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

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