A Day in the Life of a Very Unqualified Farmer - in Sariaya- Quezon, Philippines

SARIAYA, Quezon Province (Philippines)

Hey guys!
It was an exciting and heartwarming moment to return to the town of Sariaya. I was here in 2019, and I have to say, I truly missed this place. Traveling from Manila took us about three hours by car, but the journey was well worth it.
Life here can be challenging, especially for farmers, who work hard despite having limited access to many of the comforts and conveniences of city life. I can understand why many of the younger generation dream of leaving for the city in search of better opportunities and an easier way of life.

When I visited my family and relatives in Manila last June, this trip was one of my top priorities. More than anything, I was drawn back by the simple desire to enjoy peaceful surroundings, breathe fresh air, and spend time by the sea. There is something deeply comforting about returning to a place where life feels slower, simpler, and closer to nature

As I mentioned in my previous post, we once had an avocado farm in Andalusia with around 300 trees. Taking care of it was far from easy. The trees were low, so I had to constantly bend down to check and adjust the irrigation microtubes. The mountain water was also highly acidic and could clog the tubes, requiring regular maintenance.

We ran the farm for six years, but my worsening back pain eventually made the work too demanding. We decided to sell the property and build a new house nearby. Although it was difficult to let go, the farm gave us wonderful memories and a deeper appreciation for the rewards—and challenges—of working the land.

The only annoying part was the red ants on the bananas! 😂 Most of us ran for cover whenever the bananas fell, trying not to get ants in our hair. Before cutting, we had buckets of water ready to wash the bananas—and ourselves! My brother, sister-in-law, and I quickly grabbed the pails and showered off the ants. LOL!
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Giant Forest or Red ant, is one big variety that is found in South Asia. They are dangerous, and once you are bitten by it, the skin will swell and
could cause other irritations on your body.

"KAMIAS" or BILIMBI is a green fruit similar to a tiny cucumber that is very,
very sour and used by Filipinos as an ingredient to make dishes spicy and sour

Me harvesting Kamias

We call this variety "indian mango" which is very small in size
and usually sweet and eaten even when they
are still green

Flowers are everywhere, including this one growing wildly in the plot,
and the yellow flower below, which I believe is a squash or a zucchini.

Lots of Jackfruits on one tree.

The source of water in the province...but this is not a drinking water

Have you ever tried cooking like this? The farm has plenty of resources,
and this method saves electricity. I am proud to have made this fire
using only paper to light it.

This is the life of a farmer tending his rice fields,
preparing them for rice planting.

At the end of the day, life on the farm gets quieter as
farmers celebrate the day with their families after a day´s hard work.

The beaches in Sariaya are close to the town center. From
Barangay Pantoc, it is about 1Km from my sister-in-law´s family farm.
It was a memorable visit, experiencing what it's like to be a farmer
even just for one day.

We´re heading to the weekend. Hope you´ll enjoy yours !

All photos are by @mers