MANILA, Philippines – Products from local farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs took center stage as the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) staged its second learning sites product expo in Makati City.
Officially opening the event on Wednesday, ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter welcomed participants from the different ATI learning sites from the different regions in the country.
“Meron tayong mga siguro more than 50 learning sites. Iba naman yung ngayon. So, we are giving opportunity to the other learning sites also to showcase their products,” Director Recoter told DZRH News.
According to Director Recoter, being an ATI learning site can open doors of opportunities, not just to showcase their products, but to improve on processes and systems that can possibly improve their output.
“So, this is one opportunity also for them. Kasi siyempre, aside from being a partner ni ATI and local government unit and ni DA (Department of Agriculture), we also wanted them to network, link, may makukuha rin silang mga insights, mga experiences from the other learning sites in other regions,” Recoter shared.
Recoter also mentioned that ATI learning sites also learn value addition to their products to help increase profits.
“We would like, of course, to showcase yung mga products ng ating learning site for agriculture at saka yung ating private extension service provider. Kasi hindi lamang sa production sila. They are also into value addition. Kaya kung makikita natin doon sa mga booths, marami silang mga value adding,” Recoter said.
ATI Director Engr. Recoter leads the ribbon cutting ceremony, formally opening the Agri Asenso Expo 2025 at the Activity Center, Ayala Malls Circuit in Makati City on 25 June 2025, Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Karen Ow-Yong (DZRH)
For this year’s iteration of the expo, there are 15 regions and three farmer cooperatives participating, bringing with them a variety of products on display at the Activity Center in Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati City.
The regions are: Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CaLaBaRZon, MiMaRoPa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga, Sorosoro Ibaba Dev’t Cooperative, Orchard Valley Inc., and Flor's Garden and Nature Haven, Inc.
Proud to be locally made
For the first time, Mikastra Integrated Farm participated in the expo, offering consumers their province’s famous alcoholic beverage, the “lambanog”, also known as “Philippine vodka.”
According to Ms. Astralet “Astra” Marbella, owner of Mikastra Integrated Farm, located in Barangay San Nicolas, Macalelon, Quezon Province, joining the expo this year is an opportunity for them to introduce their products to consumers from different regions, specially here in Metro Manila.
“And yun po, para po ma-introduce din po sa iba yung aming ... maipakilala po namin yung aming products po sa iba, sa ibang lugar,” Marbella said.
She is particularly proud of their “lambanog” as these are locally produced by farmers in Quezon and offers a distinct, natural taste.
“This is locally produced po by our farmers. And puro po talaga siya. Hindi siya yung katulad ng mga pangkaraniwang nabibili po nating lambanog sa labas, which is may mga halo na din po,” Marbella shared.
“Ito po, sure po kami na pagkaluto niya, is diretso po siyang ipina-pack. And wala po talaga siyang hangover kasi wala siyang other additives,” she enthused.
Ms. Marbella of Mikastra Integrated Farm with her "Mi Valiente Lambanog", available at the Agri Asenso Expo 2025 (Screengrab courtesy of Karen Ow-Yong)
Marbella also said that she is grateful her farm is an accredited ATI Learning Site for Agriculture since July 2022.
“Advantage po nun is mas nakikilala po kami at ang aming product dahil lagi po kami napapasama sa mga events and programs ng ATI,” Marbella said.
She encourages other farms to consider applying to be an accredited ATI learning site for agriculture, saying it can open doors of opportunities, especially in value-adding to products.
“Napakadami pong endless opportunities ang nag-aabang sa atin. Ang napakaganda din pong pagsimulan ng isang negosyo, yung talagang pag-value adding po ng ating mga products. Kasi po sa amin sa Macalelon, Quezon, ang abundance po talaga is coconut trees, which is ang commonly na ginagawa is suka at saka lambanog po. So mas malaki yung kita. Tsaka pwede pong i-innovate kasi meron din po kaming mga lambanog na may mga flavors,” Marbella explained.
The Agri Asenso Expo 2025 is still ongoing until Friday, 27 June 2025 and also features Techno Forums during the event.
Visit ATI’s official Facebook page for more information at www.facebook.com/ATIinteractive.
