Villa Socorro Farm, a social enterprise established by the Aaron family on the 8th of August 2008, in Pagsanjan, Laguna, launched the country’s very first event dedicated to honoring Filipino farmers, and highlighting the saba banana. The showcase took place last Saturday (SABA-do), February 22, 2025.
“Ben” the banana, Villa Socorro Farm Sabanana Banana Chips’ new mascot, took a trip to the city to welcome guests. SABA-day had various booths and activities categorized as Food Trip and Laugh Trip.
Food Trip: A variety of packed snacks by Villa Socorro Farm, Saba-based culinary delights by the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA), and concoctions of Saba-retto cocktails by Naughty Bro.
Laugh Trip: Human claw machine, lawn games, and performances by a magician, a ventriloquist, stand-up comedians, and a special drag performer.
The event had a festive “Fiesta” feel combined with a cozy “Coachella” concept. The attendees lounged at the Sunlife Amphitheater, BGC Arts Center while munching Sabanana Banana Chips and enjoying a free show. Saba-day also featured exclusive items from brand collaborators such as Bagnana (a bag made of banana fiber) by Zarah Juan, Labunana plushies by Karaw Crafts and Dubai-nana Chocolate by 1919.
Admission to SABA-day was free, but the attendees were encouraged to extend their support through love offerings for Farmdation, Villa Socorro Farm’s initiative dedicated to providing farmers with essential training, tools, and resources for sustainable growth.
A key moment of the event was the unveiling of Villa Socorro Farm’s new products in the afternoon. Raymund Aaron, Villa Socorro Farm’s Banana Chief emphasized the company’s vision, “We may be a small family business, but we certainly have a big heart. Saging lang nga naman ang may puso. Ngayong SABA-day, kami ay inyong kaSABAy sa kasiyahan.”
“Thank you for celebrating SABA-day with us, and for sharing the same advocacy. You are now part of our farm-ily. Maaasahan ninyong, ang pamilyang Aaron ay tutulong sa pag-ahon ng mga magsasaka… para SA Bayan,” stated Villa Socorro Farm’s Señorita, Diana Aaron – Ong, Villa Socorro Farm is committed to world-class farming that nurtures farm-ilies. They are driven by sustainable and community-driven farming practices, ensuring that local farmers have the resources and opportunities to thrive. Their business model goes beyond crop cultivation. They also offer food manufacturing (FarmFood), furniture fabrication (Farmniture), farm tourism (Farmcation), and education for farmers (FarmEd).
Through SABA-day and other advocacy initiatives, the Aaron family aims to elevate awareness on the vital role of farmers in national development by fostering a deeper appreciation for local produce.