I was fortunate to be invited, together with Mom Bloggers, to tour Pascual Laboratories' source of their herbal ingredients, the
Leonie Agri Corp Farm. It was like covering an out-of-town agriculture story, just like what I used to do in Kumikitang Kabuhayan (ABS-CBN).
Anyway, after more than three-hours of land travel, we finally got into our destination in Nueva Ecija - the L.A.C. Farm. Currently, the L.A.C. Farm is the largest organic farm in the country today. Named after its owner Leonie - the matriarch of Pascual Laboratories.
We were welcomed by the farm staff with a smile, combined with a refreshing lemongrass (tanglad) tea and sweet corn. Nice combo!
The Mini Garden
After which we were briefly toured in their mini herbal garden where it showcases some of the endemic medicinal plants in the Philippines. Some of the plants are the widely accepted herbs. While the others were quite new to me.
A few of the popular ones were tawa-tawa, sabila, atis and ofcourse Pascual Laboratories' best selling plant-based medicine - Lagundi (good for cough and asthmatic problems)
One plant that was new to me was Gotu Kola - which is a good memory enhancer. Good thing I still remembered it. Hehehe.
The Main Course
After the tour to the mini-garden, which is also offered as wedding reception for garden wedding, we were treated to a sumptuous lunch.
Yummy! The combination of sinigang sa sampalok, grilled fish, steamed veggies (eggplant, string beans, okra - my faves) plus salad and turon and the side was really a treat for me and Cristelle
(GirlandBoyThing). Nothing beats an all-natural sampaloc used in sinigang. I can really taste the difference from a pre-mixed, commercially available seasoning.
Honestly, I was so "attached" to my meal, that I forgot to take pictures of them. Hahaha!
The Talk - The Journey
So, after the meal comes the serious stuff. L.A.C Farm's top guns led by Sir Jun (Engr. Guillermo Saret) and Sir Alex (Alexander Parducho) talked about how things are going for the farm.
From how it was called a "Cursed" land to now a land full of "Promise". It was interesting, especially for an entrepreneur like me how a "fairytale-like" success story L.A.C. Farm came to being. (
Read the story behind the L.A.C. Farms)
I believe that there is ALWAYS a story behind the success of businesses (and this is what interest me a lot).
Ascof - Organic Cough Medicine
After which, Sir Jericho, brand manager of Ascof, took the center stage to explain how the herbal-based medicine, Ascof, and how it differs from other cough meds in the market today.
It's just funny how he told us that some of the people in medical community changed its perception about the herbal products. He said that during the early days of
Ascof Lagundi (about 15 years ago), med reps were having a hard time pushing the product, since generally, the medical community, and the consumers as well, related medicine to the chemically-formulated ones. And referred to the organic medicine as a thing of the past or just for "hilots" and faith healers.
It took a while before the herbal medicine was actually accepted by the medical community and the public.
The Farm Tour
Then, we were toured to the other developed parts of the 43-hectare farm. It was one wild trip, since our cart was pulled by a tractor only.
It is really inspiring to know how they actually managed to stay FULLY organic with their plant and animal management. Amazing.
For a person who actually plans to make an all-organic backyard farm like me, their means is quite impressive - simple, effective and self-sustaining.
Another thing that amazed me was how L.A.C. Farm's pigs are trained to eat purely vegetables, and how the pigs are trained together with the wild pigs to "crop" (eat) the grasses - serves as a good replacement and co-workers to human grass cutters.
We were also introduced to "Bonna" an interesting person. (
His story here)
There are actually lots of stories in L.A.C. Farms that are written below:
It was one educational trip I had. Thanks to
Pascual Laboratories,
L.A.C. Farm and
Yehey!.
The Mini Garden
After which we were briefly toured in their mini herbal garden where it showcases some of the endemic medicinal plants in the Philippines. Some of the plants are the widely accepted herbs. While the others were quite new to me.
One plant that was new to me was Gotu Kola - which is a good memory enhancer. Good thing I still remembered it. Hehehe.
