Beauty & Brains Farming

PH is 7K+ islands separately surrounded by water – so why are Filipinos not surrounded by hundreds of fish millionaires? “The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad” – AK BestMats Hagwall. That is to say, Filipino preachers are good in catching pagans but Filipino fishers are not that good in catching fish! If overdue, to catch the Big Fish, Big Fund has been tapped. From the World Bank will come $200 Million ( P 10 Billion) to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fund the Fisheries & Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project to benefit 500,000 fishers and fish farmers in the next 7 years. ANN says the DA’s Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will implement (Author Not Named, 27 October 2021, “DA Set To Pursue P 10-B World Bank-Funded ‘Blue’ Resources Project [1] ,”   DA.gov.ph ): (FishCoRe) aims to support the scaling-up and modernization of the Philippine capture fisheries and aquaculture (sectors), through the provision of technical support a...

It looks like Isko Moreno is thinking more of millions more people than the other presidential candidates – I say that that is a good sign of a leader. Above, now we have “ISKONOMICS101 – Buhay at Kalusugan” (Life & Health) with the 5 groups of items – here, I am presenting only my free translations: 50% Tax Cut On Oil, Electricity – Government will sacrifice and reduce by 50% taxes for crude oil and electricity as assistance to businesses and ordinary Filipinos. Vaccine For Everyone – Widen the national vaccination program, gather medicines against Covid-19, build new hospitals, and pursue a strategy against Covid-19 supported by science. Innovative & Modern Schools – Build new schools and invest in skills development of Filipino youth to strengthen the educational sector, including the national labor force. Mega Infrastructure – Build new bridges to connect the country’s economic hubs. Progressive Culture In Modern Times – Build new infrastructures in the fields o...

UP Los Baños is not holding any special event to honor Dioscoro L Umali today, Wednesday, 17 Nov (1917), his birthday. This alumnus knows that he contributed many and much more to the sciences & successes, roles & reputations of UPLB than any other individual or even group. Now I say that this neglect of giving unique honor to a uniquely honorable man is uniquely unscholarly and unkind. I have just seen the Facebook post of the blog Archimedesheatray.blogspot.com that shares the blogpost titled “Group 5: Dioscoro Umali [1] ” – and I say, “Wow!” Having been in and out of Los Baños since 1959 as Freshman for my BSA ’65, let me add that he was respectfully referred to as “Dean Umali” even when he became UP Vice President for UP Los Baños as well as founding Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca). The blogpost is authored by 9 individuals, count them! Louise Sigrid Antonio, Jiorjohn Aurius Co, Simone Dimalibot, J...

In 2003, they started with a few member-farmers, small capital and big hopes – the Pusiw Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Numancia, Aklan. Total membership 23, capital P 4,800. Today, the coop has up to P 60 million credit line available! I see it as a village victory via 3 Cs: Clustered Farming, Cooperativism & Credit. I am reading Sheila Mae H Toreno ’s 1,700-word article titled “ “Success Story Of Integrated Barangays Of Numancia Multi-Purpose Cooperative” (26 October 2021, Department of Agriculture – Western Visayas ), shared on Facebook by Noel Ocampo Reyes , ASec of the Department of Agriculture (DA) . Learning from Ms Sheila Mae's report, I see what I now call “The 3 Cs of PH Agriculture” as The 3-in-1 Formula for bringing about sustained progress via shared efforts in Philippine villages. This is a reflection of the visionary leadership of Secretary of Agriculture William Dar , contained in “The ‘ New Thinking’ For Agriculture [1] ” h e came out with 2 months b...

The November news is that the PH Internet business is now #1 in growth in all of Southeast Asia (SEA), but I hardly see a sign of it in agricultural extension! The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) is 30 years old; digital extension should Now be the mode and mood, but No . We’re still relying mostly on Radio as extension tool for agriculture?! (inset radio image [1]  from FarmRadio.fm ) Revin Mikhael D Ochave says, “PHL Is The Fastest-Growing Internet Economy In Southeast Asia – Report [ 2] ” (11 Nov 2021, BusinessWorld), “fueled by e-commerce and food delivery services,” according to a report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Co. The e-Conomy Southeast Asia Report says, “Overall, the Philippines was the fastest-growing market in the region, driven by strict lockdowns as well as a tipping point on the adoption of certain digital services.” When are we going to adopt & deliver digital knowledge services?! Are the ATI people afraid that the digital tools are difficult ...

Surprise: Before choosing your presidential candidate, historian Ambeth R Ocampo says listen first to Apolinario Mabini’s advice! (inset image [1] of Mabini as a law student from Abogado.com ) You may have already chosen your presidential candidate to vote for this coming May 2022, and your choice has been largely influenced by somebody (or nobody), by pronouncements or denouncements, in media, especially Facebook. I, agriculturist & communicator for development, thinking of 5 million poor farmers, if the candidate hardly mentions agriculture in public, or says nothing about it, how can I vote for that one? Differently, historian Ambeth R Ocampo quotes advice from a PH intellectual in history. He says (10 Nov 2021, “Qualifications For Public Office,” Inquirer.net ): As the circus leading to the 2022 elections has begun, we should take a hard look at the roster of presidential candidates and weigh each on a balance set by Apolinario Mabini in 1898. I agree with “a hard look...

I  now believe that not only is Regenerative Agriculture (RA) good for Farmers and Consumers of Food From Farms, but also Our Earth Combatting Climate Change. So, I am urging my alma mater, UP Los Baños , to lead all those State Colleges & Universities (SCUs) in training on RA. Via Multiple Intelligences (MI). And enjoy while learning! (“Garden Family” image [1] from Megafood.com , posterized by me) Now, that’s a double mouthful, and mindful: RA and MI. In the Philippines, you learn neither in school. Exactly! That’s why I’m proposing that the SCUs teach them, because I know if they wanted to teach well, they would have to learn and enjoy while learning RA and MI . Multiple Intelligences In 1983, Harvard psychology professor Howard Gardner outed his ground-breaking and mind-boggling educational theory multiple intelligences via his book Frames Of Mind published by Basic Books ( New York). The educational world has never been the same again! Here are the 9 intelligence...