Cacao Level Up Seminar goes to Quezon City

The concluded CACAO LEVEL UP SEMINAR at Abe’s Restaurant was indeed an unforgettable one. Having to fill up a quaint area showed productivity, nostalgia, and newly formed friendships.

We’d like to thank our guest speakers who made this cacao adventure take one notch higher. Thank you One World Institute Country Director Mircaella F. Johnson, Romela Fabula of Opulento Agriventures Albay, Christian Valdes of CMV Txokolat, Executive Chef Christopher Carangian and Chef Michelle Arce for inspiring our participants to be creative, passionate, and helpful to others who lack the courage or resources to pursue their dreams.

The participants came from Pangasinan, Batangas, Nueva Ecija, Aurora Province, Bicol, Sorsogon, Cavite, Dumaguete, and Cebu. Imagine to have started as complete strangers but ended up as good friends who were brought together by a common call – PASSION to PLANT and CREATE products that the Philippines would be known for.

The participants raised their hands for the Oath of Membership as led by PDS CEO Mel Santos. Before the said oath, Mr. Santos awarded Executive Chef Christopher Carangian as Honorary Member.

Till the next Cacao Level Up! May the golden Filipino Aromatico Heirloom Cacao bring you places you never imagined to conquer.

Early birds flocked to Trinoma on February 21. Batangas and Sorsogon Participants followed by Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.

CACAO LEVEL-UP SEMINAR @ QC

CACAO LEVEL UP SEMINAR
February 21, 2019 10AM-5PM
3/F TriNoma, EDSA cor. North Ave., Quezon City, Metro Manila

MEL SANTOS
CEO, Plantacion de Sikwate
* Filipino Aromatico Heirloom Cacao
* Planting the Heirloom Cacao (nursery to field)

ROMELA FABULA
President/Owner – Opulento Agriventures
* Cacao Biological farming system
* Biological pest control inputs
* Crop vaccination technology

CHRISTIAN VALDES
Chocolatier, CMV Txokolat
* Chocolate Bar making
* Pinoy Craft of Chocolate bars

Executive Chef CHRISTOPHER CARANGIAN
Food Historian, Jose Rizal University
* Philippine Food and our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal

*————————————*

SECURE A SEAT for P3,000 (Inclusive of meals and certificate)

To Reserve a Seat, SMS/call:
Mel Santos 09167170207
Mia Concepcion 09155130093

*** All payments are to be settled on or before February 18, 2019 via
Plantacion de Sikwate Cacao Producers Association, Inc.
Banco de Oro, J. Center Mandaue City Branch
Account No. 00419-032-4488
** Once you successfully have deposited your fee, take a photo of the deposit slip and send to PDSCACAO@gmail.com or inbox at PDSCACAO here at FB.

Cacao Level-Up Onsite Training in Quezon Province

We were invited by Mr. Julian Gonsalves, Senior Advisor at the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction to conduct a 2-day seminar in Quezon Province. Together with PDS CEO Mr. Mel Santos is Ms. Romela Fabula, PDS Bicol Chapter and PDS PRO for Cebu Chapter Nestor Saludo who prefers to be called Nestor Salcedo on this James Bond series of being a Secret Agent, and Mr. Marlon Enoc for teaching everyone how to graft the right way. 

The activities focused on the following:

Day 1 – Plantation de Sikwate Planting Programs (lectures and forums)

Day 2 – Onsite Training on cacao tree rehabilitation, side-grafting with heirloom budsticks, and more. Thank you Mr. Manuel Borre for welcoming us to your farm.  Different venues allowed #TeamPDS to show our cacao farmers that the true meaning of seminars and trainings does not limit or should not limit anyone to 4-walls. Literature can help but what matters is the actual feel of the soil under your feet, the dancing flowers on your hand, and the fragrance of the most aromatic cacao variety of them all — Criollo or Heirloom cacao.

We would like to thank LGU Guinayangan Municipal Agricultural Officer (MAO) Ms.  Belina Rosales for the Certificate of Appreciation we received.

Thank you Hon. Mayor Cesar J. Isaac III for the OTOP tokens and unforgettable accommodation your good office gave us. To all LGU officers and staff of the barangays in Quezon Province, we salute your dedication and true spirit to help uplift the lives of our Filipino farmers.

Cacao Level Up Onsite Training, Ubay Bohol

YOU ARE INVITED TO A TWO-DAY ONSITE TRAINING IN UBAY, BOHOL.

VENUE: Remina Cacao Farm, Sinandigan, Ubay, Bohol
TIME: 9AM – 4PM
DATE(s): AUGUST 21-22, 2018

REMINDER: This is an exclusive onsite-training for members of the Ubay Cacao Growers Association. HOWEVER, if you want to participate, kindly prepare your meals.

For inquiries, leave a message with:

MR. MEL SANTOS 0916 717 0207

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DAY 1 of the PDS CACAO LEVEL-UP ONSITE TRAINING for affiliate farmer members of the Ubay Cacao Growers Association.

Remina Cacao Farm, Ubay, Bohol

(click for photos)

(click for more photos)

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DAY 2 of the PDS CACAO LEVEL-UP ONSITE TRAINING for affiliate farmer members of the Ubay Cacao Growers Association.

Remina Cacao Farm, Ubay, Bohol

WHAT HAPPENED: More lectures and actual grafting procedures took place.

CONGRATULATIONS new members. #oathtaking

CACAO and COCONUTS.

intercropped for a sustainable livelihood during the PDS CACAO LEVEL-UP ONSITE TRAINING for affiliate farmer members of the Ubay Cacao Growers Association, Remina Cacao Farm, Ubay, Bohol

 

The People’s Choice

by Mel Santos

The month of June brings inspiring news for the country and the world at large. According to the newspaper I have read, eight-division world champion Senator Manny Pacquiao is holding his boxing match with Lucas Mathysse or Danny Garcia in Malaysia by the end of this month. Such news have prompted me to post this photo with Pacman. Like any other boxing fan, I wish that the upcoming WBA Welterweight World Title fight brings victory to our country.

And speaking of the land of flowers, chicken satay, and elephants, Malaysia grows a favorite crop that I hold dear to my heart – the Cacao M01 Trinitario variety. Here in the Philippines, this variety is known as the W10. Now, Plantacion de Sikwate Cacao Producers Association, Inc. where I belong to as Chief Executive Officer, plants this cacao variety with the Mexican descendant Heirloom cacao/Criollo.

The boxing world considers Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao as the People’s Choice after winning endless bouts with Mexican contenders such as Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, and Marco Antonio Barrera to name a few. At the same time, the Chocolate world shares the same win when cacao trees growing in countless backyards and lands came from Mexican cacao seeds that were used as a form of currency during the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade in the 17th century.

In the photo I am sharing, you will also see the bananas I had for breakfast. The Latundan (Apple Banana) is another variety from the countless list like cardava banana or “Saba Banana”, Lakatan, Katunggal (Plantain), and Señorita. These bananas, together with coconuts, calamansi, mangoes, and madre de cacao, may grow as an intercrop with cacao which then brings sustainable income to farmers, as well as attract investors, and tourists to our country.

All the best to Pacman and our Cacao — the best choice for the Filipino People!

——*

Recently posted in our FB Official Page (PDSCACAO) is a Crowd Sourcing poll. Help us decide if Cacao farmers, or Cacao aficionados are ready to start planting and will join a Forum and Symposium this month. A lot of questions coming from the FB page include “Are there forums in Luzon, NCR, or Manila?

Vote your choice of Yes or No in the poll we created.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1911117982234814&id=1204715712875048

www.facebook.com/PDSCACAO
www.instagram.com/PDSCACAO
www.plantaciondesikwate.com

Invitation to CACAO LEVEL UP TECHNO-FORUM

 

New to cacao farming or would want to expand your knowledge on the PDS farming technology?

Schedule a one-on-one training or come as a group of five participants.

CACAO LEVEL UP TECHNO-FORUM

Venue: Plantacion de Sikwate Cebu office
Address: 112-A Krisdale Commercial Centre, A.C. Cortes, Ave. Mandaue City (inside DOHERA Hotel)
Forum fee: P3,000/pax (inclusive of meals, kit, and certificate)

Call or SMS 09155130093 (GLOBE) to book now.

#CACAO
#Heirloomcacao
#graftedcacaoseedlings
#cacaoseedlings
#chocolate
#organicfarming
#criollo
#Philippines

Polangui Cacao Level Up Techno-Forum

imageD’Bar Sport & Resto, Bgry.  Alnay, Polangui, Albay was the venue for the PDS Cacao Level Up Techno-Forum. The programme started at 1PM and ended at 5PM with an enthusiastic 96 partipicants!

They were welcomed by Team PDS-Albay headed by Mr. Gary Lotivo, Ms. Romela Fabula and Mr. Manuel Carpio, Jr.

Special thanks to Mr. Jason Sambitan of Polagreen Nursery & Farm and to the sponsors who made this event possible.

imageimage image image image image image image image image image imageimage image image image image image image image image image image image imageimage image image image image image image

Ubay LEVEL UP Cacao Techno-Forum

imageUbay, Bohol — “A reliable partner with trusted technology” they called us. Thank you for your support and trust. Honda Power Products Philippines, thank you for being with us in promoting Cacao Farming like never before. Sure enough, with our partnership, we can help alleviate poverty among the Filipinos.

In the photos are Professor John Edgar Luardo, PDS Bohol Chapter President and Mr. Melencio Santos, PDS Chief Executive Officer. Accepting the Certificate of Appreciation is Honda Power Products Bohol Business Manager.imageimageimageimage image imageOver 65 Participants came to the venue and shared their cacao adventures. Majority of the farmers did not know how to care for their high-value crops but when the forum progressed, they learned that a high yielder was in their midst. They thanked PDS for opening their eyes to the Filipino Aromatico™ over the UF-18.imageimageimageimageimageimageimageimage

Bohol Cacao Level Up Techno-Forum

Ubay Level UP FINALGet ready UBAY!

CACAO LEVEL UP TECHNO-FORUM
KIDDIE’S GARDEN & ADVENTURE PARK, UBAY, BOHOL
(near National Irrigation Administration Office)
October 26, 2017, Thursday 8AM – 5PM

P275/PAX – entrance fee, meals (lunch, AM/PM snack

For details contact:
Mr. MEL SANTOS
(0916)7170207 Globe / (0920) 5442039 Smart
Mr. NESTOR SALUDO
(0977) 0915742 Globe / (0908) 796 3550 Smart