By Leilanie Adriano/Philippine News Agency
LAOAG CITY — A 79-year-old farmer of Barangay Libtong in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte is this year’s Bayaning Pilipino winner, who continues to inspire hundreds of young and old farmers to value hard work and the soil they are tilling.
Angel Padron, a multi-awarded organic farmer, is set to receive on May 8 yet another award, this time, ABS-CBN’s Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino awardees for his extraordinary deeds to promote organic farming and help improve the lives of his fellow farmers in Ilocos region.
Spending most of his life in farming, Padron never got tired of sharing his passion on organic farming and even offers his services for free in schools to ensure that there would be a new breed of young farmers to feed the nation in the future.
For him, the soil is the most important component to succeed in organic farming.
“Take good care of the soil and the same favor will be given back to you –good health, long and happy life,” Padron shared in the local dialect, as he himself is watchful of his food intake.
A visit to his farm, which adjacent to his second bungalow house. is a showcase of what he has become as an outstanding farmer worthy of emulation.
“I want to leave this as my legacy and hopefully, I may be able to pass all the knowledge and skills I have acquired to make others succeed also. We can all become successful if we have discipline and work hard to achieve our goals,” said Padron, who lives by the golden rule, “Treat others as you would want them to treat you.”
Padron may not have obtained any college degree or finished high school, but the multi-awarded outstanding farmer scientist in Bacarra town is a much sought-after lecturer and hands-on trainor on organic farming.
As one of the Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)-certified farms in the country, his three-hectare Padron Agri-Venture Farm is now a learning site for farm enthusiasts, including children taking up agriculture-related subjects.
“I’m too proud to be a son of a peasant farmer who is now a real hero. Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awardee. Thanks to ABS-CBN, Ugat Foundation Inc., Ateneo de Manila University and the people of Bacarra for the support,” said Angel, his only son and namesake, who is now based in Alberta, Canada.
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