Having an agriculturist father, I grew up memorizing scientific names of several fruits, plants and was taught to take care of our small flower garden at home. I learned how to feed chickens, which my father were breeding mainly for cockfight derbies here and everywhere. I remember buying feeds at our local agrivet store and had this fascination over small chicks and poultries of various colors and sizes. Fast forward some thirty years, I am confronted with a familiar feeling of excitement during our three-day course on farm tourism organized by the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) led by former Tourism Secretary, Dr. Mina Gabor. Personally, I have learned a different perspective on how we can maximize our farmlands by not just increasing their production but most importantly by providing alternative livelihood for our farmers anchored on sustainable practices and sustainable development. Growing up with fascination over everything around me, the recent course gave me a deeper appreciation on nature’s simple treasures that we sometimes forget and life’s simple moments that we sometimes ignore. We usually fail to recognize the hardworking people such as our farmers and fisherfolks who provide the simple things that we have, when in fact, their value is greater than those that we strive to achieve in life. So here’s my snappy salute to all our parag-uma ngan parupangisda who provides the food that nourishes our body, and to the Creator who provided us with this beautiful world that nurtures our spirit. #ft101 #farmtourism #instatrain #isst #pttc #catbalogancityrepresent #instatrain #captivatingcatbalogan #teamtourism