SUCCESS STORY OF THE

4-H CLUB OF NEW LEYTE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

It is not far from the truth when one says that there is money in farming. But one

must have a full conviction that farming is fun and it can be a source of income not only to those

who own farms but it can be made possible even to students. However, there is a great challenge

in selling this idea to the students especially nowadays wherein they prefer activities that are

highly modern and trendy than being into agriculture.

With the advent of new technology comes the challenge of making agriculture

activities more relevant and interesting that will be appealing to the youth. A group that hails

from the mountains of New Leyte, Maco, Compostela Valley Province is keen in promoting

agriculture --- the embodiment of "learning by doing" approach in a school setting.

New Leyte National High School 4-H Club is based in Purok 1, Barangay New Leyte,

Maco, Compostela Valley Province. It is 64 kilometers away from the Poblacion and

strategically located at the mountainous track of the Municipality of Maco, where the famous

active volcano, Lake Leonard resides. Due to its geographical location, mining has been the most

practiced work since early 80's. Resident were focused in finding gold rather than tilling the land.

Thus, the challenge to make the people go into agriculture has been existing for years.

From its inception in 2010, the 4-H Club of New Leyte National High School's main

objective has always been to promote agricultural based education. In fact, one of its focuses is

centered in helping and educating the farmers to recent agricultural technologies specifically in

cacao production

The humble start of the organization began in 2010 when Apex Mines Company

Incorporation in partnership with the Nestle Philippines sponsored a 15-day seminar for coffee

production. It was participated by Arvin Jhon Fuentes and Jhonar Mark Hebertas. These students

used their knowledge and skills to conceptualize an idea that later on will be used for

community's development and soon a ticket to their fame. Unselfishly, they began farming not

only for themselves but for other's benefits as well. This led to the interest of the students in
32
planting coffees and grafted it, thus the birth of the Satellite Nursery Program. Since APEX

Mines needs cacao production in a massive scale at that time they shifted from producing coffee

seedlings to producing cacao seedlings in which these lucky students have made connections

with the company. They grafted cacao seedlings and APEX bought it by volume. Aside from

gaining monetary benefits, they were able to provide their daily school expenses; less burden to

their parents who also suffered to the callous of poverty.

Later in 2010, 4-H Club of NLNHS was established having Mr. Arvin Jhon T. Fuentes as

the organization's president. The 4-H NLNHS is composed of students in NLNHS. The group

specializes in planting cacao seedlings and also farmer's training in cacao production. Since

2012, 4-H NLNHS has been conducting cacao trainings-----an intensive training headed by Mr.

Roel Ellaga-TLE Teacher-Agri-Crops Trainer/Cacao Master/coffee expert. Participants

composed of young and old farmers coming from Barangay New Leyte and other neighboring

barangays are taught the cacao, rubber and coffee new technology through monocrop and

diversified farming system in partnership with Apex Mines Company Inc., USDA, Mars

Chocolates and Local Government units.

Sometimes when they began established a mark in the agriculture industry; the driven

officers if the organization focused not only on cacao production but extend their horizon on

vegetable farming, poultry production and fish production and just recently ventured into rag

making training. The income they gained from these projects was allocated for their

improvements. By conducting seminars and trainings, they had helped other young farmers from

adjacent barangays to be equipped with farm techniques. The other unique feature of 4-H

NLNHS was the fact that they facilitated feeding programs to severely wasted/ malnourished

students through their own vegetables, organically grown in their gardens and were facilitated by

their own officers.

Furthermore, the NLNHS 4-H Club has shown commitment in promoting Agricultural

Based Education not only to the students but also to the farmers in the community. 4-Hers were

able to prove that there is joy in agriculture and there is more than just farming the soil and

33
rearing animals. The group made it possible to offer opportunities for each member to participate

in planning and implementing the organization’s thrust.

Also, the impact of their project “Learning While Earning” serves as an inspiration to

every student who wishes to continue education but has financial constraints due to poverty and

family problems. It has given every student the opportunity to have extra income by bagging the

soil and grafting cacao seedlings. Their approach that involves forming closer relationship with

groups and organizations help them realize their targets and build good relationship especially to

their fellow youth. NLNHS 4-H Club seeks to introduce cooperative approach among youngsters

that leads to co-ownership of success and a sense of leadership not only to the officers but also to

the members.

Aside from their continuous cacao trainings, the group aims to reach a wider audience by

tapping the out-of-school youth and other sectors and encourage them to undergo the trainings.

True to its mission, NLNHS 4-H Club promoted Agricultural Based Education that trains

the students to become fully aware of the how’s and why’s of agriculture and making every

member experience farming, know the agribusiness system, identify possible livelihood

opportunities as incorporated in their subject Technical Vocational and Livelihood Track and

Agri-Fishery Arts Strand (Agri-Crops Production / Organic Agriculture). Through hands on

discussions, wonders and curiosities build up that turned into making various research papers in

connection with production of crops and its profit. This helps the members particularly students

in understanding and progressing agriculture.

Their exemplary commitment in educating the minds of the young’s created a vibrant

change on the perspective of the students who were once cynical and hesitant in doing such

endeavors. It is only then the students fully realize that there are a lot of opportunities and that

they just have to unleash their potentials. The deepening of the knowledge of the students was

later used through “learning-by-doing” approach in line with the organization’s “Learning While

Earning” program. Students were tasked to do different farming techniques and were assigned to

actualize the concepts learned.

34
 Moreover, it is noteworthy that students were able to reach and extend their knowledge to

the people in the community more specifically with the farmers who underwent training by the

Cacao Master and TVL teacher,Mr. Roel Ellaga in the partnership with the 4-H Officers and

members. They have seen that these farmers needed to help especially in the farm cacao

production technologies to farm management. Most of these farmers have not gone through

formal education. But despite of this, NLNHS 4-H Club found out that they were more eager to

learn to plant and manage their farms effectively.

Because the NLNHS 4-H Club wants to impart farming technologies and farming

strengths to their beneficiaries, the group’s mission is to share knowledge and help the students

and farmers develop a strong commitment and conviction that there is money in farming, not just

in mining. For that motive, 4-H conducted a research pertaining to the difference between the

income of farmers and small-scale miners. Proving that farmers have greater income, these

hearten them to be converted from being a miner to a farmer. In their start off, the organization

understands the fact that it will take time for them to adjust since they are more capable of

digging mines than raising crops. As of this hindrance, the 4-H handled seminars concerning to

the production of crops especially in cacao and coffee that was sponsored and guided by Apex

Mines Company. After the training, they were given seedlings as token in participating and for

them to start on. The knowledge that they’ve gained were applied to their own respective farms,

and the organization evaluated them from time to time. Watching them uprising and getting

attached to farming makes the organization pursue more in upholding farming. Due to the

conversion of miners to farmers, the organization receive an award as 2 nd Villa Sipag Youth

Reduction Poverty Challenge as most Outstanding Youth Organization 2018 last July 27, 2018 at

Las Peñas City, Manila.

Considered the premiere organization in the province having a goal to promote farming

and agriculture, 4-H NLNHS believes that farm activities and preserving the environment is

everybody’s concern and that it should be inculcated in the hearts and minds of the young. For

that aim, the organization implemented several livelihood projects like Onion Production, Native

Chicken Production, Nursery, Bee Culture, Indoor (Oyster mushroom) and Outdoor Mushroom

35
Production, Vegetable Production and Gulayan sa Paaralan to educate members and students in

broadening their information about agriculture. As a result, the organization not just enthused

students and the community, farmers from the neighboring schools, barangays and municipalities

visited the organization for trainings in obtaining more concepts in the field of agribusiness. As

for their token, the organization provided vegetable seeds and other agricultural supplies from

Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Training Institute, Provincial Agriculturist Office,

Municipal Agriculturist office for them to start what they have learned and absorbed.

On the other hand, for non-Agribusiness, the 4-H club organization invested share capital

on the New Leyte Lake Leonard Tourism Association last August 2018 and receive its interest

last December 2018. The dream of the organization is not just for investment but to help preserve

and protect the Lake Leonard, one of the beautiful tourist destinations in the Davao Region.

For the reason that the 4-H reached to the point of receiving numerous and winning

several competitions. The organization contributes towards the school and community to share

and express their gratitude and thanks. The 4-H Club donated 40 “TV sets and Sound system to

the school in return for their infinite support and guidance. Aside from the audio visual

donations, cash also was given to school for food and snacks every time we had our visitors from

the department of Education and any other agencies. Helping the learners in their education was

one of the objectives of the organization, they’ve partaken the Summer Big Brother Program of

the Department of Education in which elementary pupils were given a chance to attend summer

class and learn particularly in reading. The 4-H was one of the benefactors financially in order

for the students to have their free snacks and lunch with 4Hers who serve as student teachers

during the activity, and recently the club had launched a scholarship grant in which they

prioritized the indigenous students of the school.

This story began with humble beginnings; this does not end here, in fact, the officers and

members would like to adopt more technologies for the betterment of the club. Thus, creating

opportunities to the other children and youth who just like them dreamed to alleviate themselves

in poverty.

36
 Because of the club’s dedication and commitment to community services and giving free

trainings to local farmers specially the youth, awards and recognitions are part of its remarkable

story: Awarded as the Regional Winner for Outstanding Young Farmer Organization last June

2016, Regional Winner of the Search Gawadsaka Search for Young Farmers Organization last

May 2015, one of the Awardees of GawadKabataan: Tyron Awards for Youth Organization (GK

TAYO). Provincial Winner of the Search for Outstanding Young Farmer Organization last July

2015, First Runner Up for Gulayan sa Paaralan Program” Search for Best Implementing Schools

(4H Club Social responsibility 2016), First Runner Up for Secondary Level-Container Gardening

Best School Implementer (4H Club Social responsibility 2017),and received a Certificate of

Commendation from New Leyte National High School-Department of Education Compostela

Valley Province, Awarded as 2NDVillarSipag Youth Reduction Poverty Challenge as Most

Outstanding Youth Organizations 2018. And recently, the club received Certificate of

Accomplishment from TAYO (Ten Accomplished Youth Organization Awards Foundation,

Incorporated).

Because of the influences of the 4-H club’s programs and activities, the community

where the organization is located belongs to a peace loving community, an award winning

Barangay in the Province , a regional winner of solid waste management and will represent

Region XI for the National Search for solid waste management in the country.

Researches have been made by the 4H Officers and members particularly in the recent

development of agriculture in the community and this was submitted and kept by the Library of

New Leyte National High School that will serve as one of the basis or a source to the related

studies of the Philippine Agriculture.

Originality and uniqueness

The Organization’s motto is “Make the Best Better” which aims to Promote Good

Agricultural Practices in vegetable production and Perennial Crops Like Cacao and Coffee

Nursery and Farm establishments. Members of the organization have their own farm that serve

as a demonstration farm during the training activities.

37
 Adaptability

The organization focuses on sustainable agriculture therefore projects and programs

are implemented to help local farmers, giving budget for Elementary and secondary feeding

Programs and giving support to the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program of the school. Members are

trained and willing to be trained.

Our partners give us a free technology to help uplift the living of our local farmers,

thus, engaging into coffee and cacao production is a vital role in responding the needs of the

community, specially the youth and students who want to learn and earn while studying.

Sustainability

Our partners and customers in the endeavor plays a very important role in the

sustainability of our programs and projects. The club believes that “relationship is over and

above development”. The programs and projects we’ve implemented are long term programs like

giving “Plant now pay later “ program in which the 4H member is given a chance to plant cacao

and coffee seedlings in his own area, after two years, the member will start to pay his obligation

to the 4H Club in staggered basis.

Community Upliftment

Students and out –of- school youth are earning in their own farm. They devote their time

in cacao and coffee production instead of wasting their time without direction, others are having

vegetable or tomato production which help a lot in upbringing their own family living. Members

of the club are no longer dependent in their parent in terms of daily allowances because they earn

in their own farm.The community where the organization is located belongs to a peace loving

community, an award winning Barangay in the Province and a Regional winner of solid waste

Management.

The number of professionals in the community increasing because parents can send their

children in the Universities and state colleges.

38