JOHN TEODORO, the acknowledged Bougainvillea King, has another distinction. He grows unusually large tilapia not for commercial purpose but as a hobby. He loves to share his fish with friends, serving them to visitors to his model farm in Maananteng, Solsona, Ilocos Norte. His jumbo tilapia could weigh three kilos each. And he usually serves them broiled or prepared into soupy “sinigang”.

To farmers who have a place to grow fish but don’t have fingerlings, he gives them some stocks to start with for free. Sometimes, he would even share his feeds with them.