During the annual Brigada Eskwela, schools are typically filled with parents painting walls and older siblings sweeping classrooms. But at Bangag Elementary School, volunteers were greeted by a unique sight: a 12-year-old incoming Grade 7 student, gripping a wooden plow under the morning sun, confidently guiding a three-year-old carabao across the school grounds. The boy is John Michael “JM” Andres, and his four-legged volunteer partner is Gelo.

What started as a simple social media post by the school quickly took the internet by storm. Today, JM’s viral story of hard work has evolved into a life-changing milestone. The Department of Agriculture-Region 02 (DA-R02) recently honored the young farmer with a Special Award during the Gawad Saka: Parangal sa mga Natatanging Magsasaka at Mangingisda held in Tuguegarao City.

The recognition comes with a ticket to a brighter future: a full college scholarship from the DA, ensuring that financial hardships will not stand in the way of his dreams.

Sowing the Seeds of Labor
For JM, working the field is not a internet stunt—it is his reality. As the fifth of six siblings, he has been helping his family make ends meet since childhood. His father, Robert Andres, is a farmer, while his mother, Belinda, balances serving as a village watch officer (barangay tanod) with offering manicure and pedicure services. Despite being beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the family constantly battles financial constraints.

JM’s entrepreneurial and agricultural drive started remarkably early:
•Grade 1: He began selling fresh vegetables to his teachers to supplement the family income.
•Grade 3: He took on the massive responsibility of caring for his own carabao, Gelo.

“John Michael is an average student, but he is diligent and never hesitates to help the school,” shares School Principal Lilia Tayanim, who noted that JM completely volunteered to plow the garden so it would be ready for vegetable planting before classes began.

JM’s determination isn’t just limited to the fields. To keep up with his classmates academically, school officials revealed that the resourceful teenager actually strengthened his reading skills by enthusiastically singing along to videoke songs.

A Harvest of Blessings
Following the viral post, a wave of generosity has washed over the Andres family. Various private individuals and local government units have stepped in to provide school supplies, clothes, shoes, and even construction materials to help build their modest home.
The Organic Agriculture Program Focal Person of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. George Caday, touched by JM’s story also visited Lal-lo to personally hand over:
•High-quality vegetable seeds
•Garden tools
•Breeding ducks (mga patong handa nang mangitlog)
•Ube, (25 pieces seed set)
•Crates
•25 pieces seedlings tray

According to Caday, these are in support to NTF ELCAC, for JM’s mother was a former ANAK PAWIS member, and Bangag is a place maintained by DA as chair of Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster. (PRLEC)
In addition to the DA’s college scholarship and a surprise cash incentive, Mrs. Liza Mora, president of the Zonta Club Tuguegarao, handed JM an additional ₱5,000 cash prize to recognize his efforts.

A Future Agricultural Innovator
While most children dream of leaving the fields behind, JM’s ambitions are rooted deeply in the soil. He dreams of owning cattle to take on heavier farm loads, and ultimately hopes to become an agricultural technician to help traditional farmers like his father improve their livelihoods.

Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino lauded JM during the Gawad Saka Awards, saying he will be a full scholar of the DA RFO 2 in any agriculture related course. More so, the DA-R02 has already promised JM a future career within their agency, provided he pursues and finishes an agriculture-related degree.

As communities wrap up their school preparations, JM and Gelo leave behind a profound lesson: service, dedication, and bayanihan can take many forms—sometimes, it just takes a boy, his best friend, and a plow to turn a patch of dirt into a field of endless possibilities.

Written by Dr. Ferdinand Cortez