What happens when technology, a family farming tradition, and a young entrepreneur’s dream come together?
In Brgy. Cudionan, San Dionisio, Iloilo, IT graduate Mar John Morales is proving that going back to one’s roots can open the door to new opportunities.
Drawing from his background in technology and the farming knowledge passed down by his grandparents, Mar John started CentLes Vineyard as a simple hobby. What began small has since grown into a thriving grape farm with more than 264 grapevines and over 50 varieties.
A major boost came through the Young Farmers Challenge of the Department of Agriculture, which provided him with training, mentoring, financial assistance, and connections that helped him develop the farm further.
The experience also gave Mar John the confidence to look beyond simply growing and selling grapes. He is now exploring opportunities in agri-tourism and value-added products, turning the vineyard into a potential destination and a more sustainable agricultural enterprise.
But for Mar John, CentLes Vineyard is about more than business.
He uses the farm to create opportunities for others, particularly young people in his community. He provides work to out-of-school youth, supports an agriculture student through a scholarship, and runs a “Your Plant, Your Profit” program that allows community members to participate and benefit from grape growing.
His bigger dream is to encourage more farmers in Northern Iloilo to venture into grape production and, eventually, help strengthen the local supply.
Mar John’s journey also carries a message for young Filipinos who may not have studied agriculture but are interested in farming: your education does not have to limit the path you take.
For this IT graduate, technology and the lessons of his farmer grandparents found common ground in a vineyard in San Dionisio.
And from what started as a hobby, Mar John is now cultivating something much bigger—a livelihood, opportunities for his community, and a new generation’s interest in agriculture.
