pestales Agriculture Cooperative is greatly attributed to the member-families who labored for the success of the farm. They even once tilled the land without monetary return, all they have in their mind and heart is for the betterment of the community where they live. Today, these families not just spend time on the communal farm, rather, they are also developing their area within their households so that the cooperative will consolidate and buy their produce. This will form part of their family’s income aside from the benefits they have received from the cooperative, that is free of rent including water and electricity bills. This is because they are one-big family, helping each other from better or down times.

Moreso, the Pestales is active in all trade fairs and exhibits wherein they can showcase all their agri-products and other farm activities. In fact, as a manifestation of their dedication to spread what Pestales can offer, they organized an Organic Farmers’ Festival for three (3) years now, also consolidate market fresh produce of farmers every Wednesday and Saturday to let the public know that they have what they can offer, because, they walk the talk.

Among of the many significant strides of PAC includes media mileage where they were featured to almost all mainstream media such as G-Diaries of ABS-CBN, Balitang Bisdak-GMA Regional TV, My TV Channel on My Destination Program as well as to DA’s Biyaheng Agibiz and Ani Ug Kita.

Apart from these, PAC also assisted 10 Farmer Associations through Community of Organic Natural Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Federation (CONFFFED). Developed proposals to subsidize them with worth One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) and now on its second phase to award another five (5) winner associations.

The power of partnership, dedication, and trust

Pestales Braveheart Farm members have a strong bond with each other, so with their partners who are from government agencies. They made sure that they maintained good relationships with them for ease of doing undertakings.

The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit 7 (DA-RFO 7) is among the first agencies that provided assistance to them through the Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development (LEAD) Program, which is to speed up farmers’ organizations' access to financing, management expertise, and marketing in 2018. Aside from this, they also provide funding for the development of agri-herbal processing through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) and the Organic Agriculture Livelihood Program for Mushroom Production. They also gave several trainings and workshops and linked them to possible institutional buyers and provided markets through KADIWA Outlets and various exhibits and trade fairs. They also recognized Pestales Braveheart Farm as Gawad Saka Awardee as an “Outstanding Small Farmer Organization” on May 10, 2023.

The Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 7 (DA-ATI-RTC 7) also played a great role in Pestales Braveheart Farm, because they are the ones who accredit them as Learning Site for Agriculture and also provided grant funding twice for their Enhancement of Training Center and Acquisition of Farm Tools and Equipment as well as capacitates key staff through training and seminars particularly on Organic Agriculture Production NCII at St. Peter Academy Alegria Foundation Inc.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also provided them with machinery and equipment for their processing as well as training on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Food Safety.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) also helped them in the analysis of their agri-herbal products as well as the provision of training.

Pestales’ quest to change lives

The road taken by the Pestales Braveheart Farm and Pestales Agriculture Cooperative is no easy feat, because, they were not only making a difference in the community, but they too have a mission to change lives for the better among members.

As Ms. Jenalyn had put it, they wanted to extend their gratitude to people who were not so fond of them, especially during their early years, because they were instruments for them to strive more on what can they do good to the members and the community in general.

She also acknowledged wholeheartedly those who stand by them as they thrive and became agents to affect change in the lives of the people who believe in them and she further encouraged them to treasure friendship, because, they are what they become now even with the test of time.

Pestales Agriculture Cooperative is certainly true to its calling which is to have their heart brave enough so they can linger strongly in everything that comes their way.