‘SABA-day’ tribute event for Filipino farmers to be launched by Villa Socorro Farm

Villa Socorro Farm, one of the leading local social enterprises in sustainable agriculture, is set to launch SABA-day, the first event in the Philippines dedicated to honoring Filipino farmers, and celebrating the saba banana. The showcase takes place on February 22, 2025 (intentionally, a SABA-do) in the Sunlife Amphitheater, BGC Arts Center, and aims to highlight the vital role of farmers in national development while fostering a deeper appreciation for local produce.

SABA-day’s program features a day full of varying activities and exhibits categorized into Food Trip and Laugh Trip. You can take Food Trip to indulge in a variety of Saba Banana-based culinary delights featuring Villa Socorro Farm’s signature snacks and food booths featuring exclusive creations by the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA). Alternatively, you can also take the Laugh Trip where they can experience interactive games, performances by a magician, a ventriloquist, various stand-up comedians, and a special drag performance. Or, as a meme would say, why not both?

A key moment of the event will be the unveiling of Villa Socorro Farm’s new products in the afternoon.

Villa Socorro Farm (VSF) Banana Chief, Chef Raymund Aaron presenting various VSF products, which include VSF Sabanana Banana Chips, at a bazaar. The upcoming SABA-day on February 22, 2025 at the Sunlife Amphitheater is BGC is a celebration of the Saba and the hardworking farmers who grow them.

Admission to SABA-day is free, but attendees are encouraged to extend their support through love offerings for FARMdation, Villa Socorro Farm’s initiative dedicated to providing farmers with essential training, tools, and resources for sustainable growth. 

Raymund Aaron, Villa Socorro Farm’s Banana Chief is a chef.  He curated the Food Trip part of the event. He hopes to make the guests experience Villa Socorro’s passion through their reverence of the saba. “We may be a small family business, but we certainly have a big heart. Saging lang nga naman ang may puso. Sa SABA-day, kami ay inyong kaSABAy sa kasiyahan.”

Villa Socorro Farm (VSF) Banana Chief, Chef Raymond Aaron has learned from and partnered with the Center for Culinary Arts to feature the many ways to prepare the Saba at the FOOD TRIP section of SABA-day. The upcoming SABA-day on February 22, 2025 at the Sunlife Amphitheater is BGC is a celebration of the Saba and the hardworking farmers who grow them.

“Through this event, during love month, Villa Socorro Farm hopes to inspire a collective commitment to sustainable agriculture,” Aaron added.

Beyond being a showcase of the saba banana – one of the country’s top exports – “SABA-day will bring out the fun and ‘crazy banana’ side of Saba,” stated Villa Socorro Farm’s Señorita, Diana Aaron – Ong, who is also a stand-up comedian. Her amalgamated passions for agriculture and humor were the anchor for the Laugh Trip half of the event.

Villa Socorro Farm (VSF) Señorita, Diana Aaron-Ong, is a stand-up comedian and agriculture advocate. She is handling the LAUGH TRIP section of SABA-day. The upcoming SABA-day on February 22, 2025 at the Sunlife Amphitheater is BGC is a celebration of the Saba and the hardworking farmers who grow them.

“Villa Socorro Farm invites everyone who loves our Sabanana Banana Chips to be part of our FARM-ily. We’re ready to have a relation-chip. It’s our first major and meaningful event. Let’s enjoy great food and entertainment, and contribute to a movement that uplifts farming communities,” she continued.

For more details and event updates about SABA-day in BGC, follow Villa Socorro Farm on their social media platforms.

Based in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Villa Socorro Farm is committed to empowering Filipino farmers through an integrated business ecosystem that spans crop cultivation, food manufacturing, furniture fabrication, and farm tourism – driven by sustainable and community-driven farming practices, ensuring that local farmers have the resources and opportunities to thrive. 

Villa Socorro Farm (VSF) partner-farmer Oman washes the Saba harvest to prepare them for their “transformation” into the VSF Sabanana Banana Chips. The upcoming SABA-day on February 22, 2025 at the Sunlife Amphitheater is BGC is a celebration of the Saba and the hardworking farmers who grow them.

Through SABA-day and other advocacy initiatives, the Aaron family aims to elevate awareness of the contributions of farmers and the importance of sustainable agriculture. 

For more information regarding Villa Socorro Farm and the upcoming SABA-day celebration, you may visit the Villa Socorro Farm Facebook page.

ADVT.

This article is brought to you by VSF.