Growing seeds of hope: Empowering the youth to lead in agriculture
Gawad Kalinga’s School for Experiential Education Development (SEED) three-month training program has blossomed into a lifelong mission for 20 scholars from across Mindanao. With the unwavering support of San Miguel Foods and San Miguel Foundation these young dreamers have grown into leaders—symbols of hope for their families, their communities, and the country.
With the successful graduation of Batch 5 of San Miguel Foods scholars in December 2024, San Miguel Foods has now produced nearly 100 graduates since the program began in 2019, empowering young leaders to transform the agricultural landscape. Each scholar has undergone an intensive, holistic training designed not only to develop expertise but also to instill character and resilience.
From Organic Agriculture Production and Agro-Entrepreneurship to Accounting for Agri-Enterprise and Business Communication, the scholars were immersed in a comprehensive curriculum that equipped them with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive. They participated in hands-on farming activities, community outreach programs, and Kalinga sessions—learning by doing, growing by serving. Meanwhile, a six-week cacao production module, co-designed with Cacao Culture, provided an in-depth understanding of the cacao value chain, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the Davao region’s cacao industry.
Beyond the classrooms and farm institutions, these scholars embraced real-world challenges in farm production, management, and marketing. Each lesson, each struggle, each triumph shaped them into not just future farmers, but trailblazers—ready to redefine the agricultural landscape of the Philippines.
A story of grit and grace
For many of these scholars, SEED is more than just an academic institution; it is a lifeline. Take the journey of Reynalyn Mokudef, 24 years old, from South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur, a member of the indigenous Teduray tribe. She grew up in a farming family with little means but with great determination. She would walk barefoot to school then, carrying nothing but boiled sweet potatoes for lunch, and repeatedly wearing the same set of clothes every day. Yet, she never let poverty define her dreams.
To support her siblings’ education, she eventually dropped out of school and worked as a housemaid, all while holding on to the hope of a brighter future. That hope was realized when she became San Miguel Foods’ scholar in the SEED program. Here, she not only gained an education but found a family—one that believed in her potential. She graduated at the top of her class, and today, she stands tall, ready to give back to her community and inspiring others to rise above their circumstances.
“Ngayong graduate na ako, plano kong mag-alaga ng manok at ipagpatuloy ang gardening upang makatulong sa pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan ng aking pamilya. Kasabay nito, nais kong makahanap ng trabaho upang mapalawak pa ang aking kaalaman at maibahagi ang aking kakayahan sa iba. Higit sa lahat, bukas ang aking puso sa mga oportunidad na makapaglingkod sa iba’t ibang communities, dahil naniniwala ako na ang tunay na tagumpay ay hindi lamang nasusukat sa personal na pag-unlad kundi pati na rin sa kung paano tayo nakakatulong sa iba.”
Another scholar, Ivan Anthony Mahumot, 21 years old from Toril, Davao City shared his immediate plans, now that he successfully graduated among the top in his batch:
“Ang plano ko ngayon ay ipagpatuloy ang pagtrabaho sa SEED kasi gusto kong madagdagan pa ang kaalaman at experience ko sa farming. Balak ko kasing magtayo ng sarili kong farm. Pag na-develop ko na ito at maging ok ang takbo, gagawin ko din siyang learning site, para ma-share ko ang lahat ng kaalaman ko sa farming sa ibang kabataan.
Nakuha ko ang inspirasyon na ito mula sa mga farmers na napuntahan namin. Kasi galing din sila sa mas mahihirap na sitwasyon. Nagsimula muna sila nang sa paunti-unti, hanggang sa na-develop at lumago na ang mga farms nila. At nung nasa tuktok na sila ng tagumpay, hindi nila nakalimutang ibahagi ang mga learnings and blessings nila sa iba. Ganyan ang balak kong gawin.”
As these young leaders step into the world, they carry with them more than just knowledge; they carry a mission—to challenge the status quo, to bring dignity back to farming, and to create a ripple effect of transformation in their communities. They are the hope bearers, the changemakers, the future of sustainable agriculture.
With every seed they plant, with every farm they cultivate, and with every life they touch, they are building a legacy—one that will ensure food security, prosperity, and a future where no Filipino farmer is left behind.
