MS Tubongbanua's yellow ketchup colors 10th Philippine Food Expo

Moniela G. Dela Cruz

Staff

WESVARRDEC

In the 10th Philippine Food Expo held February 24 to 27, 2011 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City,the processed mango products of Rebecca Tubongbanua, Magsasaka Siyentista of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), was among the six commodities featured at the booth of Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development’s (PCARRD) booth.

PHILFOODEX is the biggest umbrella organization of food manufacturers and exporters while the exposition is the only all-Filipino consumer event in the country.

The other 5 commodities on display from PCARRD’s other member-consortia were strawberry products form Benguet, canned chevon (goat meat) from Cagayan Valley, muscovado sugar and coconut-based condiments from Davao, and Pili oil from the Bicol region.

The mango ketchup and mango sauce drew feedback from the guests, ranging from astonishment that “yellow” ketchup and sauce do exist in the market and that it actually tastes good, to praise for Ms. Tubongbanua for coming up with and pursuing such an idea.

MS Tubongbanua said that her products are proofs of her concern for the mango growers and farmers in Guimaras, whose “blemish-free” mangoes only were being purchased by traders and exporters and that those with slight defects have no market, resulting in low revenues. Such concern for farmers led her to develop what is now the McNester's array of mango-based processed products.

On the first day of the exhibit, Tubongbanua cooked her concoction of a pasta meal in mango sauce and chicken, combining her product with darag native chicken, another focus commodity of WESVARRDEC, and with the pili oil of the Bicol Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development (BCARRD).

Guests and exhibitors were invited to sample the dish, which was consumed in no time. On the second day, MS Tubongbanua prepared pizza with mango sauce and ham, along with BCARRD’s vegetable salad with pili oil and mango sauce as dressing were eagerly awaited by samplers. Such was the success of the products that on the 3rd day, with the mango ketchup serving as dips for crackers and chips, all the remaining sauce and ketchup bottles were sold out.

On the fourth and last day, to create more awareness for the “yellow” sauce, a tuna spaghetti was served for the excited suki and the newcomers. While Ms. Tubongbanua prepared for her various dishes, the curious crowd of housewives, students, and exporters, grilled her with questions about her recipe, her product outlets and her packaging.

Unfortunately for the Luzon consumers, Tubongbanua said at the moment, her products are distributed in Iloilo and Guimaras only. According to her, the Philippine Food Expo is only one avenue given by PCARRD to promote her products to a wider local and global market.

True enough, there were several prospects and opportunities that came her way, one of which was when a lady purchased 10 bottles of mango sauce to bring to Hong Kong as samples and another was a possibility to display her products at the SM Makati weekend market, through the assistance of PCARRD and PHILFOODEX.

Abayon assumes ASU leadership

by Sally R. Villasis

RAC Representative

Aklan State University

“I am very much overwhelmed by the faculty and staff who welcomed me. I cannot express my happiness seeing you with us this morning,” Dr. Danilo E. Abayon, said in an address to the Aklan State University (ASU) community, during the Welcome Program on March 16, 2011 at the ASU Amphitheater in Banga, Aklan.

On March 15, 2011, Abayon took his oath of office as the third University President before the members of ASU Board of Regents (BOR) led by Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson and ASU Governing Board chairperson.

In his speech, President Abayon envisioned a “sustained development through greater leverage of the University’s pillars of excellence for progressive leadership towards the Centennial.” He vowed to achieve the vision through GEAR HIGHER, his 10-point agenda which stands for Governance architecture, Excellent human capital, Academic and entrepreneurial excellence of students, Rationalized curriculum and instruction, Healthy physical environment, Integrated laboratories, Geared up research, Hub library, Extension launchpad for community development, and Resource corporatization and generation of income. Abayon's "Gear Higher" focuses on the implementation of strategic actions that span until the University’s Centennial in 2018.

Prior to assuming ASU's leadership, Abayon was Executive Director of ASU's College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences in New Washington, Aklan for the last three years. He also served as Dean of College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences for five years and 17 years administrative work starting as Acting Supply Officer in 1985. Starting as Secondary School Teacher in 1978, Abayon is currently Professor V.

A native of Balete, Aklan, Abayon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture major in Agricultural Education and Masters degree in Agricultural Education from Aklan Agricultural College (now ASU); a master's degree in Agricultural Science major in Animal Science and a doctorate in Agricultural Science major in Animal Science, cognate in Horticulture from Central Mindanao University. He also holds a Diplomate in Tropical Animal Production from Van Hall Larenstein University for Professional Education in the Netherlands and completed academic requirements in Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management from the University of San Agustin.

Abayon's leadership credentials include the Filipinos for Leadership and Management Excellence (FLaME Elite) conducted by the Development Academy of the Philippines; the Junior Executives’ Training conducted by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges; and the Value Chain Analysis and Development conducted by Larenstein University for Professional Education and Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Shanghai, China. Abayon also took part in various educational travels in Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Europe: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, England, France, Switzerland and Austria.

Abayon will serve ASU until March 2015.

FITS Dao hosts climate change forum

By Niño Manaog

University Extension Associate

Capiz State University

To launch the Dao Organic Agriculture Program (DOAP) and upcoming projects on organic agriculture in their municipality, the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Dao, Capiz hosted a Seminar on Mitigating Climate Change Impact in agriculture through Organic And Natural Farming Technology System at Lolet’s Eco Park in barangay Duyoc, Dao, Capiz on March 16, 2011.

Some 80 participants—including 20 barangay captains and chairpersons of their respective committees on agriculture, employees and heads of LGU offices and other government agencies like agriculture, interior and local government, social welfare and development, health and Education—attended the series of lecture inputs from agriculture and technology experts.

FITS Manager Susan Dordas presented a comprehensive report on the global impact of climate change and instances of natural disasters worldwide. Dordas also discussed the causes and effects of climate change and their impact on the agriculture industry. According to Dordas, it is important to note that the agriculture industry contributes to the huge amounts of methane and nitrous oxide which rather deplete the earth’s ozone layer, which even contributed to the current global warming phenomenon.

For his part, Dr. Hector Peñaranda, officer-in-charge of the Special Concerns and Institutional Development Unit of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6, shared to the audience a number of mitigating and adoptive measures done by farmers across the country in response to climate change. More important, Peñaranda briefed the participants on Republic Act 10068, otherwise known as the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, the government’s lead program to help alleviate the environmental crisis.

Technology Services Specialist Genes Estialbo of FITS Dao and Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra of the Capiz State University promoted the benefits of organic farming and the use of effective microorganisms-based fertilizers and pesticides as component for a productive and sustainable farming. Agricultural Technologist Eliza Ledesma also promoted the Food Always in the Home (FAITH) Garden as a household food security mechanism. Widely advocating the benefits of the natural farming technology system, the said extension workers urged the Daonons to work harder in their farms and also advocated the natural farming systems (NFS) practices of Ramon Peñalosa, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium. Peñalosa practices NFS in his Manapla and Victorias City farms in Negros Occidental.

Among others, Dennis Escutin, 31-year old technology and livelihood education teacher at the Dao National High School, said the forum made him better understand vital agricultural practices particularly on the use and effectiveness of indigenous microorganisms (IMO) as vital components for good farming. “Damo na ang akon nga resources kag materials nga puwedeng ipanghatag sa mga estudyante” (I now have more materials and resources to give to students), said Escutin, who is also adviser of high school students on their school-based agri projects.

According to Dordas, proponent of the DOAP, they have lined up more activities this year to further institutionalize and fully implement organic agriculture in their locality. The initiative was largely supported by the local government of Dao led by Mayor Joselito Escutin and Vice Mayor Loreto Eslaban. The Capiz State University, partner member agency under the banner of WESVARRDEC, covered the event.

CPUCARES hosts balunggay seminar

The CPU College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Sciences (CPUCARES) together with the CPU College of Agriculture Alumni Foundation, Inc. (CPUCAAFI) and the Farm Systems International Organization (FSI Org) co-sponsored a seminar on Production, Processing and Utilization of Balunggay (Moringa oleifera) last January 14, 2011 at the CPUCARES Seminar Room. Topics covered included Improved Horticultural Crop Management Practices for Sustainable Moringa Production by Dr. Manuel C. Palada; CPU Moringa Project: Evaluation of Moringa Varieties for Horticultural Traits by Prof. Hope G. Patricio; and Utilization and Processing of Moringa by Ms. Shyla Cabaluna and Mr. Tim Arandela.

Dr. Palada is a retired vegetable scientist from the AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center and presently a visiting professor of CPUCARES and CEO of FSI Org, Ms. Cabaluna is Consultant and Trainor on Herbal Plants while Mr. Arandela is the proprietor of T&M Wellness Enterprises and the current President of CPUCAAFI.

The seminar was attended by 59 participants who came from government and non-government organizations, local government units, academe, and private individuals among others. The purpose of this activity was to disseminate information on the various uses, production, processing and utilization of balunggay, a commonly grown tree vegetable in the country. (Hope G. Patricio, RAC Representative, Central Philippine University)

MS Divinagracia shares pantat hatching technique

On November 17, 2010, CPU TGP Team members led by RACG representative Prof. Hope G. Patricio and RMISG representative Engr. Aries Roda D. Romallosa revisited the pantat hatchery of MS Luel Divinagracia in Sitio Bulod II, Brgy. Pulao, Dumangas to document his unique way of hatching pantat through actual demonstration.

It all starts with choosing the ideal gravid pantat that is about to lay the eggs and the male pantat. The pituitary gland of the male pantat is removed, crushed and mixed with sodium chloride solution. The mixture is then injected to both sides of the upper dorsal fin of the gravid pantat. The newly injected females together with other males are placed in a basin with water covered with screen. The basin is then placed in an area where people usually pass by so that the male pantat will thrush around bumping the pregnant pantat. This bumping loosens the eggs making it easier to squirt them out.

This unique way of hatching was developed by MS Divinagracia after observing other hatcheries and by trial and error method when he was just starting in the business. Mr. Divinagracia is the Magsasaka Siyentista of FITS Dumangas. (Hope G. Patricio, RAC Representative, Central Philippine University)

MS Divinagracia in his catfish hatchery, catfish skull about to be opened, and injecting the solution to the gravid pantat.

ASU convenes FITS centers

By Salvacion Villasis
RAC Representative
Aklan State University

The Aklan State University (ASU), partner member agency (PMA) of Western Visayas Agriculture Resources and Research Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), convened the staff of the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers in Aklan and Antique for the First Quarter Meeting, Consultation-Workshop and WESVARRDEC Monitoring on February 24, 2011 at the ASU Conference Hall, Banga, Aklan.

ASU Techno Gabay Team Leader Dr. Clyde Abayon led the team including Dr. Lelisa Teodosio, Regional Management Information System (RMIS) representative and Regional Applied Communication (RAC) Representative Salvacion R. Villasis and alternates, Prof. Carmenchita M. Tumaca, Mr. Louie G. Garcia and Mr. Arthur E. Jizmundo. The PMA team met with FITS Managers, Technology Service Specialists, Information Service Specialists and Magsasaka Siyentista from Altavas, Banga, Ibajay, Nabas, New Washington and Numancia in Aklan and Libertad in Antique.

Regional Techno Gabay Coordinator Dr. Anna Mae Relingo spearheaded the WESVARRDEC monitoring. She emphasized that documentation of FITS Center activities be enhanced. She encouraged the FITS Centers to maximize social networking such as having facebook accounts which serves as venue in disseminating the activities of FITS Centers, promoting MS products and technologies and be updated also of WESVARRDEC activities.

Relingo shared to the group the last quarter report of Techno Gabay, wherein she acknowledged the important contributions of FITS Centers. RTGP Staff Nicolas Banquero talked about the Techno Gabay Awards and Regional Techno Gabay Summit and TechnoMart. Dr. Abayon discussed to the group the submission of accomplishment report for 2010, and business plan for the year.

MS Rafael Monfort and farmer pal discover coco sugar

By Vishia Mae Dominic J. Tolcidas

RAC Representative

OPA FITS Negros Occidental

“Not all that is sweet comes from sugarcane,” said sugar planter Rafael Monfort of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental after he discovered coco sugar and the wonders coming from coconut, the tree of life. For Monfort, making coco sugar out of fresh toddy adds to coconut’s many uses. coco sugar is not only sweet but even more nutritious than cane sugars.

According to Monfort, coco sugar holds a lot of promise to coconut farmers who plan to embark on an agri-business venture. Coco sugar serves as a healthy sweetener but also a low-calorie food product fit for health enthusiasts and diabetics because of its low glycemic index. It’s high time that coco sugar become the most important sweetener next to muscovado sugar. “What’s interesting is that coco sugar makes more money than muscovado,” Monfort added.

For his involvement in research and technology development particularly on organic farming, Monfort was named Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in Negros Occidental.

To increase farm productivity and income, MS Monfort applies science-and-technology-based innovations and uses local, available and indigenous materials and farm wastes. Through eco-friendly and sustainable farming, Monfort achieves reduced production cost and good quality produce

Monfort belongs to the pool of volunteer experts composed of Ramon Peñalosa, Rolando Suarez, and Elmor Juanitas who were appointed by the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) in 2006.

In 2009, MS Monfort (seated left, in right photo) saw the other potentials of coconut along with his business partner, Lope Consing, also of Cadiz who happens to be the owner of Marfori Consing Farms in Mati, Davao Oriental.

Together they diversified the 200-hectare land planted to copra by setting aside two hectares of the farm for coco sugar. In February 2010, they produced their first coco sugar using old-fashioned and laborious cooking methods with the assistance of the Philippine Coconut Authority. Marfori also became the first farm to produce coco sugar in Davao Oriental. Marfori’s coco sugar under the Marfori and Glow labels are now on sale in Bacolod and specialty stores in Manila.

According to Monfort and Consing, as soon as they are granted permit by the Bureau of Food and Drugs, they will export to the United States and Europe where there is a distinct market for the commodity.

CapSU hosts 5th annual students research confab

By Niño S. Manaog

University Extension Associate

Capiz State University

On March 7, 2011, all roads led to the Capiz State University (CapSU) Roxas City Campus where the University’s Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) hosted the 5th Annual Research Symposium for Students.

Anchored on the theme, “Mainstreaming the Active Participation of Faculty and Students in Research amidst Climate Change,” the annual symposium gathered some 28 Social Science research papers and 10 natural, biological and development research papers produced in the nine CapSU campuses across Capiz.

According to CapSU Research Director, Dr. Federito Launio, event’s lead convenor, the symposium was led by CapSU RDEC not only to help disseminate new knowledge and technologies to the community and give due recognition for the students exemplary projects. The symposium would also help “quench the thirst” for information and technology needed by the public.

In the Social Research Category, Marynille Joy de la Cruz’s “Reading Readiness of Grade I Pupils: An Analysis” of CapSU Mambusao won the Best Paper over 17 entries. Other winners in the category were: “Course and School Interest of 4th Year High School Students in Selected Secondary Schools of President Roxas, Capiz” by Virnelli Baril of CapSU Pontevedra, first runner-up; “Acceptability of Personnel Information System” by John Michael Beramo, et.al. of CapSU Pontevedra, second runner-up; and “Level of Competency in Spelling of Grade VI Pupils in the District of Sapian” by Mae Den de la Cruz of CapSU Sapian, third runner-up.

In the Natural, Biological and Development Research Category, the “Development and Acceptability of Banana Paste Candy Using Different Levels of Coconut Toddy Sugar” by Jean Bautista of CapSU Mambusao was declared Best Paper. Other winners in the category were the Quality and Acceptability of Pickles Made of Papaya and Watermelon” by Allen Vilbar, Jonelyn de Cafe and Nicole Ann Leonor of CapSU Sapian, first runner-up; Acceptability of Homemade Cookies Made of Taro Flour by Rona Habulan, Lailanie Cordero and Jeneline Carpio of CapSU Dumarao, second runner-up; and “The Utilization and Acceptability of Snails into Different Delicacies” by Hyacinth Lumagbas of CapSU Pilar Campus, third runner-up.

For the Social Research category, the panel of judges were Dr. Herminia Gomez, Dr. Adelfo Virtudazo, Dr. Ella Aurelio, Dr. Dina Reyes and Prof. Vivian Alejaga; while the student researches in the natural, biological and development category were evaluated by Dr. Raul Ticar, Dr. Jocelyn Dagudag, Dr. Serafin David and Prof. Diony Cahilig.

The “Acceptability of Oryza sativa with Screw Pine Extract as Native Delicacy” by Bobby Saldo and Aimee Bartolo of CapSU Roxas City was declared Best Poster among only eight entries.

Meanwhile, three papers under natural, biological and development category were automatically declared official entries to the regional tilt. These were the “Bleeding Efficiency of Pigs Slaughtered at Passi City and Roxas City” by John Lee Quinoveva of CapSU Dumarao; Mini-Hydro Powered Turbine” by Francis Rodel Degala and Al Paolo Fabiana of CapSU Roxas City and the Development of Temperature-Controlled Switch” by Regie Bartolo, et.al. of CapSU Roxas City.

In her message, CapSU President Editha L. Magallanes urged the CapSU faculty and staff to widely engage in research and development studies in the face of necessity for technologies in this time of climate change and global warming. Magallanes zeroed in on research tapping indigenous natural resources to address problems in ordinary communities.

For his part, Dr. Geronimo Gregorio, vice-president for research development and extension, discussed with students and faculty researchers the importance of properly categorizing the research study being pursued. More important, Gregorio stressed on the need to produce more researches for the University.

All winners and their advisers received certificates of recognition and cash prizes. The best papers and other winners from the symposium will be competing in the regional students’ research symposium to be hosted by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) VI on March 17, 2011 at the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) in Iloilo City.

Meet the Upcoming Bamboo Engineer

Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Randy D. Fancubila
of the FITS Center at Dumalag, Capiz

By Niño S. Manaog
Capiz State University

Thirty-seven-year-old Randy D. Fancubila, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center in Dumalag, Capiz, has many reasons to be happy about.

In 2010, the MS nominee who has been into furniture making for fifteen years, was appointed MS or farmer scientist by the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) for bamboo and engineered bamboo technology.

Since the FITS Center’s launch in 2009, Manager Ronelyn de Tomas has proactively initiated activities and a number of exposures for the members of the Dumalag Bamboocraft Producers Cooperative, an association of some 28 bamboocraft producers led by MS Fancubila, its president. In these opportunities, Fancubila and his members actively took part in trainings and workshops on bamboo technologies held in their FITS center and across the province of Capiz.

Prior to his appointment as MS by WESVARRDEC, Ms. De Tomas already sent him to various study tours and trainings related to bamboo and bamboo technology across the region and even in other parts of the country. Said exposures inspired the sprightly bamboo enthusiast to learn the nitty-gritty of making engineered bamboo. "Gin-try kong obrahon—on my own initiative. Ti, ok man!" (I tried my hand on making it myself. And it turned out well), Fancubila quips.

MS Fancubila's sample dining table is made of engineered bamboo produced in his backyard workshop in barangay Sta. Cruz, Dumalag, Capiz.

Recently, he finished making a sample dining table from engineered bamboo slats produced in his workshop—which WESVARRDEC RTGG Coordinator Anna Mae Relingo considered very satisfactory—the MS hopes to acquire or—if possible, be granted—bamboo-processing machines needed to turn out engineered bamboo slats or planks. Fancubila showcased this and other products at the second bimonthly meeting of FITS centers across Capiz with the Capiz State University, their partner member agency.

While he claims to have pursued engineering bamboo first among his group, Fancubila says he preferred to do so for a number of reasons. For one, Fancubila knows that the use of bamboo ostensibly supports sustainable agriculture. Every bamboo node being cut for processing produces 3 to 6 bamboo shoots re-growth—the indispensable value of self-sustaining grass which offers many uses. Fancubila is also aware that by producing engineered bamboo slats, he makes available a raw material whose value is a good if not better alternative to wood—thereby adding value to the commodity.

In December 2010, Fancubila joined the WESVARRDEC’s cross-visit to Central Luzon. The WESVARRDEC contingent composed of a number of newly appointed MSs and other personnel visited the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), the Philippine Carabao Center and PhilRice, among others. There, Fancubila saw that farming and agricultural practices are serious business in central Luzon, a fact that amazed him.

Recently this year, Fancubila led the training of his own cooperative members on the project survey on bamboo node development held in their FITS Center Dumalag, which houses a bagsakan center for their cooperative’s bamboocrafts and products. This opportunity made him realize that nothing seems impossible with technology. For Fancubila, advances in development technology always “enable us to achieve faster and obtain more efficient results.”

Conducted for the same purpose was the training needs assistance led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Capiz where Fancubila helped in identifying the priority needs of the members of the bamboo cooperative. Fancubila says their bamboo cooperative has to acquire one unit of surfacer, one thickness planer, and one jointer planer, all of which are crucial to producing and fabricating quality engineered bamboo products.

The author showcases an engineered bamboo slat displayed by MS Fancubila at FITS Center Dumalag in Poblacion, Dumalag, Capiz.

Given these constraints, Fancubila rather considers them a challenge, expressing optimism on the Science and Technology-based Farm (STBF) currently being evaluated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). The proposed project will surely benefit his Dumalag cooperative which fully supports and campaigns activities and trainings on bamboo and bamboo technology. Fancubila’s STBF is due for implementation anytime this year.

Though the bamboo furniture maker’s hands are full, producing engineered bamboo slats and turning out bamboo furniture, he also keeps his fingers crossed for the best things yet to come.