A 72-year-old retiree from Abra is enjoying his own brand of leisurely farming in his two-hectare farm in his hometown of Peñarubia. He is Philip Tingonong who was the provincial development officer of Abra for 38 years.

He got an idea when he visited the Sarian Farm in Teresa, Rizal on October 4, 2019 together with a niece and a nephew. He got planting materials of Paniyur, the Indian variety of black pepper that produces long fruit spikes. He will plant the black pepper at the base of his mahogany trees that will serve as their support.

He also bought planting materials of fruit trees that he will add to his present collection. The new acquisitions  include Vietnam pomelo, R2E2 or peach mango from Australia, Key lime, marang, American lemon, dwarf sweet coconut and others. 

Philip is very proud of his Sweet Kamias from our farm which has been bearing a lot fruits. He and his visitors enjoy munching the fresh fruit whenever it is in season. He is also very proud of his fruiting  durian tree he got from Valencia, Bukidnon some years back.

Philip came to Teresa with her niece Maribel Tingonong Climacosa who is visiting from Canada, and JR Tingonong, a nephew. He said they will come back for another visit to acquire other varieties. He is very lucky because he has a spring in his farm, and in fact he has a fishpond in one portion where he grows fish.