MANTAPI FARM 

 Mantapi Farm – Over 90 years

Located in barangay Nangka, Mantapi farm has been a working farm over 90 years and instrumental in the survival of the family. During WWII Bayawan was burned to the ground by the Philippine army to prevent the Japanese from taking over the town. The people fled and the family evacuated and sought refuge in the forest of Mantapi . During the duration of the war, the family hid in the mountains, sustained by poultry and crops planted around the area. Their existence was a tenuous one at that time, but were lucky enough to have endured the dark days of war.

Post-war, Mantapi farm continued to provide livelihood for the family and for the people who live and work in the area. Initially developed by Felix Gaudiel Sr. the farm was managed over the years by his children and a man the family trusted as the farm manager named ‘Gauden’.

Community service has always been an important family virtue and the manifestation of such can be attested by the donation of Felix Gaudiel Sr. landholdings in Mantapi to the Boys Scouts in Negros Oriental which became the site of the ‘Boy Scouts Camporal’ in April 6-10, 1972.  Access to childhood  education in the area was also made possible by  another  land donation  by the family of Felix Gaudiel  Sr. where  the Dean Felix Gaudiel  Sr. Memorial  Elementary school  now stands.

 Today Mantapi  Farm is managed  by Dr. Refe Gaudiel , Ph.D, a research  agronomist  and essential  oil expert. 

The Pioneer Behind Mantapi Farm

  • The Initiator

    Mantapi development started with Felix Gaudiel Sr.

  • Family Bond

    Felix with his wife Remedios Gargantiel whose father Telesforo Gargantiel sold Mantapi farm to Felix.

  • Legacy of Dean Gaudiel

    The Negros Chronicle dated November 17, 1991. Article written about Felix Gaudiel Sr. upon his death.

  • Excerpts

    Excerpts from the article published in the Negros Chronicle.

  • Dr. Refe Gaudiel

    Mantapi farm today under the guidance of Dr Refe Gaudiel Ph.D. a research agronomist.

Generous Contributions

  • Dean Felix Gaudiel Sr. Memorial Elementary School

    Dean Gaudiel donated land for a school to educate the young in Mantapi area.

  • Mayor Felix Gaudiel Jr.

    Felix Gaudiel Jr. was Bayawan mayor from 1968 to 1983. A long service to the community and people of the town shown here with his wife, Nita.

  • Boys Scouts Camporal

    Another landholding donation made by Dean Felix in Mantapi, Bayawan to the Boys Scouts which became the Boys Scout Camporal in 1972.

  • Mayor Rene Gargantiel Gaudiel

    Following the footsteps of his grandfather and brother he became Mayor of Bayawan city from 2010 to 2013.