The History of Banana Plantation in Tagnanan, Mabini Compostela Valley

Province
[Primary Sources from Mrs. Gloria G. Alba and Mrs. Mary Ann Corpuz]

The province of Compostela Valley is known for its abundance of fruit

productions that has been exported outside our country. In the municipality of
Mabini, particularly in Barangay Tagnanan, the place was also already known for
the outstanding quality and quantity of their banana plantation handled by four
(4) successful companies in total since in the year of 1992 up to the present. This
historical article is supported with a primary source from Mrs. Gloria Alba who
worked in the plantation since 1992 until the year 2012, the year of her retirement,
and Mrs. Mary Anne Corpus who also immediately worked in the plantation after
she graduated college in the year 1997 until today.

The plantation was first managed by the MARSMAN DRYSDALE

GROUP, NOVA VISTA MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION, with Mr. Roberto S. Sebastian as President and CEO, MDG, Mr.
George W. Drysdale Sr. the Chairman, Emeritus and Mr. George W. Drysdale Jr.
the Chairman, MDG. According to Mrs. Alba, the Drysdales are Swedish who
frequently visit the company. Mr. Drysdale Sr. is said to be unpretentious in spite
of his background as an individual that is why most of the employees of the
company, including Mrs. Alba and Mrs. Corpuz are dedicated to show their
utmost gratitude to the company.

Mr. Roberto S. Sebastian, President & CEO, MDG

[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 1997]
 Mr. George W. Drysdale, Sr. Chairman Emeritus
[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 2001]

Mr. George W. Drysdale, Jr. Chairman, MDG

[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpus, circa 2001]
 The awarding of Model Employees and Christmas Party of the company
[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 1997]

From the year 1992-1996, the company’s Plantation Director is Mr. Juan M.
Dalmacio, Mr. Victorino H. Gentolea as the Operations’ Manager and Mr. Arnulfo
D. Ordanel as the HR Manager.
 Mr. Victorino H. Gentolea, Operations’ Manager (1992-1996)
[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 1997]

In the year 1997-2002, another group of people are given the opportunity to
hold the said titles, Mr. Nilo F. Rosario as the Plantation Director, Mr. Nemesio A.
Abao, the Operations’ Manager and Mr. Reynaldo A. Mijares, the HR Manager
.

Mr. Nilo F. Rosario, Plantation Director (1997-2002)

[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 1997]
Mr. Nemesio A. Abao, Operation’s Manager (1997-2002), Plantation Director
(2003-2007)
[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 1997]

Christmas party and awarding of Model Employees of the company

[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 2000]
 When the year 2003 came, the CHUIQUITA UNIFRUTTI PHILS.,
GREENDALE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, INC. the sister company of
NOVA VISTA MGT. & DEVT. CORP. having the same owners, has already
governed the banana plantation in the Tagnanan. On the same year, December 14
to be exact, Mrs. Alba received a plaque of appreciation being a model employee
of the company. She started working in the year 1986 when it was still a coconut
plantation until the year 1992 came. Most of the residents of the Brgy. Tagnanan
are working on the said plantation, be it at the packing house, engineering, in the
different offices, etc. Since in the 90’s until today, the barangay is known to be one
of the richest in the municipality. The plantation helped the lives of the people
living in Tagnanan, having their houses built from nipa to concrete.

The Plaque of Appreciation given to Mrs. Gloria Alba as a Model Employee of

the company in the year 2003.
 The companies aren’t just focusing on the banana plantation itself in the
Tagnanan, the barangay was also known for its beautiful white beach and later on,
it was turned to be a beach resort with cottages and rest houses for the purpose of
improving the barangay’s tourism and welcoming of the big visitors supporting
the company.

Tagnanan White Beach Resort

[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 2003
 The Nova Vista Guest House
[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 2003]
 Aside from that, the companies also developed different sport sites in
Tagnanan: basketball court and tennis court, and a clinic, not just for its employees,
but for the health of the Barangay’s residents.

Tennis Court
[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 2003]

Nova Vista Supervisors in action.

Tagnanan Basketball Tournament Exhibition
[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, Aug. 16, 2993]
 Nova Vista Clinic
[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 2003]

Still on the year of 2003 until 2007, Mr. Nemsio A. Abao became the new
Plantation Director from being an Operations’ Manaager from the last company,
Mr. Manuel A. Arado as their new Operations’ Manager, and Mr. Bryiant D.
Padlan as the HR Manager.

Mr. Bryiant D. Padlan, HR Manager (2003-2007)

[Photo originally taken by Mrs. Corpuz, circa 2001]
 On the year 2008- September, 2009 with the same company, Mr. Rey. A.
Maquidato was hired as the new HR Manager.

After 17 years, the Individual Farming System was conducted and

suppotted, that is why starting 2009 until today, there are two (2) cooperatives
already handling the banana plantation—the TAGNANAN CARP
BENEFICIARIES COOPERATIVE (TCBC) in the Farm 1, and the TAGCO
MULTI PURPOSE COOPERATIVE (TAGCO-MPC) in the Farm 2.

For the TCBC, from 2009-2017, Mr. Manuel A. Arado was still the
cooperative’s Operations’ Manager, this year, he was replaced by Mr. Ronilo A.
Quesada.

TCBC 9th Anniversary last Sept. TCBC Christmas Party with Mr.
9, 2018 at Tagnanan Gym Quesada in Gray Polo Shirt

One of the shareholders of TAGCO-MPC is Mrs. Alba, according to her, the

cooperative just started with 10,000 shares in 2009, this year, they already have
70,000 shares with 43 shareholders in the cooperative. Since 2009 until 2016, the
cooperative’s Operations’ Manager is Mr. Bonifacio E. Gallega. From 2017, until
today, Mr. Joel G. Alba replaced Mr. Gallega in the position. Mr. Alba is also the
first born son of Mrs. Gloria Alba, who is also part of the Board of Directors of the
cooperative.
Feast day of San Isidro Labrador in TAGCO-MPC Farm 2 last May 2014
[Photo taken by Mrs. Janette Alba, Mr. Joel Alba’s wife]

Mr. Joel Alba during the feast day of San Isidro Labrador in May 2014
 TAGCO-MPC Oath Taking Ceremony last April 2015
[Photos from Mrs. Janette Alba, the woman in the center of the second picture]
 TAGCO-MPC Budgetting Plan for the year 2019 last September 28-29, 2018 at
Villa Amparo Garden Resort, Samal Island

For the past 26 years, the four companies who successfully handled and still
handling the banana plantation in Tagnanan had given and continuously giving
its employees a sustainable living because of the success of its production. Since
then until today, the bananas are exported to the different countries particularly
in Korea, Japan, and in Middle East.
Farmers in action.

TAGCO Office
MARSMAN DRYSDALE GROUP (NOVA VISTA MGT. & DEVT. CORP.)

MR. ROBERTO S. SEBASTIAN- PRES. & CEO, MDG

MR. GEORGE W. DRYSDALE, SR. – CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
MR. GEORGE W. DRYSDALE, JR. – CHAIRMAN, MDG

1992-1996 – MR. JUAN M. DALMACIO- PLANTATION DIRECTOR

- MR. VICTORINO H. GENTOLEA- OPERATIONS’ MANAGER
- MR. ARNULFO D. ORDANEL – HR MANAGER
1997-2002 – MR. NILO F. ROSARIO- PLANTATION DIRECTOR
- MR. NEMESIO A. ABAO- OPERATIONS’ MANAGER
- MR. REYNALDO A. MIJARES- HR MANAGER

CHIQUITA UNIFRUITTI PHILS. (GREENDALE AGRICULTURAL DEV’T.

INC.)

2003-2007 – MR. NEMESI A. ABAO- PLANTATION DIRECTOR

- MR. MANUEL A. ARADO- OPERATIONS’ MANAGER
- MR. BRYIANT D. PADLAN- HR MANAGER
2008-2009 – MR. NEMESIO A. ABAO- PLANTATION DIRECTOR
- MANUEL A. ARADO- OPRATIONS’ MANAGER
- REY A. MAQUIDATO- HR MANAGER

TAGNANAN CARP BENEFICIARIES COOPERATIVE (TCBC)

2009-2017 – MR. MANUEL A. ARADO- OPERATIONS’ MANAGER

2018- - MR. RONILO A. QUESADA- OPERATIONS’ MANAGER

TAGCO MULTIPURPOSE COOPERATIVE (TAGCO-MPC)

2009-2016 – MR. BONIFACIO E. GALLEGA- OPRATIONS’ MANAGER

2017- - MR. JOEL G. ALBA- OPERATIONS’ MANAGER