SVD Laudato Si' Farm—Tagaytay

Tagaytay City —The Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor of the SVD Laudato Si' Farm celebrated its second anniversary last July 28, 2023. The day featured the Holy Mass at the Chapel at 4:00 PM, presided over by Rev. Fr. Antolin V. Uy, SVD, former Rector of the SVD-Tagaytay Community.

Tagaytay City —Former Rector of the SVD-Tagaytay Community, Rev. Fr. Antolin V. Uy, SVD, celebrated his 88th birthday at the SVD Laudato Si’ Farm last July 28, 2023. The day featured the Holy Mass at the Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor, presided over by Fr. Antolin, and celebrated in conjunction with the Chapel’s second anniversary. After the Mass, a short gathering was conducted at the St. Peter Fishpond and Gazebo.

“There is no SVD Laudato Si' Farm without the Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor,” said Rev. Fr. Samuel “Sam” Naceno-Agcaracar, SVD, Executive Director of the SVD Farm and Rector of the SVD-Tagaytay Community, referring to how the Farm’s Grotto and Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor are named after the aforementioned title of the Blessed Mother. As the SVD Farm’s Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor gears up for its second anniversary this July 28, 2023, let us take a moment to look back upon the history of the SVD Farm and its inextricable connection to the Virgin of the Poor. In this retrospective feature, we delve into the rich history and profound significance of the Grotto and Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor. 

Tagaytay City— The SVD Laudato Si' Farm was featured on the Masaganang Buhay TV program at TV5’s OnePH Cignal TV Channel 1. The episode, which was simulcast on Radyo Singko 92.3 News FM, was aired last July 16, 2023, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.

Tagaytay City— The SVD Laudato Si' Farm participated in a nationwide tree-planting activity as a partner farm of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office (RFO) 4A. The event, conducted last June 23, 2023, was a heartwarming display of environmental stewardship and commitment to sustainability.  The activity was conducted in support of the celebration of the Department of Agriculture’s 125th anniversary, guided with the theme "Kagawaran ng Agrikultura: 125 Taong Naglilingkod Tungo sa Masaganang Agrikultura at Maunlad na Ekonomiya."

Tagaytay City —Following the first bamboo-planting activity at the SVD Laudato Si' Farm last October 3, 2021, two other bamboo-planting activities were conducted at the Farm last May 20 and June 17, 2023. Members of the SVD-Tagaytay Community, including priests and seminarians, as well as other volunteers, participated in these activities.

Tagaytay City —In an era marked by unprecedented environmental challenges, the intersection of spirituality and sustainability has become increasingly vital. Embracing this imperative, Rev. Fr. Samuel Agcaracar, SVD, Rector of the SVD Tagaytay Community, Executive Director of the SVD Laudato Si' Farm, wrote "Toward Eco-missiology: The Case of an Ecotourism Farm," an article published last June 1, 2023, in the first issue of the ninth volume of Missio Inter Gentes, the journal of the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS).