The Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) a.k.a Bitter Melon "Ampalayang Ligaw" in Tagalog is a common vegetable in the Philippines.
I brought one single fruit from Lambunao Iloilo last 2019. It was so precious to me that I carry it in my bag wherever I go, looking for someone to care for it since we did not have enough space in the City to plant and the environment is not conducive for its growth.
Months later during a Cebu Farmers Market, one of our Cebu Seed Savers, Kuya Rocelito Sacamay Sibuan Jancinal, expressed interest in growing out these seeds. He shared with me, "I promise you Maya, I will plant this and I will take good care of it and if it grows and thrives, I will give back to you the seeds."
Now I have more seeds out of that very small, single wild ampalaya fruit which contained only five seeds to start.
