Celso Roger B. Baldo
BS Forestry, 1993
Distinguished Alumnus in Entrepreneurial Beekeeping
Confident in his beekeeping skills from local trainings, Celso went to Australia and then to New Zealand as seasonal beekeeper. With a bright prospect, the family migrated to New Zealand and established Marcel and Sons Honey Ltd.
Celso continued to attend beekeeping trainings and seminars until he earned Level 3 Qualification on General Knowledge on Beekeeping while his wife Maria, gained Level 4 Certificate on Queen Rearing at Telford of Lincoln University.
With 300 hives , they produce clover and bush honey, and process other bee products into beeswax wraps and candles. They also provide pollination services in kiwifruit orchards.
In addition, Celso created a YouTube channel on “Haring Pukyutan”. Through the channel, he is able to share his advocacies, knowledge and skills on beekeeping and give ideas on how a semi-commercial beekeeping operation proceeds. Occasionally, he contributes news article on beekeeping activities and poems to Filipino Migrant News Aotearoa.
On June 19, 2021 he was recognized as a Hero Awardee for his active support to migrant Filipino beekeepers in New Zealand by the Filipino-Kiwi Heroes Awards Committee of New Zealand’s Filipino Migrant News during the Philippine Independence Day celebration.
Celso also works as a Health Care Assistant after gaining various certificates such as Level 4 Certificate on Health and Wellbeing in New Zealand Tertiary College.
His motto is, “Life is a journey and education is a continuous pathway.”