A powerhouse of multi-awarded Filipina farmer entrepreneurs is visiting Siargao Island this February to speak and inspire at the “More Love for Women Farmers” conference.
AGREA, together with the Office of Congressman Bingo Matugas, the Province of Surigao del Norte, and Del Carmen LGU, brings this local iteration of the Leaders and Entrepreneurs in Agriculture Forum, or LEAF, to Siargao.
LEAF is a community of champions across all sectors uniting as advocates for better agriculture. Launched in September 2018 via the “Redefining + Revitalizing Agriculture” conference, LEAF is a growing force of 400+ agri-leaders from 20 countries. AGREA has planned five Focus Dialogues for 2019, gathering new generations to act on the biggest issues affecting the agricultural landscape.
Siargao Island and its Women Farmers
Despite Siargao Island’s surge of economic growth as a surfing capital, locals are often left behind in its development. Many male farmers have abandoned their lands to work as service providers and construction workers for the booming tourism industry. As a result, Siargaonons have become almost completely dependent on imported produce.
“More Love for Women Farmers” aims to inspire Siargaonons to reinvigorate local agriculture with a special emphasis on empowering the island’s women. Attendees will include farmer leaders, women farmers, agricultural officers, teachers, students, and market vendors from Siargao and surrounding areas in Surigao del Norte.
Multi-awarded female farmer-entrepreneur speakers
Get ready for a day packed with inspirational stories from female farmer-entrepreneurs and find out what you can do to make a difference for agriculture.
Cherrie De Erit Atilano
Cherrie started working with the farmers at the age of 12 by teaching them sustainable ways on farming that she read from a book. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Major in Horticulture Specializing on Tissue Culture from the Visayas State University in Leyte.
Cherrie Atilano is a multi-awarded farmer entrepreneur for her work with farmers. She was one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines in 2007 for her academic excellence, Exemplary Leadership and strong social responsibilities. She is also a Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum. She was named by Rappler Philippines as one of the Four Filipinas to Watch 2014. She was also recognized as a Peace Awardee 2015 by the Muslim community thru the SPMUDA International Organization during the International Day of Peace. She was awarded as the EARTH Mover Award of RAPPLER and one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation Service (TOWNS) 2016. She was also awarded as the Most Outstanding Young Agriculturist and Young Achiever of Negros Island. Her most recent recognitions are Most Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur 2018, Ten Outstanding Young Men, TOYM 2018, and Agri-Entrepreneur of the Year, TOFARM 2018. She is also a Women of the Future Awardee 2018 and an ASEAN Agrow Awardee 2018.
AGREA as a company, and Cherrie as the social entrepreneur, were also awarded by the Asia Pacific CSR Council and UN Global Compact the Global Responsible Business Award 2017 for Agriculture Excellence.
Edita Aguinaldo Dacuycuy
At 73 years young, Edita is a multi-awarded farmer-scientist and innovator from the Ilocos Region. Inspired by a rare variety of cactus plant which provided therapeutic relief for her daughter with cerebral palsy, Ms. Dacuycuy created the first organic dragonfruit plantation in the Northern Philippines.
Her business, Refmad-V Enterprise, has won her recognition as Outstanding Filipino Achiever for Business Excellence and Best Business Company during the 2015 Golden Globe Annual Awards for Business Excellence. The success of Ms. Dacuycuy and her family is driven by her passion and commitment to inspire and uplift the living conditions of small farmers, housewives, out-of-school youths including persons with disabilities.
Desiree “Daisy” Duran
Hail the “Seedling Queen” of Bulacan! Desiree “Daisy” Duran was once a street vendor selling fish balls on the sidewalk. But after learning how to plant off-season vegetables and raise seedlings on a one-hectare plot, she found out that there was more to dirt than meets the eye.
With support from DAR and the Bulacan Provincial Government, Daisy is now a full-fledged agripreneur whose expanded vegetable farm serves as an official Lakbay-Aral tourism site. For her pioneering venture since 2003, Daisy was awarded Most Outstanding Community Enterprise in 2015 by Villar SIPAG and Most Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur in 2017 by the Office of the President.
Attend "More Love for Women Farmers" in Siargao
LEAF Siargao 2019: “More Love for (Women) Farmers”
Date: 9AM-5PM Saturday, February 23, 2019
Venue: Del Carmen Convention Center, Del Carmen, Siargao, Surigao del Norte
Registration: This event is free for all. Limited seats only.
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