“Mas mabilis akong mapagod kapag wala akong ginagawa,” Faisal said with a quiet smile.

[I get tired more easily when I’m not doing anything.]

Faisal Sangki, 50, is a farmer from Brgy. Tukanalugong, Datu Abdullah Sangki in Maguindanao del Sur. He has been farming for 21 years. His livelihood comes from rice and corn fields, as well as coffee and calamansi crops.

This month, his daily schedule shifts to meet the demands of both labor and faith. Despite the long hours in the fields, each day is guided by faith, especially during Ramadhan.

Every morning, after the Subuh (dawn) prayer, farmers across the Bangsamoro region begin preparing for another day in their fields.

During Ramadhan, however, the routine changes. Patience, discipline, and a careful balance between work and worship are needed.

Starting work before the sun

Unlike regular days, when farmers often spend long hours in the fields, Faisal begins his work earlier during Ramadhan. After performing the Subuh prayer, he prepares for the day—cleaning up and getting ready before heading straight to his rice field.

“Kaya ngayong Ramadhan ang nabago lang ay yung oras ng pagpunta ko sa aming palayan. Pagkatapos naming mag-sambayang ng Subuh ay mag-aayos muna ako, maglilinis, tapos maaga na akong pupunta sa palayan,” he shared.

[During Ramadhan, the only thing that changes is the time I go to the fields. After our Suboh prayer, I get ready and clean up, then I head to the rice fields early.]

Working under the sun

Heat while fasting can quickly drain a person’s energy. To avoid extreme fatigue and thirst, Faisal returns home earlier than usual.

“Maaga akong umaalis para pumunta sa palayan at maaga rin akong umuuwi. Mga alas-nuwebe ng umaga ay uuwi na ako niyan kasi maiinit na ang tirik ng araw at mabilis kang makaramdam ng uhaw at pagod din,” he explained.

[I leave for the field early and also return home early. By nine in the morning, because the sun gets too hot, it’s easy to feel thirsty and tired.]

Still, farming does not always follow a strict schedule. It is a delicate balance of endurance.

Farmers are widely regarded as the “backbone” of the society, and during Ramadhan, that backbone is tested by the heat of the sun and the discipline of the fast. For Faisal, it is a matter of bending, however, not breaking despite the test.

While agriculture remains a pillar of the Bangsamoro region’s economy, it is the individual perseverance of farmers like Faisal that sustains the region’s food security during the holy month. 

Balancing work and worship

Returning home early allows Faisal to dedicate more time to spiritual activities during the holy month.

“Dahil Ramadhan, mas malaki ‘yong ginugugol ko sa pagsamba kay Allah. Kapag umuuwi ako ng maaga ay nagbabasa ako ng Qur’an,” he said.

[During Ramadhan, I devote more time to worshiping Allah. When I get home early, I read the Qur’an.]

For him, every action, whether working in the fields or praying, is guided by faith.

“Sa lahat ng ginagawa ko, ang iniisip ko ay may gantimpala ang Allah,” he said.

[In everything I do, I believe Allah will reward me.]

Even the hard labor of farming becomes meaningful when seen as part of a larger purpose.

Working for family and community

Beyond personal devotion, Faisal sees his work as a responsibility not only to his family but also to those around him.

“Ginagawa ko ito hindi lang para makatulong sa pamilya ko kundi pati na rin sa mga kasamahan ko,” he shared.

[I do this not only to help my family but also my fellow farmers.]

A farmer and leader

Beyond tending his rice, corn, and calamansi crops, Faisal also serves as chairperson of the Gold Farmers Marketing Cooperative, which has 178 members.

This Ramadhan, the cooperative is one of the exhibitors in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Ramadhan Agri-Fishery Fair Scale-Up, showcasing products made from coconut, coffee, and calamansi.

The trade fair, spearheaded by the MAFAR, in partnership with the European Union–Bangsamoro Agri-Enterprise Program Creating Responsible Sustainable Competitive ENTerprises (EU-BAEP CRESCENT), provides local farmers and cooperatives a platform to promote and sell their products during the fasting month.

Based on 2023–2024 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), agriculture remains a foundational source of livelihood and the second-largest contributor to BARMM’s economy.

For farmers like him, Ramadhan is not a pause from daily struggles but a time when perseverance becomes even more important.

Across farming communities in Maguindanao del Sur, many farmers continue tending their crops while observing the fast—adjusting their schedules, enduring the heat, and holding on to their faith.

For Faisal, the long mornings in the rice fields are not just about livelihood. They are also acts of devotion, guided by a simple belief. In every seed planted and every hour spent in the fields, he keeps one thought in mind: that every effort carries a reward from Allah.