25 May 2025, Teodora Cruz Elementary School, Hagonoy, Bulacan.  In a meaningful initiative to promote environmental sustainability and food security, Soroptimist International of Ortigas and Environs partnered with Fostering Education and Environment for Development, Inc. (FEED) to establish a Food Forest including Bio Intensive Garden (BIG) at Teodora Cruz Elementary School in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

Part of the Soroptimists support, was to donate a complete Bio-Intensive Garden (BIG) kit with the training, which included Philippine native vegetable cuttings and seeds FEED sourced from its partner the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Cavite – which has long been recognised as an impactful, hands-on development focused agency that empowers “rural people to build resilient communities and attain socioeconomic equity through creative and community-led action…”.

“Bawat puno, bawat binhi, may pag-asang dala. So happy to join SI Ortigas and Environs in their Biodiversity Day celebration at Teodora Cruz Elementary School, Hagonoy, Bulacan. This inspiring activity, focused on food forests, seedbed prep, and environmental education, perfectly aligns with our thrust: ‘Soroptimist Go Green: Empowering Women, Protecting the Earth.’  Maraming salamat, Usec. Myra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar, our ever-supportive past governor and past federation director, for gracing the event.Thank you, Biennium Chair Leonor Berroya, for your dedication and presence.And of course, my heartfelt gratitude to SIOE President Beth Florentino, Charter President Baby Villaluz Doble , and their passionate members for leading the way and making this impactful event possible.” -Governor of SIA Philippines Region, Marivic Delos Santos Paras

Under Secretary for Tourism, Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar (pictured above), member of the Soroptimists claimed: “This BIG training was very informative, and should be installed in more public schools to generate perennial, healthy and low-cost high nutrition food sources for our children; after all, they are our future leaders, and we need to start investing in them from a young age.”

This sharing of BIG knowledge with 20 parents, teachers and children of Teodora Cruz Elementary School; as well as three regular members of the Bantay Dagat (Sea Guardians) of Hagonoy (pictured below),  was carried out in partnership with One Child, One Tree volunteers, led by FEED Ambassador Natali Sali (pictured above): “We aim to support the school’s feeding program sustainably by instilling agricultural awareness among students, staff and parents; and to act as a seed bank for surrounding puroks and villages, by showing simple techniques and methods in seed preservation, container gardening, and perennial scheduled planting and harvests.”

After the morning training session with all partners, we proceeded to plant 10 native Philippine salt or flood tolerant fruit bearing trees along the raised garden beds alongside two main buildings of the school. Salt tolerant mulberries, jackfruit, tamarind and guava trees were planted by the Sorpotimists team, with help from OCOT volunteers to clear the raised container beds – the only area where native Philippine flowering and fruit bearing trees would survive. Mangroves have been planted within school premises by the children and will one day provide the necessary shade the kids need to play outside.

Upon completion of the planting, everyone gathered for a scrumptious barbecue chicken with rice and ampalaya (bitter gourd) with egg veggies, sharing stories about their first time planting as children.

An additional 500 vegetable seeds (from IIRR) were donated to the parents, Bantay Dagat, One Child One Tree, and children to encourage home-based backyard gardening.

Anne-Marie Mananquil Bakker (pictured holding greens), FEED Director of Partnerships said: “We hope this collaborative effort will be carried forward and shared with other families in Hagonoy. Thank you for willing to spend your free Saturday with us, teaching each other and learning how we can make mulberry jam since it grows profusely here even in salt water. If you managed your backyard gardens even with 30% introduced species, as long as we follow BIG principles, you will achieve harvests year round!”

She further shared: “In Aringay, La Union, our local fishing cooperative is so diligent at raising their mangroves, that we are able to place larger orders to plant longer parts of the West Philippine Sea; this is extra income generation for the community, who are also monitoring, maintaining and ensuring 85% survival of what we plant for coastal resilience, fish pond water quality and diversity enhancement and mangrove enrichment – so much so we are aiming to place orders of 100,000 in the coming year” 

Part of the Soroptomists’ sponsorship also included the planting of 100 mangroves in Hagonoy (pictured above), which was carried out by several members of the Hagonoy Fish & Farmers Cooperative earlier that same morning parallel to the community training. FEED was finally also able to hand over their uniform dryfit shirts, which highlights the solidarity of FEED’s mangrove planting partners in Luzon.

Mrs Elizabeth Florentino (pictured above), President of Soroptimist International of Ortigas & Environs, was grateful during the closing and awarding of Certificates to participants: “We are very grateful for these types of hands-on, legitimate partnerships that have been vetted by several agencies who have worked with our front liner fisherfolk and local communities for a long time already; this is part of the reason we chose to support this sustainable project, and we certainly hope to be able to do more. Aside from the 10 native Narra seedling give-aways to the Soroptimists – all of whom are avid environmental practitioners in their day jobs – we  have added additional 40 Narra trees donation sourced from FEED’s nursery  to donate to Hagonoy’s “Brigade Eskwela” (School Brigade) taking place next week, to share with other Public Elementary Schools qualified by FEED & OCOT.”  

Governor of SIA Philippines Region, Marivic Delos Santos Paras (above receiving her Narra seedling gift), a native of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, expressed her sincere thanks to all participants “for demonstrating true partnership in action for the Sustainable Development Goals water and food security, it is thanks to collaborative climate change action programs like these that we will be able to turn the tide and bring resilience to the Philippines.”

Chair Leonor Beroya also added a short note, saying: “It’s great to still be able to learn at any age, about how we can work together step by step to conserve Philippine biodiversity and climate resilience, especially among our youth leaders who we can see are as inspired as we are to plant more native trees and vegetables for all to benefit from”. 

The project aligns with FEED’s ongoing mission to empower communities through environmental stewardship and sustainable education. It also supports Soroptimist International’s commitment to uplifting communities through service projects that improve lives and promote resilience, particularly among women and youth.

Thank you Soroptimist International of Ortigas & Environs for your commitment to empowering women and youth leadership towards food security in Hagonoy, Bulacan!

Key Features of IIRR’s Bio-Intensive Garden (BIG) Concept:

IIRR developed the BIG concept as a sustainable and resource-efficient approach to food production, especially suited for smallholder farmers, schools, and urban or peri-urban communities.

1. Maximizes Limited Space:  The BIG approach is designed to produce high yields in small plots, making it ideal for areas with limited land. It promotes intensive planting methods that optimize space while maintaining soil health.
2. Low-Cost and Low-Input: It emphasizes the use of locally available materials, such as compost, organic fertilizers, and indigenous seeds. This makes the method affordable and accessible to resource-poor communities.
3. Soil Health and Sustainability: The concept focuses on building and maintaining healthy soil through composting, crop rotation, and minimal tillage. It reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
4. Diverse and Nutritious Crops: BIG gardens promote the cultivation of a variety of nutrient-rich vegetables, including native and traditional crops, to enhance food and nutritional security.
5. Ecological Design: The gardens integrate natural pest control, companion planting, and biodiversity to create a balanced ecosystem, reducing the need for synthetic inputs.
6. Educational and Empowering: Often implemented in schools and communities, BIG gardens serve as living classrooms for environmental education, nutrition, and self-sufficiency.
7. Water Efficiency: Techniques like mulching, organic matter enrichment, and strategic planting help retain soil moisture, making BIG gardens suitable even in water-scarce conditions.

Why Food Forests Matter to Public Schools (as potential Seedbanks) in Bulacan

1. Preservation of Indigenous and Heirloom Seeds: Public school-based BIGs can preserve native and traditional vegetable varieties, many of which are disappearing due to industrial agriculture. By saving seeds season after season, schools become custodians of biodiversity, safeguarding these varieties for future generations.
2. Localized Food Security: Seeds adapted to local conditions grow better and are more resilient to pests and climate variability. By acting as seedbanks, school gardens provide a reliable, community-based source of seeds, reducing dependency on commercial suppliers and imported varieties.
3. Sustainable Agriculture Education: Students learn the entire cycle of planting, harvesting, saving, and replanting seeds. This hands-on, practical education builds agricultural literacy and instills lifelong skills in sustainability, conservation, and food production.
4. Support for Feeding Programs: BIGs producing native vegetables ensure a steady supply of nutritious crops for school feeding programs. Maintaining a seedbank ensures continuity and consistency in crop production, even during supply chain disruptions.
5. Community Resilience and Replication: Public schools serve as community hubs. A school-based seedbank can support local households and other schools with free or low-cost seeds, helping expand home and community gardens and strengthen local food systems.
6. Climate Adaptation and Ecosystem Health: By promoting the use and conservation of climate-resilient, locally adapted seeds, BIGs contribute to ecological balance and help communities adapt to changing environmental conditions.

The Philippines continues to face challenges in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition:

• 1.3 million families or 8.3 million Filipinos unable to meet their basic food needs in 2015 (PSA).
• Despite the country’s economic growth, poverty incidence remains high at an estimated 21.6% of the population. Farmers and fisherfolk consistently rank among the poorest.
• Incidence of malnutrition, especially in children 0-5 years old, remains prevalent in the most impoverished regions of the country particularly Mindanao.

Food Forests and Bio-Intensive Gardens in public schools do more than grow food—they cultivate knowledge, preserve heritage, and seed resilience across generations and communities; providing perennial sustenance to remote and flood prone areas requiring container gardening methods.

In essence, IIRR’s Bio-Intensive Garden concept is a holistic and practical model for achieving food security, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment—particularly in the face of climate change and resource limitations.

Together, these efforts not only enrich the school’s learning environment but also cultivate a greener, healthier future for the next generation.

GPS Coordinates: Teodora Cruz Elementary School Hagonoy (VP4M+J4Q, Hagonoy, Bulacan) and 10 Mangrove Planting Site (to follow)

Use Google Earth or any other readily available application/tool/website to input the latitude and longitude coordinates to access and view the forest location by satellite.

• https://www.gps-coordinates.net
• https://gps-coordinates.org

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CONTACT FEED

In 2015, the Philippine government submitted to the United Nations the country’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country committed to reduce its carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030. The carbon dioxide reductions will come from the sectors of energy, transport, waste, forestry and industry.

FEED runs a number of Students and Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE); Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – such as mangrove planting for coastal protection or ridge reforestation plantings; One Child, One Tree; Bio-Intensive Gardens (BIG) for nutrition in public elementary schools and other spaces; Climate Change Survival 101 and other LIVING LEGACY programs – customised environmental engagement activities for individuals and organisations interested in contributing to climate change adaptation efforts and greening critical areas such as watersheds, ridges, and reefs that all require rehabilitation.

Join us!  Help us reverse the Earth’s “hothouse climate” tipping point. Email: info@feed.org.ph or text/call +63 (0)917 552 4722.