Lotus Valley Wows the PGLU Execs
By: Jane T. Flores | Photo By: PITO-LU | Date: February 9, 2018
HEALTH IS WEALTH. Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members Bellarmin A. Flores II, Manuel Victor "Mannix" R. Ortega Jr., Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V, and Carlo Castor U. Concepcion (from left to right) enjoy a hearty plant-based meal during their 84th Regular Session held on February 8, 2018 at the Lotus Valley Farm, Barangay Dasay, San Juan, La Union. In pursuit of the vision of making La Union the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025, the out-of-office session was held to familiarize La Union Officials with the tourism potential of Lotus Valley Farm.
From the usual Thursday menu of fish, meat (either chicken or pork/beef) and vegetables, Governor Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III, Vice-Governor Aureo Augsuto Q. Nisce and all the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members tried out with so much gusto an all plant-based dish for lunch during its first out-of-office session and its 84th Regular Session at Lotus Valley at Barangay Dasay, San Juan, La Union.
La Union officials got to experience a fresh forest cool breeze (fresh from last night’s rain), breath-taking and informative tour around the biodiverse-agro-forest farm of Mr. Tobee Tamayo. He showed the variety of plants, trees including the varieties of bamboos grown in the farm and its beautiful lotus plants and flowers. The cottages, whose materials except for the nails and cement were all sourced from the farm. The designs of the cottages were made to stand all-weather even the strongest winds from typhoons and allow natural light penetration and air circulation, thus it requires minimum use of electricity. “You don’t plant a tree, you plant a forest…,” Mr. Tamayo stressed as he passionately narrated to the PGLU officials his struggles with the local farmers in developing the 8.5 hectare property which he acquired in 2007.
The nutritional break for lunch was the highlight of the visit. The plate was teeming with healthy and freshly harvested all plant-based menu including black rice, Thai-salad, veggie laing, buko lasagna, cauliflower pakora, tofu seaweed tempura and the gluten barbeque that was really mistaken for a real grilled barbeque. For their dessert were the mango and buko tart that were so tempting to the bite. Their drinks were choices of refreshing ginger forest tea, currypata with calamansi tea and vishnukanta or the sabong ti samsamping with pandan blue drink. It was indeed a lunch so delicious yet so healthy. The menu was indeed a must-try not only by tourists but locals who prefer a healthier diet for longevity.
The Provincial Officials got a brief chance to ask Mr. Tamayo’s workings and their programs with the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office but promised to extensively elaborate the same during a committee hearing. The whole experience was indeed refreshing and invigorating and at the same time, inspiring and challenging. With Mr. Tamayo’s knowledge, skills and related experiences with an effective partnership with the PGLU and its stakeholders, the province of La Union is getting closer to the realization of its vision to position La Union as the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025. Mr. Tamayo is currently the Consultant to the Office of the Governor on Sustainable Apiculture, Agriculture and Natural Resources Development and the owner of the Lotus Valley – a wellness and healing farm.
