Long before Farm Schools became a by-word in Agricultural technology transfer, an old French priest who belonged to the Missionary Group Oblates of Mary Immaculate opened a real field school in the remote village of Malangag, Antipas, North Cotabato.
Fr. Yves Caroff opened the Oblate Galilee Farms in Sitio Bugwak where spring water flows from the mountain side, installed one of the first ram pumps I had seen, raised chicken, goats and dairy cows.
Being a former Junior OMI seminarian, I was very close to the late Fr. Caroff, especially so since we had the same passion – farming.
When I became Governor of North Cotabato in 1998, I opened the road leading to the Galilee Farm and supported Fr. Caroff by sharing with him my own breeding stocks of goats.
Fr. Caroff passed away many years ago but the Galilee Farm stayed as the center of learning for farmers in the area and it is now managed by a young Oblate priest, Fr. Jay Virador, who comes from province.
Last week, I visited the Galilee Farm to meet with a group of women who belong to the Rural Improvement Club of Malangag and I was pleased to know that the offsprings of the goats I gave to Fr. Caroff many years ago are still in the farm.
The old ram pump is still working and the dairy cows are producing milk for the neighborhood.
Joe Salgado, Fr. Caroff’s long-time buddy and driver, said that the farm has so far trained over 1,000 farmers and young students and the mission is continuing.
I promised Joe that I will come back to see Fr. Jay and look into how I could help improve their dairy goat stocks whose quality had obviously deteriorated because of inbreeding.
I will do that in memory of an old friend, Fr. Caroff, a spiritual adviser and inspiration in farming.
#RelivingDaysOfYouth!
(Videos footages were taken in the Galilee Farm by Bong Piñol)
https://fb.watch/aoRkGi8whq/
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