SABA-day: A Tribute to Filipino Farmers and the Beloved Saba Banana

 SABA-day”, a celebration of our local banana variety, saba, and a tribute to Filipino farmers, the real top banana.

Villa Socorro Farm, a social enterprise established by the Aaron family on the 8th of August 2008, in Pagsanjan, Laguna, launched the country’s very first event dedicated to honoring Filipino farmers, and highlighting the saba banana. The showcase took place last Saturday (SABA-do), February 22, 2025.

“Ben” the banana, Villa Socorro Farm Sabanana Banana Chips’ new mascot, took a trip to the city to welcome guests. 

SABA-day had various booths and activities categorized as Food Trip and Laugh Trip. 

Food Trip: A variety of packed snacks by Villa Socorro Farm, Saba-based culinary delights by the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA), and concoctions of Saba-retto cocktails by Naughty Bro. 

Laugh Trip: Human claw machine, lawn games, and performances by a magician, a ventriloquist, stand-up comedians, and a special drag performer.

 

The event had a festive "Fiesta" feel combined with a cozy "Coachella" concept. The attendees lounged at the Sunlife Amphitheater, BGC Arts Center while munching Sabanana Banana Chips and enjoying a free show. Saba-day also featured exclusive items from brand collaborators such as Bagnana (a bag made of banana fiber) by Zarah Juan, Labunana plushies by Karaw Crafts and Dubai-nana Chocolate by 1919.

   

Admission to SABA-day was free, but the attendees were 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.

A key moment of the event was the unveiling of Villa Socorro Farm’s new products in the afternoon. Raymund Aaron, Villa Socorro Farm’s Banana Chief emphasized the company’s vision, “We may be a small family business, but we certainly have a big heart. Saging lang nga naman ang may puso. Ngayong SABA-day, kami ay inyong kaSABAy sa kasiyahan.”

“Thank you for celebrating SABA-day with us, and for sharing the same advocacy. You are now part of our farm-ily. Maaasahanninyong, ang pamilyang Aaron ay tutulong sa pag-ahon ng mgamagsasaka... para SA Bayan,” stated Villa Socorro Farm’s Señorita, Diana Aaron - Ong,

Villa Socorro Farm is committed to world-class farming that nurtures farm-ilies. 

They are driven by sustainable and community-driven farming practices, ensuring that local farmers have the resources and opportunities to thrive. Their business model goes beyond crop cultivation. They also offer food manufacturing (FarmFood), furniture fabrication (Farmniture), farm tourism (Farmcation), and education for farmers (FarmEd). 

 

Through SABA-day and other advocacy initiatives, the Aaron family aims to elevate awareness on the vital role of farmers in national development by fostering a deeper appreciation for local produce.

 

Villa Socorro Farm Presents SABA-day: Honoring Filipino Farmers and Celebrating Saba Bananas!

 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 tribute event for Filipino farmers to be launched by Villa Socorro Farm

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.”

 

“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) 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.

“Villa Socorro Farm invites everyone who loves our SabananaBanana 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.

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

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. 

 

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 (https://www.facebook.com/villasocorrofarm).