A farmer from barangay Patagan-Sta. Elena in San Miguel town and his family who have expanded their abaca farming into a diverse range of agricultural activities has won the honor as this year’s Outstanding Abaca Farm Family.
Rufino Triumfo Tejerero, 61, was accompanied by his wife Ligaya and three of their five children when they received the award from provincial officials during the culminating activity of the Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Month Celebration last May 28, 2025 at the Capitol Dome.
The other winners were Lino O. Vistal and family of Gigmoto, 1st runner-up, and Miguel V. Tañote and family of Panganiban, 2nd runner-up.
The Tejereros also won the Best in Scrapbook award, with Sergio T. Bernal and family as 1st runner-up and the Vistal family as 2nd runner-up.
Tejerero not only engaged in abaca production but also ventured into abaca trading, livestock production, backyard vegetable production, calamansi production, tilapia production and rice production. Through collective effort, they were able to grow their productive area into three hectares of abaca farm, 1,500 square meters of calamansi area and 6,500 square meters of rice plantation.
But the abaca plantation served as the primary source of income for the couple to finance the higher education of their three daughters and two sons.
All the siblings, except for the eldest son who is graduating from the local university, are gainfully employed: the eldest as teacher at the Caramoran Rural Development High School, the second as associate accountant at a Quezon City firm, the third as property accountant at Arcstone Capital LLC, and the fourth as bookkeeper at the same company.
Tejerero is currently president of the Abaca and Coconut Farmers Association in the barangay while his wife is president of the barangay pastoral council.
“This remarkable achievement highlights the transformative impact that the Tejerero family’s farming endeavors have had on their children’s lives, providing them with the necessary resources and opportunities to pursue their academic and professional aspirations,” the nominator said of the family’s leadership roles.
The other nominees, who received certificates of recognition, were Lopito L. Geromo of Kilikilihan, San Miguel; Joebel T. Cabrera of Dugui Too, Virac; Nestor B. Teves of Solong, San Miguel; Sergio T. Bernal of Cagraray, Bato; Zeth P. Valenzuela of Dariao, Caramoran; Rodulfo T. Tatad of Genitligan, Baras; and, Nilo T. Tarroquin of Rizal, San Andres.
The winning family received P25,000 while the 1st and 2nd runners-up got P20,000 and P17,000, respectively. The other nominees were given P7,000 each as consolation prize.
Here’s the winners of the other competitions in the five-day festival:
Catandungan ABACA Festival Paaralistuhan Contests
Abaca Hand Stripping Contest using MASK (Male category): 1st place, Rudy Vicente (Bagamanoc); 2nd place, Reynaldo Marquez (Virac); and, 3rd place, Bryan Arcilla (Gigmoto).
Female category: 1st place, Rosana Balamban (Baras); 2nd place, Jeraldine Pia (San Andres); and, 3rd place, Florenda Torzar (Caramoran).
Twine Making Contest: 1st place, Andy Rose Tenerife (Bato); 2nd place, Juan Tesorero (San Miguel); and, 3rd place, Bernabe Abad (San Andres).
Sug-ot Making Contest: 1st place, Weny Buatiz (San Miguel); 2nd place, Mary Ann Lleanita (Baras); and, 3rd place, Amelita Marquez (Virac).
AbaKantahan: 1st place, Jeffrey Tapar (San Miguel); 2nd place, Francis Tatad (Gigmoto); and, 3rd place, Valentino Icamen (Pandan).
Abaca Baile Festival of Festivals/ Street Dance Competition:
Open Category: Champion, LGBT Virac Bahaghari Festival; and, 1st runner-up, Binuwagan Dancers.
Special Awards: Best in Costume, Binuwagan Dancers; Best in Moving Choreography, Binuwagan Dancers; Festival Queen, Ashley Rhem M. Alonzo (Binuwagan Dancers); 1st runner-up, Jazeerah Vistal Tacorda (LGBT Virac Bahaghari Festival).
LGU Category: Champion, LGU – Viga; 1st runner-up, LGU San Andres; and, 2nd runner-up: LGU Bato.
Special Awards: Best in Costume, LGU Viga; Best in Moving Choreography, LGU San Andres; Festival Queen, Francene Quia T. Sarmiento (LGU Bato); 1st runner-up, Shane Rose B. Chavez (LGU San Andres); 2nd runner-up, Adriane Jassy O. Dominguez (LGU Viga).
Drum and Lyre Corps Competition: Champion, Viga Rural Development High School; 1st runner-up, Caramoran Rural Development High School; 2nd runner-up, Cabugao Integrated School.
Special Awards: Best in Costume, Cabugao Integrated School; Best in Musicality, Viga Rural Development High School; Best Band Leader, Jorge Molina (Viga Rural Development High School); and Best Majorette Leader: Louise Kristine M. Vega (Cabugao Integrated School).
Happy Island Tourism Village/Tourism Booth Competition: Champion, LGU – Pandan; 1st runner-up, LGU – Panganiban; and 2nd runner-up, LGU – Gigmoto.
ABACAbataan Advocacy Music Video Making Competition: 1st place, “Abakabataan” by Nino Joshua O. Balbin, Ericka F. Santos, Sammy G. Ternida and Kenneth S. Antonio; 2nd place, “Abacatandungan” by Silver De Quiroz, Ma. Nicole Trinidad, Irish Joy Arcilla, Noelyn Bernardino and John Michael Gonzales; and 3rd place, “ABACA- BATANDUANES” by Tristan James T. Del Rosario.
Abaca Festival Agri, Trade and Tourism Fair 2025/Best Dressed Booth Contest (MSME Category): 1st place, Dolor’s Handicrafts; 2nd place, Dab’s Delicacies; 3rd place, LSG Handicrafts; 4th place, Belen’s Pinahamis na Pili; and 5th place, Care Ph.