Bani, Pangasinan is famous for its sweet and juicy watermelons. Now, local winemakers are turning these fruits into a sustainable business.
Emmanuela Abelon, owner of Doña Emz Haven, started winemaking as a hobby.
She first used bignay fruits from her father’s tree. With the help of the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Bani, she improved her process and later tried making wine from watermelons, the town’s signature product.
Abelon introduced her watermelon wine at a local trade fair, inspiring other farmers to showcase their products.
She continued joining trade fairs every year and officially registered her business with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 2020.
She makes sure each bottle of watermelon wine is high quality, only using organically grown watermelons from local farmers.
“Maybe it has something to do with the chemical composition of the soil, but the taste of Bani’s watermelon is truly distinct,” she said.
Her winemaking process follows natural methods, only using brown sugar, avoiding artificial additives, and closely monitoring fermentation instead of filtering.
Every three months, the wine is transferred to another container, eventually reaching its best quality after nine months.
Each batch produces 60 liters, bottled in 500ml and 750ml sizes, priced at P200 and P300.
Beyond winemaking, Doña Emz Haven is committed to sustainability, ensuring that no part of the watermelon goes to waste.
The skins become fertilizer, the rinds are made into pickles, and the seeds are dried and turned into chicken feed.
She also makes other unique wines, including cinnamon-ginger, cashew, makopa, bamboo shoot with lemongrass, basi, and mulberry wine. Some of the fruits she uses come from her own trees.
With help from DTI, Abelon promotes her products at trade fairs and exhibits. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) also supports her through licensing and nutritional labeling.
“We are grateful because the government offers many opportunities for small entrepreneurs,” she said.
DOST also trains others to start their own businesses. On March 26, they held a training on fruit processing for watermelon and mango, helping 50 women in Bani, Pangasinan.
Abelon, a former councilor, now shares her expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs through seminars.
“Take things slowly and enjoy the journey, just like sipping a good wine. Savor it, don’t rush, or you might choke,” she said as advice to new business owners.
Doña Emz Haven’s watermelon wine not only showcases Bani’s rich harvest but also stands as a symbol of sustainability and local pride.(CCMT/EMSA/DMT, PIA Pangasinan)
