CentLes Vineyard

03/09/2026

Thank you to those who reserved their grapes saplings for next week 🍇💜! Your support for our local farmers is highly appreciated 👨‍🌾. It doesn't matter whether you are in a farm or in the heart of the city, we make grape farming simple & possible. 😎🍇

We still accept orders for meet-up delivery on September 9-10, 2026. Contact us and we will help you choose the best varieties from our collection. 😊🍇

02/09/2026

🤔🍇

🇲🇽 Mexico marks a global first by approving the world's first sprayable RNA-based biofungicide

Mexico has authorized the commercial use of 𝘖𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘹, an innovative spray that helps local 🍇 grape growers protect their vines against destructive fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Instead of relying on harsh, traditional chemicals, this spray uses targeted RNA molecules to stop specific fungi without altering the plant's DNA or harming beneficial insects like bees. Because the spray breaks down naturally in soil and water, it leaves no chemical residues on food or in the environment. 🌱

🇵🇭 Fungal control remains an ongoing challenge for fruit and vegetable growers in the Philippines. While sprayable RNA technology is still an emerging field globally, Mexico’s commercial approval provides a practical case study on how modern science can offer precise, eco-friendly tools to defend high-value Philippine crops while safeguarding local agricultural ecosystems.

📰 Read the full article: https://www.science.org/content/article/global-first-mexico-approves-use-rna-based-fungicide

02/09/2026

Time flies so fast. From 50 now with 100+ varieties and 400+ grape vines ready for fruit production. 😍🍇

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐓 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐠𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐨

What happens when technology, a family farming tradition, and a young entrepreneur’s dream come together?

In Brgy. Cudionan, San Dionisio, Iloilo, IT graduate Mar John Morales is proving that going back to one’s roots can open the door to new opportunities.

Drawing from his background in technology and the farming knowledge passed down by his grandparents, Mar John started CentLes Vineyard as a simple hobby. What began small has since grown into a thriving grape farm with more than 264 grapevines and over 50 varieties.

A major boost came through the Young Farmers Challenge of the Department of Agriculture, which provided him with training, mentoring, financial assistance, and connections that helped him develop the farm further.

The experience also gave Mar John the confidence to look beyond simply growing and selling grapes. He is now exploring opportunities in agri-tourism and value-added products, turning the vineyard into a potential destination and a more sustainable agricultural enterprise.

But for Mar John, CentLes Vineyard is about more than business.

He uses the farm to create opportunities for others, particularly young people in his community. He provides work to out-of-school youth, supports an agriculture student through a scholarship, and runs a “Your Plant, Your Profit” program that allows community members to participate and benefit from grape growing.

His bigger dream is to encourage more farmers in Northern Iloilo to venture into grape production and, eventually, help strengthen the local supply.

Mar John’s journey also carries a message for young Filipinos who may not have studied agriculture but are interested in farming: your education does not have to limit the path you take.

For this IT graduate, technology and the lessons of his farmer grandparents found common ground in a vineyard in San Dionisio.

And from what started as a hobby, Mar John is now cultivating something much bigger—a livelihood, opportunities for his community, and a new generation’s interest in agriculture.

20/08/2026

A sight to behold! 👀 🍇
After a morning routine clean up, it is satisfying to watch our grape vines looking healthy and clean. By removing the lateral shoots, old or damaged leaves, and weeds around the vine, we encourage better sunlight pe*******on and airflow thus making our grapes more resistant to pest and diseases. 🍇😎

07/08/2026

Kinda hard to believe that this was taken only a few days apart 🍇. No bud break enhancers were used, only a strict and consistent maintenance and monitoring. This is Jupiter variety at 5 months after transplanting, showing potential in early stage of production. 💜🤙

Disclaimer:
This is not the usual recommended production age of a grape vine. But, since we already achieved good size fruiting canes by using our very own growing method, this is worth a try.

06/08/2026

Thank you! 🍇💜

03/08/2026

1st pruning on our production area ✂️. We have a few rows of 4 to 6 month-old vines ready for test production. This will calculate the capacity and volume of a young vine to produce fruits based on the variety. Note that this is not the recommended age of the grape vine for fruiting, but since we have our own growing, training, and fertilizing procedures, this is the best time to see how efficient our way is. We achieved the right size of the trunk and fruiting canes in a record time but let's see the results 🍇👨🏼‍🌾

(Video taken last July 20, 2026)

28/07/2026

Hard work paid off! 😎
We will never get tired of sharing knowledge with the younger generation of farmers and agri-prenuers. 💡👨🏻‍🌾

26/07/2026

Eyes here!!! 👀

A few more varieties from our collection have shown signs of inflorescence. We really hope that they'll form good quality berries in the next few weeks.

As we continue our pruning activity, there will be more to come. We're excited to share these new flavors with you in the next harvest season. Stay tuned! 🍇😍🤙

25/07/2026

It’s our pleasure sharing valuable insights with our Young Agripreneurs. Goodluck to all and please continue your YFC journey. 👏

Day 4 marked the culmination of the YEP Agripreneurship 2026: Young Aspiring Agripreneurs Bootcamp (YAAB) through the Mock Pitching Competition, where 47 young aspiring agripreneurs confidently presented their business ideas after four days of learning, coaching, and preparation.

Watching each trainee take the stage was a proud moment. Beyond the business concepts they presented, I saw young people who dared to dream, embraced feedback, and developed the confidence to share solutions that could create value for Philippine agriculture and their communities.

This bootcamp is especially meaningful because it is the first-ever collaboration between the Department of Trade and Industry’s Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) and the Department of Agriculture’s Young Farmers Challenge (YFC). For a long time, I envisioned bringing these two programs together, combining YEP’s entrepreneurship training with YFC’s mission of nurturing future agripreneurs. What once started as an idea has finally become a reality, and seeing it materialize is truly one of the most fulfilling moments of my journey.

Powered by the YEP You Can Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) Curriculum, the trainees were introduced to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, from Design Thinking, Business Model Canvas, Market Smarts, simple operations planning, Money-In, Money-Out, building a team, and effective business pitching. These are just the first building blocks, but I hope they become strong foundations for the enterprises they will continue to develop.

My heartfelt appreciation goes to our panelists, MJ Morales, Roel Jay Caoyonan and Nicko Paulo Mabasa, who immediately accepted our invitation and generously shared their time, expertise, and valuable insights with our trainees. Having our YEP Alumni and Young Farmers Challenge Awardees serve as mentors and evaluators made the experience even more meaningful. Thank you for inspiring the next generation by showing them that their dreams are achievable.

To our partners from the Department of Agriculture Region 6 - Young Farmers Challenge Team, thank you for believing in this collaboration. This is only the beginning, and I am excited about what more we can accomplish together in developing young agripreneurs across the region.

As the Master Trainer, my greatest joy is not seeing perfect pitches, but witnessing growth. I saw ideas become business models, uncertainty become confidence, and aspirations become action plans. I am proud of every trainee who chose to take this journey, and I look forward to seeing each of you grow, persevere, and achieve your entrepreneurial goals.

Congratulations to all our Completers. May this bootcamp be the start of your journey in building enterprises that will strengthen agriculture, uplift communities, and inspire the next generation of agripreneurs.