Eleanor “Nene” Constantino-Saguiguit began her farming venture at 28. Although she comes from a political family in Malungon, Sarangani Province, her deep-rooted love for agriculture has greatly shaped her life's choices.
"I love farming. I focus on sustainable farming," she says.
Before fully committing to agriculture, Saguiguit served as the Executive Secretary to her father during his tenure as mayor. This role provided her with initial exposure to local politics. Following this, she worked for an NGO, where she became deeply involved in various regional advocacies. After her stint with the NGO, she transitioned into freelance consulting, focusing on environmental and Indigenous Peoples' advocacies.
While many local farmers focus on "cash crops"—agricultural products grown for profit—Saguiguit initially did the same. However, she soon observed that these crops, heavily reliant on synthetic inputs, led to soil erosion and degradation. This issue is prevalent in Malungon, where much of the land is sloped or mountainous. Her observations prompted her to shift to permanent crops and adopt sustainable farming practices.
When the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 12 invited Saguiguit to participate in the 2017 World Food Moscow as a banana farmer, it opened numerous opportunities for her in the agriculture sector. As an exhibitor at the event, she recognized a significant potential for cacao farming and processing, which inspired her to pursue this new venture.
"We showcased different products from Region 12. I also brought cacao products to sell. I found out that they like our chocolate," she says.
From that exposure, she began to venture into cacao farming and production due to its vast potential. She revived old cacao trees and planted new ones in Malungon.
Describing herself as a "self-learner," she diligently studied the cacao industry. She enjoys experimenting, often referring to it as "trial and error," to refine her chocolate recipes. She also takes pride in highlighting their heirloom recipe for tablea making, passed down from her Ilongga grandmother.
"I didn’t know much at first, but I wanted to improve the quality of my chocolate products. So, I learned through trial and error on my own,” says Saguiguit.
She specializes in crafting artisan chocolate without any additives, striving to make her chocolate products as healthy as possible. Saguiguit diligently oversees every step of her cacao processing to ensure the highest quality of her chocolates. This hands-on approach is a crucial part of her Quality Assurance process in production.
In 2018, as part of her efforts to test the local market for her brand, Eleanor Tsokolate, she began selling at Rue Ramas’ Farmers Market in GenSan. She also conducted “blind taste tests” with her friends from Europe, offering them sikwate (hot chocolate) made from her tablea product. She was delighted to find that they loved it and were amazed that her chocolate could compete with other brands in the market.
Recognizing the potential of her market, she became a beneficiary of various interventions from different government agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
For Saguiguit, learning the science behind cacao farming was somewhat easier due to her undergraduate background at the University of Santo Tomas where she took up a BS General Science. Her academic foundation allowed her to understand the scientific principles related to various plants.
During cacao training sessions, particularly those focusing on technical aspects, she could quickly grasp the information and share this knowledge with other farmers. Mastering these skills was essential for advancing her social enterprise.
While harvesting from her 2-hectare cacao farm and selling tableas to friends and customers nationwide, she noticed a shortage of raw materials for chocolate on the global market. At that time, she also realized the significant global demand for cacao production.
Saguiguit points out that the cacao industry faces numerous challenges. These include the transfer of cacao technology, availability of planting materials, low supply and market price, and climate change.
Despite these challenges, she has been steadfast in finding solutions for the cacao sector. She collaborates with local government, various government agencies, and NGOs to address these issues.
In her view, the local government should take the lead in improving the conditions of local farmers. This can be achieved through policy recommendations related to agriculture and budget allocations.
“The LGU should show support by prioritizing and allocating budget for agriculture. Supporting means providing planting materials, training of farmers, exposure of farmers to other successful players, market linkages and support, and agricultural expansion to ensure a steady supply of raw materials,” she says.
Saguiguit’s initiatives significantly advanced her lobbying efforts for the cacao industry, especially after becoming the chairperson for the Regional and Sarangani cacao councils. One of her key lobbying efforts was to secure support from local government units to ensure the sustainability of farmers and their production. She also participated in round table discussions related to agriculture, including those organized by the German International Development Program.
With the support and training she received, she has confidently shared the knowledge she gained from various interventions. She shared agricultural technology with other farmers and connected them to different opportunities. She is also an advocate for fair trade, frequently acknowledging the hard work of local farmers from whom she sources her cacao beans.
“I didn't incur any costs for most of my experiences and activities because of the support from the national government agencies. They provide you with time to develop. It's crucial to establish goodwill and trust with those who have supported you,” she says.
Despite her extensive travel and expo experiences in the cacao industry, Saguiguit never forgets her participation in the National Cacao Congress. She observed how other provinces in the Philippines support their cacao farmers.
She transformed her farm, Dalangdang Creek, into a learning site to help farmers gain knowledge about coconut, cacao, and other high-value crops. She eagerly shares technologies with farmers in need. Interestingly, her family plays an active role in managing the farm, encouraging other family members to get involved in agriculture.
“We should not be selfish with technology when it comes to farmers. We need to educate them because, without proper training, they won’t be able to produce anything for us to buy,” she says.
Saguiguit envisions Sarangani Province becoming renowned for its chocolates, where every family can enjoy their sikwate—a cherished part of their cultural heritage.
“I’m not aiming to become super rich in this business. I want to show that agriculture can be treated as a legitimate business, and that farmers have nothing to be ashamed of. There is money in farming,” she says.
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