The tour of the LAC farm in Nueva Ecija was set on a Friday (February 26). Being a working day, most of the Triple A group (TA group) just could not make it. Some had acceptable reasons for not going to this rare excursion for the group. Yes, I said only some had acceptable reasons considering all the hard work that Celia did in organizing the trip to include the TA. (The absentees are not getting off that easy – after all didn't the TA agree that life is too short to pass over opportunities with true friends, hehehe...).Sonny Vicente, Cora Claudio, Oni Mayo (who brought along friend Bambi Goco) and of course, Celia Aurellano of the Triple A went on the exotic trip. The BPI officials (bankers of Pascual Lab) headed by Bonnie Silva and Choy Villaluz were there of course - them being the main reason for the trip. Altogether, the group had fun exchanging information and stories with each other that the three hour car trip to NE passed by quickly.
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Arriving at the destination before lunch, the LAC farm was a revelation. The admin and plant area was actually looking like a botanical resort. Stylized native structures, refreshing pools and plants on display were everywhere. The field plantations actually included a man-made pond where people can ride a raft. Apart from their advocacy for all things organic, the LAC officials believe in TQM and so the physical appearance and convenience of the place was just great for tourists or observers.
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The tour was aptly facilitated by no less than LAC president and Pascual lab VP Jun Saret. The UP agri grad and farm manager Andy Parducho provided the technicals of the tour. The reception included a costumed reception committee, native dances and refreshment. An AV Presentation made in one of the buildings explained the LAC set up to the inquisitive group. Afterwards, the plantation tour started and the group was taken in a dozer-pulled rolling platform to view the fields where the lagundi, sambong, ampalaya and other vegetables and herbs were grown.
The Pilipino lunch (Nueva Ecija style) was held in a screened native structure made for dining events and where the served sinigang, fish, meat and fruit dishes were a treat. After the fine lunch, a tour of the processing facility and the ‘clean’ livestock pens (including bred Baboy Ramo) were made. Since the weather was just too hot and humid, the next program in the agenda was a welcome event. It was the Lagundi-taste test activity where everyone was given four cold glasses of different Lagundi juice mix and were required to select what’s best.
Soon, it was time to go home but not before the group converged in the packing hall to buy organically grown vegetables including the LAC vinegar product highly recommended by Bambi. Overall, it was an enjoyable and informative trip for those who went. Despite the presence of non-TA people and especially because of the long time in the car, the TA group present amused themselves with chika concerning those TA who were not there (to defend themselves). But that’s what they get for being absent. Come to think of it, we were even talking about Cora and she was already there with us!
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