“Ti baligi ni Engr. Sacki-Molintas (as 2025 Gawad Saka National Awardee) ket maysa nga mangipakita ti laing ti farmers tayo ditoy Kalinga…” - Governor Edduba

Tabuk City, Kalinga - The Provincial Government of Kalinga, under the leadership of Governor James Edduba, proudly recognized the success of Engr. Sunshine Sacki-Molintas, a National Gawad Saka Awardee this 2025.  

Sunshine was among the few from around the country who received the prestigious award from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the awarding ceremony on June 30, 2025, in Munoz, Nueva Ecija. 

Said award honors outstanding Filipino farmers/fisherfolk who made a big impact on the agriculture industry. 

Sunshine is a producer of high-quality Robusta coffee, which has become a strong part of the cultural and economic identity of Kalinga.  She manages a coffee farm in Tabuk City, which is not only known for producing high-quality coffee beans but also for exporting to countries like the United States and Japan. 

In a recent interview, the woman farmer, who is a licensed agricultural and biosystems engineer, revealed that her heart is always into coffee farming, as she grew up in a household where coffee trees surrounded their family farm.  

According to her, ‘coffee has the power not just to generate income but to transform communities and protect nature.’ 

With her big contributions to the province’s agricultural sector and preserving the province’s “barako” coffee, the PLGU, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), awarded her a certificate of recognition and a token on August 4 at the Kalinga Astrodome.  

Governor Edduba, in a statement, said Sunshine’s achievement reflects the potential of Kalinga farmers when given support and encouragement. He added that her success represents the capability and determination of local agriculturists and stands as a symbol of what the province’s agricultural sector can become.  

“Ti baligi ni Engr. Sacki-Molintas ket maysa nga mangipakita ti laing ti farmers tayo ditoy Kalinga. Kasta met nga daytoy ti mangited inspirasyon ken namnama ti masakbayan ti agrikultura iti lugar tayo. We are proud of you, and we recognize your hard work in bringing change and hope to the farming communities in the province,” the governor wrote. 

Sunshine expressed gratitude to the provincial government and the OPAG for supporting her and fellow farmers in their endeavors, saying, “I thank the PLGU Kalinga, especially the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, for recognizing me and the award nga naala tayo sa national. Agyaman kami for recognizing dagiti efforts ti farmers a kas kanyak.” 

The 45-year-old also encouraged her fellow iKalinga farmers  to join the Gawad Saka validation process by being in contact with the agricultural offices so that in the future they will also be recognized, get additional funding to improve their farms/businesses, and bring pride to the province. 

“Diay napansin ko during the awarding is nagbassit ngay ti from Cordillera, siak lang ti from Kalinga. The other regions have many awards in different categories, so I would like to encourage ti dadduma nga farmers tayo, even in other sectors, to join also this awarding,” she added.