Our Second Agricultural Project, A New Beginning Full of Hope

Growing together, learning together, and building a better future together. 🌱❤️

We are proud to introduce ALA RATATUY SANFARM, the second agricultural project of Stichting Ama Namin in the Philippines.

Following the launch of our first agricultural project, Vhon Dutch SANFARM, we are taking another meaningful step forward. Through our agricultural projects, we aim not only to grow fresh vegetables but also to support local farmers, create new opportunities for families, and contribute to a better future for the community.

🌿 How It All Began

The idea behind our agricultural projects is actually quite simple: why should we continue buying vegetables when we could try growing them ourselves?

Our goal is to eventually use fresh, locally grown vegetables for our food court project, Kain Tayo sa Labas Tara! At the same time, we want to give local farmers the opportunity to use their knowledge, experience, and hard work to build a more stable source of income.

Through Layne, we were introduced to Kuya Jun Fernández Deloviar, an experienced farmer and agricultural technician who is well known and respected within his community.

Kuya Jun has extensive experience growing rice and watermelons, as well as a broad knowledge of cultivating different types of vegetables and fruits.

His experience, good reputation, and enthusiasm for working together gave us the confidence to begin this new adventure with him.

And so, ALA RATATUY SANFARM was born, our second agricultural project under Stichting Ama Namin.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A Special Family Project

What makes this collaboration even more special is that Kuya Jun is not working alone.

His family is closely involved in the daily activities on the farm. Everyone contributes in their own way. His eldest daughter, Lenlen, has played an active role from the very beginning. She has also previously invested in her father’s farming activities.

It is wonderful to see a family working together, taking responsibility, and striving to build a better future.

For us, this reflects exactly what Stichting Ama Namin stands for: giving people opportunities, making the most of their talents, and working together towards greater independence.

🌾 Starting Small, Dreaming Big

As with many new projects, not everything went according to plan at first.

Initially, the intention was to use a larger piece of farmland belonging to one of Kuya Jun’s relatives. However, because rice was still growing on the land, it was not yet available.

Rather than waiting, Kuya Jun decided to begin cultivating a smaller piece of land near his home.

We truly admire this attitude. After all, you do not have to start big to build something meaningful.

The land was prepared using traditional farming methods with the help of a carabao (water buffalo), making it ready for the first crops. Rainy weather caused some delays in the preparations, but eventually, the first seedlings could be planted.

Among the crops planted were eggplants, okra, and tomatoes, along with hundreds of additional plants.

ALA RATATUY SANFARM is still in the early stages of development. The young crops need time and care before the first harvest can take place.

We are following their growth with great interest and eagerly looking forward to the first results.

🌧️ Vhon Dutch SANFARM – Setbacks Are Part of the Journey, but Giving Up Is Not an Option

While the first crops are growing at ALA RATATUY SANFARM, our first agricultural project, Vhon Dutch SANFARM, has already experienced how challenging farming in the Philippines can be.

Vhon has dedicated a great deal of time, energy, and care to his crops. Unfortunately, persistent rainfall and changing weather conditions have caused several setbacks.

Naturally, this is disappointing, especially when so much work, hope, and expectation have been invested in a project.

Yet Vhon continues to move forward.

Despite the difficulties, he keeps looking for solutions, learning from his experiences, and working towards improvement.

We greatly admire this determination.

Farming depends on many factors that are not always within our control. Sometimes crops grow exceptionally well, sometimes the results are disappointing, and sometimes it is necessary to start all over again.

That is why we believe it is important to support our farmers not only when everything is going well, but especially when they face challenges.

We do not expect every project to become successful immediately. We want to give our farmers the opportunity to learn, gain experience, and gradually develop their farming activities.

After all, success does not mean that everything always goes according to plan. It means finding the courage to keep moving forward after a setback.

🤝 Two Farms, One Shared Goal

With the establishment of ALA RATATUY SANFARM, Stichting Ama Namin now supports two agricultural projects:

• Vhon Dutch SANFARM: Our first agricultural project, where Vhon remains motivated to improve and further develop his farm despite the challenges caused by the weather.

• ALA RATATUY SANFARM: Our second agricultural project, where Kuya Jun and his family have planted their first crops and are preparing for future harvests.

Both farmers bring their own knowledge, experience, and farming methods to their projects.

We believe it is important that they have the freedom to manage and develop their farming activities in their own way. At the same time, we hope they will be able to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and support each other whenever possible.

For us, it is not about which farm produces the largest or best harvest.

Our goal is for both farms to grow and develop, for the families involved to gain new opportunities, and for us to build something sustainable together.

❤️ More Than Just Growing Vegetables

Our agricultural projects are about much more than simply growing and selling vegetables.

At Stichting Ama Namin, we are developing several initiatives that we hope will complement and strengthen one another in the future.

For example, we hope that vegetables grown on our farms can eventually be used for Kain Tayo sa Labas Tara!, our food court project. In addition, harvests can be sold locally, generating income that can be reinvested in farming activities.

In the longer term, we hope these projects can also contribute to our educational initiatives, support for schoolchildren, and other community activities in the Philippines.

Our ambition is to gradually become less dependent on donations by developing projects capable of generating their own income.

This is not an easy goal, and it certainly will not happen overnight.

It requires time, patience, cooperation, and perseverance.

But every step forward, no matter how small, brings us closer to a future in which our projects can operate with greater independence.

🌱 Continuing to Believe, Even When Things Get Difficult

Both of our agricultural projects are still at a stage where we are continuously learning and gaining experience.

At Vhon Dutch SANFARM, we have seen that nature does not always cooperate. Nevertheless, Vhon remains committed to his farm and continues searching for ways to improve the results.

At ALA RATATUY SANFARM, the adventure has only just begun. Kuya Jun and his family are caring for their young plants, hoping that their efforts will eventually be rewarded with a successful first harvest.

We understand that farming comes with uncertainties. Not every plant will grow as expected, and not every harvest will produce the same results.

But we believe in the knowledge, dedication, and motivation of our farmers.

For Stichting Ama Namin, working together also means being patient, finding solutions together, and continuing to encourage one another.

This commitment is especially important during difficult times.

🌻 Together, We Are Planting Not Just Vegetables, but Seeds for the Future

With ALA RATATUY SANFARM, we have planted another seed. Not only literally in the soil, but also as a symbol of new opportunities and possibilities.

We are grateful for the dedication of Kuya Jun, Lenlen, and their entire family. We would also like to thank Layne for her involvement and assistance in bringing this collaboration together.

We also want to express our appreciation to Vhon, who continues to persevere and remains motivated despite all the challenges he has faced.

To Vhon and Kuya Jun, we would like to say:

Keep believing in what you do. Not every day will be easy, and not every plant will grow as you hope. But with patience, experience, hard work, and confidence, small steps can eventually grow into something truly wonderful.

We hope that both farms will continue to develop and that, in the future, we will be able to proudly share the results of their hard work with all of you.

For now, we will continue learning, growing, and looking ahead together.

Because at Stichting Ama Namin, we believe that a better future does not always begin with great success. Sometimes, it begins with a small piece of land, a handful of seeds, and people who have the courage to build something together. ❤️🌱

Stichting Ama Namin

Growing together for a better future in the Philippines.