Page 17 - OPA 2014
P. 17
Outstanding Professional Award 2014
He graduated Magna Cum Laude at the Polytechnic
University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in
Computer Engineering in 1989.
Early Life and Career
Just after graduation, he was immediately hired as
Computer Programmer in a telecommunications firm. He was
promoted to a Managerial position after 3 years, the youngest
manager in the history of the firm and stayed with the Company
for 20 years.
Retirement (Changing Tires)
Upon retirement in 2004 as the Vice President of the
Philippine global Communications Inc. (PhilCom), he ventured
into organic farming. What started as a hobby and in pursuit
of his main belief that an all-Natural and Chemical-Free Food
is the cornerstone for a Healthy Lifestyle has given rise to the
5-hectare Costales Nature Farm – an Integrated Organic Farm.
With this as a mission, the farm started producing safe, fresh
and tasty products that contain optimum nutrient without a
trace of synthetic fertilizers or pesticide. They take pride in
their farm produce that has been lovingly planted, grown and
harvested by hand. Top-of-the line post-harvest facilities and
properly trained personnel are employed in the handling of
Family Support- With wife Josie in their organic herbs & spices plantation products to ensure the highest standards in food handling,
food packaging, and in general food hygiene. His adoption of
organic farming has made the food that reaches the tables of
Mr. RONALD C. COSTALES, a native of Umingan, every Filipino families safer, tastier, and healthier.
Pangasinan, is an organic farming practitioner and a
staunch advocate of organic agriculture, an agri -
technology innovator, a self-sacrificing extension
service provider and an astute agri-entrepreneur. He
is the national awardee for the most prestigious award in
agriculture in 2012 as the gaWaD SaKa’s Most Outstanding
Organic Farmer of the Philippines. Mr. Costales was the
former Executive Vice President of Philippine global
Communications, Inc. specialized in Information Technology,
Network Engineering and research & Development, opted to
retire in 2004 at the age of 39 to enjoy life in organic agriculture
and farm tourism. He is now the Chairman of Costales Nature
Farms, a family corporation and the leading certified organic
farm and the 1st Farm Tourism Destination in the Philippines Farm Visitors - ATI Director Asterio P. Saliot, DFA Dir Ambassador Cariño and
students of Southern Luzon State University
accredited by Department of Tourism.
School of Hard Knocks
ronald was born to a family of farmers on September 18,
1966. Finished his secondary education in Umingan Central
High School and completed with flying colors as the batch
Valedictorian in 1983. Because his parents can not afford to
send him to College, ronald worked in the province as Jeepney
driver and barker at times for 2 years. after earning an amount
sufficient to finance his travel to Manila, he left the province
and worked as Security guard in the Jungle city. realizing his
potentials, he enrolled in the university and took up a degree
course. For 5 years, he worked during day time as a guard and
studied at night time. Farm Tour - touring the group of ATI Director Asterio P. Saliot and
DFA Director Consul Felipe Cariño in the 5-hectare Costales’ organic farm
15