The Department of Agriculture (DA) bestowed the 2024-2025 National Winner of the DA Search for Outstanding Rural Women (SORW) to organic and climate-resilient agriculture practitioner Sonia Padilla of San Miguel, Catanduanes during the culmination of this year’s National Women’s Month celebration (NWMC) on March 28, 2025.
In her acceptance speech, Bicol Region’s flagbearer Padilla likened herself to the island province of Catanduanes: one that constantly faces and rises above harsh conditions.
“I am a strong woman with strong faith in God. Para sa akin, hindi ako bibigyan ng pagsubok na hindi ko kayang lagpasan. Tulad ng paulit-ulit na pagbangon ng Catanduanes sa tuwing dadaanan ito ng bagyo, gano’n din ako sa mga hamon at pagsubok ng aking buhay (For me, I won’t be given challenges I cannot overcome. As Catanduanes repeatedly rises up after every storm, I also overcome challenges and tests that come my way).
“Hindi puwedeng tumigil at hindi puwedeng magpatalo sa mga unos at bagyo, kahit pa sa mga mapinsalang bagyong Rolly, Ulysses, at Pepito. Ang mga pangalan ng mga bagyong ito ay pawang mga lalaki; ngunit bilang babae, taglay ko ang lakas at katatagan upang mapatunayan na kaya ko silang lampasang lahat. Kaya nating magtagumpay sa lahat na hamon ng buhay (We cannot stop and we cannot be defeated by storms, even the most destructive typhoons Rolly, Ulysses, and Pepito. These typhoons are named male; but as a woman, I have the strength and fortitude to prove that I can overcome all of them. We can win over all of life’s challenges),” she said.
Committing to be an instrument of agricultural development in the Philippines, the newly hailed SORW National Winner expressed her desire to also be an icon of empowerment and success, most especially for fellow Filipinas in vulnerable and underprivileged sectors.
Padilla said the award proves that women can succeed in fields that are usually dominated by men. She said women should not be limited by the dictates of a patriarchal society.
Launched in 2003, the Search honors exemplary women in the agriculture sector who hail from the rural areas, and documents their inspiring journeys, highlighting the rural women’s painstaking efforts to achieve success not only in their respective agricultural ventures but also in empowering fellow women and communities, according to a DA news release.
The SORW 2024-2025 also recognized the following outstanding rural women: Dauphine Alviar of Cagayan, Region II – First Runner-up; Wilma Alvester of Kalinga, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) – Second Runner-up; Veberly Uyaan of La Union, Region I – Third Runner-up; and Ma. Ninfa Desiree Segovia of Aklan, Region VI – Fourth Runner-up.
Aside from cash prizes, the five winners will also receive an additional prize in the form of a project or interventions available in their respective DA-Regional Field Offices.
Meanwhile, Mercelita Diaz of Zambales, Region III and Edna Deypalubos of Davao Oriental, Region XI also received consolation prizes, while Elenita Limpag of Agusan del Sur, Region XIII was recognized as a National Level Finalist.
Undersecretary and Chief-of-Staff Atty. Alvin John Balagbag had high praise for this year’s roster of SORW national level nominees.
“These women represent the true spirit of empowerment—having not only overcome significant challenges but having risen above them to create lasting change in their communities and industries…Through their hard work and passion, they are paving the way for future generations of women to continue to thrive and succeed,” conveyed Undersecretary Balagbag in a speech read by Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate.
