START SMALL, DREAM BIG

“We are made to create, build, to grow and achieve.”
Pantasia Irrigators’ Association, Inc.
Salinas Pantoc CIS, Brgy. Salinas, Lucena CIty, Quezon
Start small but dream big. This is the highlight of Mr. Moises Vidal's journey as a farmer. From what they thought is just a past time, the 61-year-old diligent farmer for almost 48 years expressed that during his childhood he used to wake up at dawn, ate breakfast, and rushed to work on the rice fields. He endured the heat of the sun with a bolo in his hand, slashing the grasses and planting rice to ensure food for his family.
Moises came from a 13-member family consisting of his parents, seven (7) sisters and four (4) brothers. He was the sixth among eleven siblings. During the conversation he recalled his family’s hand-to-mouth life. He got teary-eyed telling “Dahil sa napaka hirap ng buhay sa edad na 13-anyos namulat na ako kasama ng aking ama sa pagsasaka bilang isang tenant at noon mayroon kaming tatlong ektarya (3) na tinataniman. Sa tulong at biyaya ng NIA sa pagbibigay sa amin ng irigasyon unti-unti akong lumikha ng mga pangarap para mapaunlad ang aking sarili”, he stated.
As years passed, Tatay Moises lovely charm came into his life – his wife, Leticia. They were blessed to have five (5) children. According to them they found a gem in tilling lands and planting rice. With the help of farming, they were able to claim success one step at a time. “Sa pagsisikap, tiyaga at pag-agapay sa amin ng NIA sa awa ng diyos napag tapos ko ang aking mga anak”, he proudly said.
His children currently have their own careers as contractors, sailors, foreign workers in Japan and others have their own lives.
Moises became the president of the Pantasia Irrigators’ Association Inc., in Brgy. Salinas, Lucena City, Quezon since 2015 up to the present. He was able to acquire different farm machineries and rice warehouse which greatly help him and his co-members.
Now, he is cultivating his own agricultural lands. He said “Ngayon sa pagiging seed grower mas napaunlad at napaganda ko ang aming pamumuhay na kung saan marami din akong natulungan at nabigyan ng hanapbuhay.”
During our scheduled visit to his rice fields, he gladly tour us in his warehouse which is also located beside their newly constructed house. We’ve seen thousands of sacks and according to Tatay Moises, it is filled of palay seeds and approximately 24 tons(t) from year 2021 harvested for wet season and ready to be picked up and will be distributed to the various farmer beneficiaries of the RCEF Seed Program under the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Through his hard work and perseverance, he is also became a tenant of a 1-hectare coconut farm and fishpond leasing for almost four (4) years at the rate of Php 180,000.00 annually.
“Sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaka at katuwang ang Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig maraming pamilya ang nabubuhay at nakakaraos sa bawat araw”, Sa panahon ngayon dapat hindi tayo ang mag paalipin sa pera hayaan natin ang pera ang magtrabaho para sa atin”, he humbly said.
Despite difficulties in life, he managed to fulfil all his dreams and goals. Now with his success, he became one of the most recognized farmers in their area.