For the first time, different farm animals will be the star of the show dubbed as the Malagos Farm Fair scheduled at the Malagos Garden Resort from August 7 to 8.
“An animal fair like this is not usually done anywhere in the country but you are going to see this for the first time in Malagos right in Davao City,” Dr. Bo Puentespina said.
The Malagos Farm Fair was conceptualized as an occasion to sell the menagerie of farm animals the Puentespina Family grows.
“We find great pleasure and fulfilment in raising dairy goats, cows, sheep, cocks, horses, peacocks, pheasants, ostriches, fancy chickens, dogs, and ornamental birds,” he said.
Puentespina said the focus of Davao, even the country’s tourism, is usually the sun and the sea. This will be another venue to push for another brand of tourism---the agri-tourism in the region as supported by the presence of the Philippine Airlines at the Fair, he said.
Farm Fairs like the one set to be held in Malagos next month, are regularly held in Europe and the United States but not in the Philippines. Puentespina said they are hoping to make the Malagos Farm Fair an annual event and make it another attraction for the city.
“City-bred children will have the chance to witness how dairy goat and cows are being milked during the Malagos Farm Fair,” Puentespina, a veterinarian, said. This is an unforgettable experience, he added, so we encourage parents to bring their children and expose them to the countryside even for a day or two.
This event is perhaps the only opportunity for people to see as many as 300 pure-bred dairy goats in one setting. An additional attraction would be the cows and the ostriches which will also be on display and for sale.
Their Malagos Farm is usually closed to the public the whole year through and this is the first time they are opening the farm gates for Dabawenyos and visitors from other areas.
“Farmers and animal growers can learn a lot just seeing how the Malagos Farm works,” he said. The Puentespina family is a strict observer of sustainable farm management so there is actually zero waste in the farm as everything is reused, sold and recycled.
Grass from under the coconut and cacao are fed to the goats and cows with their waste going to the biogas digester or to the vermin composting to become fertilizer that goes back to the earth. Land use is thus maximized responsibly.
For a P250 entrance fee per day inclusive of lunch of roast beef and sea bass from Alsons. Guests to the Malagos Farm Fair will get the rare opportunity to get on board the hay ride for the farm tour.
The entrance fee is also inclusive of all the scheduled seminars and shows for the day such as the Cooking Demo by Purefoods, Farm Games by Coca Cola and Habagat, Techno Demo by DCTech and the evening concert by San Miguel Beer on the first day.
The seminars scheduled for August 7 include seminars on Cheese in the Philippines by Olive Puentespina, Creating Micro Habitats by Dr. Bo Puentespina and Renewable Energy Application in the Farm by Green Heat, BMEG-sponsored Seminar on Raising Organic Chickens and Pigs and Fresh Water Fish Farming.
Craft-Making sessions with Maej Villanueva happens at the Smart Place, and for an additional registration of P500, Dabawenyos will be treated to a wine and cheese appreciation by Swiss Deli featuring the Italian Wines and the best spread of the local cheeses from Malagos. Farm House “Cabrito or roasted young goat will be its special menu,
The Chocolate Shop Talk with Mars happens on Sunday, August 8, with a repeat of the agri-seminar topics of BMEG and Green Heat. Tickets are available at Waling Flower Victoria Plaza, Tiny Kitchen, Bouna Terra and Betty’s Bakeshop. For more information please call 0917-5481867 or 082-2216344.
