Digos City, PH – Farmer rediscovers path to sustainable living – Jan 2024

Chico Diez was very young when he learned how to plant corn and upland rice, and life was easy then. As the years went by, farming became a challenging livelihood. The unpredictability of the weather and low income from farming drove away his dream about farming.

Chico Diez is brother of Peaksneng Thormacheat Shop manager Rey Diez, and is Team leader of Sunrise shop in Philippines. He has three siblings, one sister and two brothers. He graduated from an IT information technology vocational course. He inherited a land of their parents in Sitio Barak, Colonsabak Matanao Davao del Philippines.

Chico is aware that being a farmer is seen as an unpromising profession because farmers are struggling with debts and live in poverty. After he graduated from IT, he went abroad to find better opportunities, but was not lucky and came back after three years abroad. He tried many different types of work to provide for his family. He has been concerned about the farm inherited from his parents. He worries that they might not have enough farmers for the next generation because as he says “it is very difficult. Farmers make small profit”.

In 2023, Betterlives and Peaksneng Shop, Siem Reap agreed to start a small team Sunrise Shop in Sitio Barak, Colonsabak Matanao Dvo. Sur. Philippines to assist local families. When he started the garden project, Chico and the team joined training provided by Peaksneng team via a Whatsapp video call during a weekly mentoring meeting, and later received direct gardening advice and technical support when Rey went to visit the Sunrise team in Philippines.

When sunrise shop started, Chico was quick to sign up the garden application and has since experienced a positive change. In a short period of time he could see the impact of this program of Food Always In The Home vegetable gardens on the local families. One of them is Chico the team leader, this faith garden project has reignited his love for the old profession of farming that his and Rey’s parents passed onto all of their children. Chico says that “now our basic food needs are met from produce we harvest from our garden, and my children find joy and interest in gardening.” He is now growing vegetables in his commercial garden, like carrots, bitter gourd, beans and sweet potato.