UNEARTHING THE WONDERS OF BONGABONG

Tucked away in the serene municipality of Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro lies a pair of destinations that quietly weave the threads of heritage, sustainability, and hope into the fabric of the community: the Gabutero Organic Farm Resort and the mysterious Kuta Shrine. Each tells a compelling story—one of innovation rooted in nature, and the other, a spiritual remnant of a centuries-old past.

GABUTERO ORGANIC FARM RESORT

What started as a simple plot of land has blossomed into a 15-hectare haven of sustainability, thanks to the vision and dedication of Mr. Nelson Gabutero Sr., the founder of the Gabutero Organic Farm Resort in Sitio Tubigan, Barangay Labonan.

Here, the usual reliance on chemical fertilizers is replaced by a more mindful method. Coconut husks enrich the soil, while a developed blend of animal waste, carbonized rice hull, mudpress, and indigenous microorganisms fuels plant growth. The result? Fruits and vegetables grown without a trace of synthetic additives—pure, healthy, and grown with the planet and consumers in mind.

But the farm’s mission goes far beyond providing organic produce. It stands as a learning hub, offering training on  sustainable agriculture techniques like organic rice cultivation and vegetable production. Gabutero’s knowledge-sharing efforts have turned this site into a classroom under the open sky, open to those who wish to learn the craft of eco-conscious farming.

As innovation continues, the farm explores unconventional methods of animal feed, such as black soldier fly larvae, which  serve as a protein-rich food source for chickens. In a bold move to contribute to environmental protection, Mr. Gabutero has also begun cultivating super worms, which digest plastic O materials at a rapid rate—a potential breakthrough in the fight against waste pollution.

THE KUTA SHRINE

Deep within the heart of Anilao, surrounded by the gnarly embrace of ancient Balete trees, stand the haunting yet beautiful ruins of the Kuta Shrine. Though its roof and walls have long surrendered to time, its story continues to echo through the stones and soil.

 This 18th-century church, once a fortress against Moro invaders and a refuge for faith, remains unfinished which symbolizes devotion and resistance and yet, its spiritual pull is undeniable. Recognized as a National Historic  Landmark in 2012, the first of its kind in Oriental Mindoro, Kuta Shrine is more than just a remnant of colonial architecture—it is a vessel of folklore and belief.

Locals whisper that the shrine holds a kind of quiet magic. It is said that any wish made here, no matter how far-fetched, has a strange way of finding its path to reality. Y B U U Perhaps it’s the history soaked in the stones or the sacred stillness of the surrounding forest, but visitors often leave with a sense of peace and a spark of hope.