BAYBAY CITY, Leyte – What began as a simple dormitory gardening initiative blossomed into a thriving movement of sustainability, collaboration, and student empowerment as the Dormitoryo Verde: Food Always in the Home (FAITH) program concluded its second run with a series of culminating activities from November 2025 to April 2026 at Visayas State University (VSU).
At the heart of the program was a strong culture of mentorship and shared growth. The “Elder Greens,” composed of the top three dormitories from the 2025 cycle, guided 25 new participating dormitories—fondly called “Space Buds.” Through inter-dorm mentoring, they supported the establishment of vegetable gardens, shared best practices, and encouraged fellow students in managing their own green spaces. While the Space Buds focused on building and sustaining their gardens for consumption and enterprise, ATI-RTC 8 staff closely mentored the groups and identified top-performing gardens under each Elder Green cluster. The final judging, held on April 17, 2026, was led by Center Director Hazel Grace Taganas, alongside Ms. Gizell Jill Nuñez, Mr. Dave Buya, and Dr. Zenaida Gonzaga.
The program reached a vibrant highlight on April 27, 2026 through the “Handog ng Hardin” Bazaar, where harvests from various dormitory gardens were consolidated and sold. Elder Greens led the coordination of produce from their respective Space Buds, while students showcased not only fresh vegetables but also their creativity in stall design and marketing strategies. The event reflected how urban gardening can translate into both food security and entrepreneurial learning among students.
During the same day, the Bloom Awards honored outstanding dormitories and participants for their innovation, productivity, and impact. Among the Special Awards, Molave Men’s Hall emerged as Garden Guru Elder Greens and Best Harvest Haven, while Mahogany Men’s Hall received the Digital Green Thumb and Green Print Awards. Mabolo Men’s Home earned recognition for Roots of Impact and Green Innovator Award. For the Space Buds category, Bougainvillea Ladies Cottage was named Garden Guru, Mulberry Men’s Home received the Garden Groovers Award, Camia Ladies Cottage was awarded Little Space, Big Harvest, and Daffodil Ladies Cottage earned the Rising Seedling Award.
For the major awards, Molave Men’s Hall was hailed as Champion among the Elder Greens, followed by Mahogany Men’s Hall as 1st Runner-Up, and Mabolo Men’s Home as 2nd Runner-Up. Among the Space Buds, Bougainvillea, Kanlaon, and Mulberry emerged as top winners under their respective clusters, while Daffodil, Camia, Ilang-ilang, Mariposa, Waling-waling, and Daisy were recognized as runners-up.
VSU President Prose Ivy G. Yepes lauded the initiative, emphasizing that the university’s mission goes beyond excellence to creating meaningful impact. She highlighted how Dormitoryo Verde contributes to sustainable development goals, particularly zero hunger and health and well-being, as students grow and consume their own food. Looking ahead, she shared plans to scale up the initiative as ATI-RTC 8’s contribution to the MATATAG-ViCARP along with the university’s ALALAY VSU. MATATAG VICARP aims strengthen food security within the university and extend support to nearby communities. “With or without this crisis, we will continue to do this initiative… to help our students not only provide food on their own tables but to appreciate farming,” she said.
Meanwhile, VSU Vice President for Student Affairs and Services Aleli A. Villocino reflected on the transformation of once idle dormitory spaces into productive gardens. She shared how the initiative has not only improved the campus landscape but also touched the lives of students, even becoming a regular source of fresh produce for the community. She also commended the dormitory advisers for their leadership and commitment to guiding the students.
Through Dormitoryo Verde, ATI-RTC 8 and VSU have proven that even the smallest spaces can yield meaningful harvests of food, skills, and hope.
