Cultivating Change: The Agricultural Legacy of Eleanor Saguiguit
Eleanor "Nene" Constantino-Saguiguit embarked on her farming journey at 28. Despite her political lineage in Malungon, Sarangani Province, her passion for agriculture has significantly influenced her life's decisions. "I love farming. I focus on sustainable farming," she says. Before fully committing to agriculture, Saguiguit served as the Executive Secretary to her father during his tenure as mayor. This role provided her with initial exposure to local politics. Following this, she worked for an NGO, where she became deeply involved in various regional advocacies. After her stint with the NGO, she transitioned into freelance consulting, focusing on environmental and Indigenous Peoples' advocacies. While many local farmers focus on "cash crops"—agricultural products grown for profit—Saguiguit initially did the same. However, she soon observed that these crops, heavily reliant on synthetic inputs, led to soil erosion and degradation. This issue i...
