The UP Mindanao Administration Building Atrium came alive with marketplace scenes when farmers and sellers interacted with university constituents at the “11th Tabó sa UP Mindanao!” delivered by the UPMin School of Management (SOM) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA)-XI’s Kadiwa on March 18, 2026.
Described as “Baligya na presko baratong pagkain ug uban pa sa mga Kadiwa,” the 11th Tabó featured vegetables, farm produce, and other food products provided by smallholder farmers, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and farmer cooperatives affiliated with Kadiwa, a farm-to-consumer program implemented by the DA that sells fresh, high-quality agricultural products at lower prices.
UP Mindanao students, faculty members, and employees patronized the day-long event coordinated by SOM University Researcher Marilou Montiflor.
UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao described the Tabó as a manifestation of UP Mindanao’s mission of community development. “The word ‘tabó’ or ‘taboán’ means a gathering—a marketplace,” she said. “For me, the Tabó is important for being ‘Kasinatian sa Kinabuhi’ (A farmer’s life experience), ‘Pagtukod ug Relasyon’ (Building a community relationship), and a Classroom Without Borders, where students learn farm and market activities,” she said.
“Tabó is timely today because, due to the oil price hike, prices have increased,” said DA-XI’s Regional Technical Director for Research Zabdiel Zacarias. “We are blessed because mula sa ating mga partners, mas barato,” he said.
“To our agribusiness and farmer-partners, thank you very much for heeding the call,” said SOM Dean Aurelia Luzviminda Gomez.
The 11th Tabó exhibitors were the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao, Rural Improvement Club of Barangay Bago Oshiro, Raizza’s Dried Fish Trading, Izzy’s Seaside Cafe, and Magsige Multipurpose Cooperative. The UP Mindanao Robotics Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) also had a product display.
The 11th Tabó is SOM’s public service and extension activity for UP Mindanao’s 31st Founding Anniversary celebration and its commitment to the campaign for the consumption of locally produced fruits and vegetables grown by local small producers.
The 11th Tabó aligns with UP Mindanao’s strategic vision, defined by the Amuma (caring) framework for a Regenerative and Transformative higher education institution, one that goes beyond conservation and sustainable development to actual regeneration and transformation of its environment and society.
