In a post aptly title “HINAGPIS NG KAMATIS”, Rural Rising Philippines (RuRi)- which is spearheaded by a couple – Ace and Andie Estrada of Baguio City – is calling for help for our tomato farmers of Tinoc, Province of Ifugao.
RuRi’s post is urging as many as possible to take part in the TOMATO RESCUE EFFORT to help the unfortunate tomato farmers of Tinoc, whose efforts are bound to go to waste and would deeply impact their livelihood.
“Sitting here at the Market! Market! Box-All-You-Can, I am am surrounded by lots of people boxing vegetables and lots of vegetables coming home with people. The farmers that this small event has positively impacted are grateful to the highest highest heavens to earn income for a change, to not just break even with cost and blood.
The thought of this makes me happy but another one makes me sad. NOT EVERYONE IS HERE. We are leaving some farmers—a lot of farmers—the heck behind.
At the end of the day, this Box-All-You-Can thing, no matter how congratulatory it is billed, is NOT helping all it can. “Scratching the surface” this is how Paul Jampil, a friend who was not afraid to hurt my feelings described it to my face. (Everyone should have at least one friend like Paul.)
Today in this festive, airconditioned Market! Market! it makes me sad to hear that another friend, a farmer from Tinoc, Ifugao, his tomatoes have failed to make it to market. Six tons of TOMATOES, he was forced to throw them away.
Romel, that is his name, his tomatoes should also have been here. Four days ago he asked for help, for the tomatoes to go into Box-All-You-Can but we have already committed our order to another farmer. Romel brought the tomatoes to the Nueva Vizcaya bagsakan to take his chances. Two days of waiting and sleeping in the truck, six tons of tomatoes in the back, zero buyers. As more trucks arrived, his tomatoes became less and less saleable, and his parking slot was needed. He drove his tomatoes home and somewhere on the road back to Tinoc, that now-traditional graveyard of unsold produce, he dumped them. How lovely they were, those tomatoes. How unable we were to save them. We are so sorry.
Here is Romel and the tomatoes we were not able to Rescue. And these are the tomatoes being buried in an open grave.”
Hnce, as an URGENT! appeal, Rural Rising is hereby declaring a TOMATO RESCUE EFFORT to help the tomato farmers of Tinoc, Ifugao. We are seeking your kind support of P650, and in exchange we shall give you 20 kilos of Rescue Tomatoes, first-class quality.
Important Info:
1 It’s P650 for 20 kg
2 Order link https://bit.ly/RescueTomato-RRPH
3 Dispatch date TBA (3~4 days time)
CONTRIBUTIONS: For those asking to contribute a small amount to help this effort and this farmer: GCash 09175017787. God bless you.
DONATE THE TOMATOES: For those wanting to donate the tomatoes to a hungry community in Metro Manila, we shall be happy to do so.
Pickup Points:
RuRI House—72 Maayusin Street, UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City (Ryann, 09177187787)
RuRi South—Old Transport Terminal Bldg., Alabang Town Center, Theater Dr., Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa (Revo, 09175067787)
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[Read: Box-All-You-Can: RuRi PH pushes for ‘special events’ to help farmers sell their produce]
This non-profit grassroots effort is to help distressed Filipino farmers get back on their feet and feed the nation with pride — the Rural Rising Philippines (RuRi) needs our assistance as together we can do moe.
The couple, Ace and Andie Estrada, established RuRi PH after they came across the story of the Cordillera farmers who were unable to sell their oversupply of tomatoes during the pandemic because of mobility restraints. Sadly, the farmers failed to move their produce out of their community and traders could not purchase their harvested produce.
Rural Rising is doing weekly Rescue Buys in towns all over Luzon and some parts of Visayas. It operates two distribution hubs—one in UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City and another in Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa.
There are many ways to help our farmers and patronizing their organic produce would truly make them happy. Join other projects of RuRi and be blessed! You may visit their Facebook Page.