Quezon Province in a thousand shades of green
Tagged as the land of a thousand colors, Quezon Province, throughout the years, has proven itself as a home of vibrant traditions and culture through its colorful festivals and appetizing delicacies. Little did we know that there’s actually more to the thousand colors of the province—that each radiant hue holds an array of variation. And this time, Quezon unfolded its thousand shades of green.
With its verdant fields rich in crops and tall coconut trees and majestic mountains covered with lush greeneries, Quezon truly holds a rich agricultural land. Proving it goes beyond its primary purpose of providing food to our tables, the land of a thousand colors took us into an adventure to experience its farms and see them through the lenses where agriculture and tourism meets.
Pushing an advocacy for Quezon’s AgriTourism, its provincial government recently launched their tourism campaign “Tara Na sa Quezon” to mark the start of an era that showcases not only the province’s vibrant festivals and nature trips but also focuses on their abundant agriculture. From its newest relatable campaign video directed by Lem Lorca and a more chill song written and performed by Kyle Anunciacion, Quezon has entered an era that takes pride in its thousand shades of green, embodying the power and beauty of agriculture.
Discover Quezon Province in a thousand shades of green!
Witnessing the magical touch of the Quezonians’ green thumbs
Although schools have somehow created a vivid picture of agriculture in our minds, seeing the farmers of Quezon Province exhibit the magical touch of their green thumbs felt different and personal. Moreover, the way they strongly held their sickles and gently carried their harvests as if they were infants in their palms says a lot. The magic of their touch is a result of their decades-long hard work and mastery of an art that not everyone could learn. And in the new era of the province’s campaign, they really deserve to be in the spotlight!
Focusing on Quezon’s thousand shades of green, the province has numerous farms that have opened their fences to give one the opportunity to witness and experience both the art and science of agriculture. From the flourishing kakao plants in the nursery of Four K Kakao Farm in Gumaca up to the towering coconut trees of Mikastra Integrated Farm in Macalelon, Quezonian farmers proved the power and tender touch of their green thumbs.
Going inside Four K, the radiant leaves of the Kakao plants waved immediately as they seemed to enjoy the warmth of the sun kissing them and unfolding different shades and tones of vibrant green. From there, the gentle touch of the farmers’ green palms take them into the process until chocolates are born. It was the same astonishment as I walked under the tall coconut trees of Mikastra until a coconut farmer climbed up the tree and exhibited how they harvest tuba juice from the coconut trees in deep green shades to produce the world’s second best spirit, lambanog. Truly, the green thumbs of the Quezonian farmers not only bring food down the feast but even take the spotlight to the Philippines for the world to taste and see.
Experiencing the bloom of a green soul in Quezon Province
Most of the time, we see farms as places of continuous physical work that may seem tiring for many of us, especially for those who have not experienced life in a more rural place. On the other hand, Quezon unfolded another face that holds the beauty of the province’s agriculture. It revealed another set of green shades but this time, not just for the eyes but for the souls to experience becoming green—healed, reborn, and growing.
Surrounded by the majestic Mount Banahaw and Mount San Cristobal, Lukong Valley Farm in Dolores offers more than just a farming experience but a green and serene space for the soul. Indulge into the beauty of Sitio Lukong as the cold breeze brushes your skin while enjoying a cup of hot coffee from their cafe, overlooking entirety of the farm covered in lush greenery, and hearing nothing but the sound of nature.
Far from the hustles and bustles of the city jungle, this space felt like a wide nursery for our exhausted inner selves to rest, breathe, and bloom again. It didn’t feel like I was a visitor up there. I felt like a part of the verdant green fields and the abundant trees above. Undeniably, Quezon Province is a place for a green soul.
Wallowing down the nature so green and free
Aside from the farms that take pride in their landscapes and facilities, Quezon Province also houses agricultural lands that showcase the power of nature—green and free! Habilin Farms in Tayabas City mirrors the sustainable ways of the natural ecosystem. They allow nature to flourish and exhibit its own vibrance the way it wants, revealing a thousand shades of green only itself could count.
Without much of a landscape, Habilin produces various crops that grace our tables. Its farmers believe that such harvests are manifestations of nature reciprocating its love to anyone who takes good and genuine care of whatever it bears. From the name of the place itself and their approach to farming highlights our very purpose to the nature entrusted to our will.
There could only be around 300 shades of green known but nature offers never-ending wonders and possibilities. From the magical touch of the Quezonian farmers’ green thumbs to the blooming green souls out of the province’s serenity to the thriving freedom of nature, Quezon Province has proven that it is indeed a land of a thousand colors with a thousand shades of green.
