Located in Maharlika Highway, Brgy 93. Bagacay, Tacloban City, is La Granja de Reyna Farms.
La Granja is owned by Mrs. Martina “Tina” Reyna, an agricultural engineer by profession, born and raised from Llorente, Eastern Samar and married to Atty. Antonio Reyna, with three adult children.
While most women of her age will splurge and entertain themselves till they drop, Mrs. Reyna chooses to press on nurturing her agribusiness venture through La Granja Farms, organically at that. She’s living my “sustainable living dream!” Bless her heart!
Mrs. Reyna toured us around her farm and gave us her back story on how La Granja Farms came about. It was in 1982 when she resigned from her post in a government office and ventured into putting up the family’s 49-hectare farm.
It was after she retired from being a government employee, that Ms. Tina was able to finally pursue her passion for farming. She lovingly recalls an a-ha moment when she visited the promised land. She considered that trip as an eye-opener, even as she witnessed for herself how productive the farms of Israel are. It became an encouragement especially so that she knows for a fact that the Philippines is surrounded by water.
Like Mike Pedroso Farms, where we visited first in Eastern Visayas, La Granja Farms also grow exclusive organic produce and only use natural and organic fertilizers from vermiculture and those that came from farm wastes.
Organic Pig Farm
La Granja Farms distributes to the following restaurants within nearby municipalities: Zanzibar, Canto Fresco, Max’s, Ocho, et.al.
Typhoon Yolanda did not spare La Granja de Reyna Farms. The farm that Mrs. Reyna has poured out her passion to was greatly damaged. She even mentioned about her well-loved orangutan who accompanies visitors to where the farm cafe used to stand. Unfortunately, the fellow did not survive the super typhoon Yolanda.
During our stay and brief interview of her, she reiterated every so often how ATI and e-Extension have been instrumental in getting her farm to thrive, even helped her get back on her feet after the Typhoon Yolanda devastation.
It was during Organikong Magsasaka ng Rehiyong Otso’s (OMRO) Lakbay Alay when we visited and we were able to witness the abounding network of farmers and the organic produce Region VIII now has.
It also so happened that it was was Mrs. Reyna’s birthday! OMRO members and Organic Agriculture Bloggers got to celebrate with the Queen! 🙂
Mrs. Reyna’s efforts and her exemplary work were duly recognized by Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) of the Department of Agriculture during our visit. Her farm has since become a venue for training and workshop for transitioning farmers on organic and sustainable agriculture.
Please feel free to browse through our uploaded photos of La Granja de Reyna Farms on Facebook
Ms. Tina’s passion was undeniable. I am even more amazed that she does not let her age withhold her from doing what she loves. She even excels at it as she continues to open her farm to be an avenue of learning for those who are interested to know more on organic farming.
