Animals Take Centerstage At Malagos Farm Fair

A lot of things have been said and done about flowers, vegetables and the other resources that Davao City boast of. But have you heard anything about its animal resources?

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.

Davao resort farm opens its gate for the SMEs, public to explore

The Malagos Garden Resort located in barangay Malagos, Calinan, this city, will hold the Malagos Farm Fair on August 7 and 8, in its 30-hectare farm not only to promote its continuing advocacy on agri-tourism but for the people of Davao especially the young ones to appreciate the many activities in the farm.

Agri-entrepreneur and veterinarian Dr. Roberto “Bo” Puentespina said the event will be the first time to be held in the farm, adding that through the farm fair they aim to encourage the people to look at this setting where activities from alternative living and livelihood can be derived.

"Davao is basically agriculture and giving the public new ideas on farming activities would entice them to go back to farming," he said.

Exploring the farm of the Puentespina would include a hayride pulled by a tractor towards its cacao farm, the dairy goat and cow operation, the organic fertilizer and vermi-culture project plus a series of seminars where interested would-be farmers after learning new techniques apply these to their own farms.

"This is our way of sharing the bounty of our fulfillment in this field," he said.

The Malagos Farm Fair was conceptualized as an occasion to sell some of its farm animals that the Puentespina grows as it has the pleasure and fulfillment of raising dairy goats, cows, sheeps, cocks, horses, peacocks, ostriches, fancy chicken, dogs and ornamental birds.

He said by raising dairy animals they were able to produce 100 liters of goat’s milk daily and 50 liters of the cows milk also everyday. The milk is being produced by their 300 heads of dairy goats and 27 cows.

The milk, he said, are processed into cheese of which they were able to produce 16 types among them the blue goat cheese and blue cheese with peppercorn. The cheese are sold to high end hotel, bars and restaurants in Manila and can be accessed in Rustans and Rockwell.

Named as Malagos Cheese, it is also being served in the business class accommodation of Philippine Airlines for international flights.

He said Philippine Airlines (PAL) orders 70 kilos every month from them and the type of cheese that they order varies monthly.

He said right now what is being served in the business class is the Feta Cheese as they promote the PAL Experience where the country's flag carrier promotes a fusion of Filipino food.

"We have local buyers here like the Swiss Deli where it does a wine and cheese appreciation with their clients," he said.

With this Farm Fair Puentespina said they also would like to introduce their produce to the local market as there is now a new trend of the menus being served in restaurants and bars in Manila.

He also said they also had developed the ostrich beer steak that comes in a pack of smoked and ready to eat ostrich meat that blends well with beer.

"These are just some of the many discoveries that we had developed and we would like to share this to our fellow entrepreneurs in Davao," he said.

And to help them with their advocacy he said they had invited their industry partners not only to promote and sell their products but conduct seminars on farming, animal raising, cheese making, and give updates on the industry.

"Hopefully we can make the open house a regular agri- tourism event where neighbor farmers can showcase and sell their produce from vegetables, fruits, animals, delicacies and crafts," he said.

An entrance fee of P250 will also entitle the guest to a lunch buffet of roast beef, barbecue and a drink.

During the open house he said there will also be farm games, adventure race, foods tasting and end the day by relaxing with wine and cheese or beer pairing.

Tickets are available at the Waling Flowers at Victoria Plaza and other partner outlets or call 2211545 or 2216344. (PNA)