A cheerful Mrs. Emma Caballero greets us at the gates of Tagbac Elementary School in Oton, Iloilo. She excitedly announced they got a funding from Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. for a new computer facility, on top of the new classrooms being built.
So how can a small school from (an almost far-flung) barangay was able to receive such big grants from the government and private donors? Ma’am Emma tells her story…
When she became part of the school back in 2003, it was the most dilapidated in Oton. “We have no electricity, we had poor water facilities and a non-functioning toilet.” she recalls.
“But our worst problem was most of our students were slow readers - some even non readers.” she laments. Despite the remedial classes she offered, the problem persisted. She then found out that most are children of poor farmers that go to school without breakfast on top of having poor nutrition.
“Malnutrition seemed to be the root cause, so I decided to cure the stomach first” she says. The school conducted a basic eco-sustainable agriculture program for the parents to apply in their respective homes – but it didn’t solve the problem.
“I decided to introduce a new program and integrated in the school curriculum under Edukasyong Pang-Agrikultura” she said. In 2005, the school started an organic farm to complement the new school agenda which was a forerunner of the Gulayan sa Paaralan program. The school’s playground was transformed into a garden where the parents cultivate the plot while the students grow and sustain the plants.
With abundant produce coming from the garden, the school had a “supervised recess program” where students had vegetable soups daily. “Parents from each grade level took turns in preparing the vegetable soup” she explains.
Slowly but surely her efforts paid off. Students became more active and performed better in class and in extracurricular activities. They also placed higher in academic and non-academic contests competing with other schools. The school inched their way in the rankings among the town’s 16 schools – they’re now in the top 5!
But she didn’t stop there – Ma’am Emma continued attending various seminars on agriculture and farming. With the connections she made and learning she gained, she continued to pursue this project for the improvement of the school. “And when Agricultural Training Institute came in to Tagbac Elementary School, everything was history” she beams. With ATI trainings in and out of the school, the garden became the school’s showcase that eventually became an income- generating attraction.
Now, Tagbac Elementary School is one of the agency’s 33 learning sites in Western Visayas. These “learning sites” are ATI-accredited farms that serve as an avenue presenting the best agricultural practices and farming strategies of highly emulated farmer leaders in the region.
Based in Aklan State University in Banga, Aklan, ATI is an extension and training arm of the Department of Agriculture mandated to train agricultural workers. ATI assists in harmonizing the management of agricultural services to empower the farmers and fisher folks towards food security, poverty alleviation and social equity for sustainable development.
The agency gives these agri sites assistance to develop their farms into knowledge avenues where farmers, students, and agriculture enthusiasts can tour the farm and get information and hands on training on various farming technologies
ATI lists the school as one of their learning sites under Integrated Diversified Organic Farming System (IDOFS) category. The school garden, which is less than 1-hectare, produces various vegetables and fruits which help supplements the school’s feeding program.
The “Gulayan sa Paaralan” boasts of black rice, tomatoes, eggplant, peppermint, lettuce, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, parsley, cucumber and many more. The school is also into vermicomposting - a method of using worms to transform organic waste into a nutrient-rich fertilizer called vermicast.
The sale of the “worm manure” together with the herbs, vegetables and potted plants grown help augment their school needs. “We don’t collect miscellaneous fees in school as our garden produce can make ends meet” Ma'am Emma beams.
Select students tour visitors around the school garden – for a minimal “tour fee”. Not only they identify the herbs and other plants, they also give information about the health benefits plus how to grow and use them – medicinal or for food.
“Our visitors also get to taste the specially prepared snacks and meals from our very own produce” she says. She shares how the teachers and students research and prepare some snacks for the visitors –all coming from their own produce. “We also do some catering service on the side as part of the school’s income generation projects”.
With the help of the government and donors, the status of the school improved as its learners excelled in various competitions. She shared how her elementary students were able to win 1st runner-up in a culinary competition for soya-based creations, against HRM college students.
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| Preparing the soya burger patty |
With the help of the government and donors, the status of the school improved as its learners excelled in various competitions. She shared how her elementary students were able to win 1st runner-up in a culinary competition for soya-based creations, against HRM college students.
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| Soya Burger and Milk made from the soybeans produced in the school farm |
Tagbac Elementary School’s inspiring tale tells the story of how a small school in Oton became a model for the best practices in organic agriculture, agri-ecotourism, and health & nutrition inspiring not only other schools but also bigger farms and commercial establishments within and outside the region.
With passion and hard work, no matter how simple and small things are - success will surely come knocking at your doorstep!
/ Photo credits: Feature Iloilo by Andrea Guanco