Publish more articles, RACG reps urged

By Van Kristine Mendoza

Representative

Regional Applied Communication Group

West Visayas State University

“Write more articles on activities from your own agencies,” Dr. Cora Navarra of the Capiz State University (CapSU), coordinator of Regional Applied Communication Group (RACG) of the WESVARRDEC urged the representatives to submit more articles and have them published on several media.

The RACG coordinator made the pronouncement before RACG representatives of the consortium’s partner member agencies during their second Quarterly Meeting on July 7, 2011 at the Dumalag FITS Center in Poblacion, Dumalag, Capiz. said that over 40 articles were written by WESVARRDEC’s RACG and staff in the first two quarters of the year. Said articles were posted on wesvarrdec.blogspot.com, a blogsite maintained by RACG and on wesvarrdec.org, a web portal updated by the Regional Management Information Systems Group (RMISG) led by Nilo Araneta of UP Visayas.

Most of these articles were picked up by the PCARRD portal maintained by the Applied Communication Division (ACD) headed by Director Lily Ann Lando and were also published by Panay News, an Iloilo City-based daily broadsheet with national circulation.

“Bisan ano nga activity or event sa inyo agency o sang inyo mangin maayo nga balita (Any activity or event in your agency or your MS that is well packaged becomes news worthy of publication),” Navarra said.

According to Navarra, RACG even needs to beef up the production of articles because the impact of the articles has been overwhelmingly beneficial in promoting the products of the region’s farmer scientists and FITS Centers. The more articles, the better the promotion, Navarra said.

Prolific publication of said articles has also helped the consortium because it promotes the activities of Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) through media exposure. For one, the McNester products, particularly the mango ketchup and mango sauce, of MS Rebecca Tubongbanua of FITS OPA Guimaras have received more orders from local and foreign buyers owing to the worldwide publicity afforded to the said farmer scientist.

“Manami gid kung ma-interview kag ma-package ninyo ang inyong Magsasakang Siyentista through articles para ma-replicate man sang iban sang ila technology nga ginagamit, (It would be best if you could personally interview your MS and their technologies and write about them so others could replicate these technologies,” Navarra said, citing that if at all, the consortium’s MS need all possible media coverage that they can get.

According to Navarra, some of the published articles will be included in The WESVARRDEC Monitor, the consortium’s publication published twice a year.

The WESVARRDEC RACG led by Coordinator Cora Navarra

of Capiz State University (seated, second from left) held their

meeting at the Dumalag FITS Center under the leadership of

Manager Ronelyn de Tomas (seated, third from left).

MS Tubongbanua featured in Bombo Radyo Iloilo’s ‘Unlad Pinoy’

By Isaac Abello

Staff

Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG)

"Kung ang paho kag kalamansi may fruits, ang aton nga labor may fruits man (If mango and calamansi bear fruits, so do our hard work)," Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Rebecca Tubongbanua said in a radio interview at Bombo Radyo Iloilo’s “Unlad Pinoy” program aired on June 18, 2011 over DyFM Bombo Radyo Iloilo.

In her interview with radio host John Talento in one of the segments of “Unlad Pinoy,” a weekly program aired every Saturday at 9 a.m., MS Tubongbanua shared about how she started small as an entrepreneur and went on to become successful in her business venture.

Starting on a capital of 7,000 pesos in August 2003, MS Rebecca Tubongbanua first produced calamansi concentrate with honey. At the time, the future farmer scientist of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) wanted to help calamansi producers in her own locality to enhance and preserve their products.

Through the years, various government agencies assisted her in promoting and packaging her products, now labeled McNester Food Products. Since 2003, she has not stopped turning out varied mango- and calamansi-based products namely: mango ketchup, mango sauce, mango jam, mango concentrate, dried mangoes, mango pickles (atsara) and calamansi concentrate with honey.

MS Tubongbanua started processing mangoes in her own kitchen. Acting as processor, purchaser and the marketer all-in-one, Tubongbanua at the time relied on casual laborers to help her in processing and packaging her mangoes and products. To date, however, she now employs eight regular laborers who help her in the mango processing business.

Her McNester product line now carries different mango- and calamansi-based products which have also gained markets in international, national and regional fairs and food expos across the country. In agri fairs and expos, her mango catsup and mango concentrate, along with a few other products, have lured investors including food-chain businessmen, hotel operators and supermarket owners.

At this writing, Tubongbanua has closed an agreement with a Korean owner of a restaurant chain based in Seoul; thus, any time soon, the McNester mango products will reach Korea.

For her success as an entrepreneur and achievement as a noted farmer scientist, Tubongbanua does not fail to thank and praise the various government agencies whose technical assistance have helped her succeed.

Tubongbanua cites the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCARRD-DOST) for choosing to assist small and medium entrepreneurs like her. She also credits the Department of Trade and Industry for the technical trainings on bookkeeping, record keeping, packaging and promotions and the Department of Agriculture for inviting her to promote her products in various agri-fairs and expositions. The successful farmer scientist also attributes her success to the Bureau of Plant Industry National Mango Research Development Center for assisting her to develop science and technology-based products.

Tubongbanua cites the provincial government of Guimaras, the Farmers’ Information Technology Services Center based in the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and WESVARRDEC for documenting and promoting her products and mango processing technologies in local and national fairs and expos and all forms of media including the Internet.

More Mileage, More Coverage

RACG articles published on WESVARRDEC website, Panay News, PCARRD national portal

By the Regional Applied Communications Group

Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium

For the first two quarters of the year, WESVARRDEC’s Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) produced some 40 articles written by its own staff and the representatives from partner member agencies (PMAs) across the region.

These articles were posted on the WESVARRDEC blog, wesvarrdec.blogspot.com, maintained by the Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) and uploaded to the consortium’s website, wesvarrdec.org, maintained by the Regional Management Information Systems Group (RMISG).

Most important, PCARRD’s national portal picked up a number of articles in the same period and most of the articles saw print in Panay News, an Iloilo City-based daily broadsheet with national circulation.

January

Title	Author	Designation	Office
Miag-ao FITS Center opens to clients	Moniela dela Cruz	RAC Staff	WESVARRDEC
FITS Bago City is WESVARRDEC’s 48th	Moniela dela Cruz	RACC Staff	WESVARRDEC
FITS center launched in New Washington, Aklan	Sally Villasis	RAC Representative	Aklan State University
WESVARRDEC launches FITS La Castellana	Moniela dela Cruz	RAC Staff	WESVARRDEC
5 FITS centers launched in Capiz in 8 days	Niño Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University

February

Title	Author	Designation	Office
CapSU development researcher sets high hopes on R&D	Niño Manaog	University Extension Specialist	Capiz State University (CapSU)
Japanese host-farmers visit Negros MS	Vishia Mae Tolcidas	RACG Representative	FITS OPA Negros Occidental
OPA Negros Occidental introduces post-harvest breakthrough	Vishia Mae Tolcidas	RACG Representative	FITS OPA Negros Occidental
FITS Miag-ao nominates Landrino Española for MS	Nino Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University
CapSU FITS centers on the move	Niño Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University

March

Title	Author	Designation	Office
Meet the Bamboo Engineer: Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Randy D. Fancubila of FITS Dumalag	Niño Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University
CapSU hosts 5th annual students research confab	Niño Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University
MS Rafael Monfort and farmer pal discover coco sugar	Vishia Mae Tolcidas	RAC Representative	fits opa Negros Occidental
ASU convenes FITS centers	Sally Villasis	RAC Representative	Aklan State University
MS Divinagracia shares pantat hatching technique	Hope G. Patricio	RAC Representative	Central Philippine University
CPUCARES hosts balunggay seminar	Hope G. Patricio	RAC Representative	Central Philippine University
FITS Dao hosts climate change forum	Niño Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University
Abayon assumes ASU leadership	Sally Villasis	RAC Representative	Aklan State University
MS Tubongbanua's yellow ketchup colors 10th Philfoodex	Moniela G. Dela Cruz	Staff	WESVARRDEC

April

Title	Author	Designation	Office
WESVARRDEC 101: The Rationale, Mandate, and Implications on Development of the Regional R&D Consortium	Geronimo L. Gregorio, Ph.D.	Coordinator, Regional Research & Development Group (RRDG)	WESVARRDEC
Negros Occidental’s biggest crops cited in 2011 Panaad Festival	Vishia Mae Tolcidas	RAC Representative	FITS OPA Negros Occidental
DA 6 shares R.A. 10068 to Dao, Capiz	Niño Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University
The Magsasaka Siyentista of WESVARRDEC	Staff	Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG)	WESVARRDEC
The Regional One-Stop-Information Shop (OSIS)	Staff	Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG)	WESVARRDEC
Altavas Puto Tostado: A Tradition of Good Taste	Sally Villasis and Jeffrey Gervacio	RAC Representative & FITS Altavas Information Services Specialist	Aklan State University

May

Title	Author	Designation	Office
ICT equipment awarded to FITS Jamindan	Isaac Abello	Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) Staff	WESVARRDEC
FITS Dumalag’s new facilities launched	Isaac Abello	RAC Staff	WESVARRDEC
International food expo features MS Tubongbanua's mango processed products	Dr. Cora F. Navarra	RAC Coordinator	WESVARRDEC
WESVARRDEC hosts first TG summit	Cora F. Navarra, With reports from Vishia Tolcidas, Niño Manaog & Sally Villasis	Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG)	WESVARRDEC

June

Title	Author	Designation	Office
“Business knowledge key to enterprise development”–PCARRD	Isaac T. Abello	RACG Staff	WESVARRDEC
ASU cited best PMA for 2011; Abayon, Villasis reap awards	Sally Villasis	RACG Representative	Aklan State University
ASU’s info specialists trained on writing IECs	Sally Villasis	RACG Representative	Aklan State University
Be organic agri-preneurs, Western Visayas farmers urged	Vishia Mae Tolcidas	RACG Representative	FITS OPA Negros Occidental
CapSU, Capiz FITS centers’ products showcased in WESVARRDEC’s TG summit	By Niño Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University
DOST's techno transfer programs back MSMEs	Isaac T. Abello	RACG Staff	WESVARRDEC
Dumalag named WESVARRDEC’s best FITS center	By Niño Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University
MS Peñalosa, MS Tubongbanua featured in farmers’ forum	Niño Manaog	University Extension Associate	Capiz State University
Organic certification featured at WESVARRDEC techno summit	Vishia Mae Tolcidas	RACG Representative	FITS OPA Negros Occidental
PCARRD promotes PSF at regional TG summit	Isaac T. Abello	RACG Staff	WESVARRDEC
Philfoodex inspires entrepreneurs at WESVARRDEC Technomart	Isaac T. Abello	RACG Staff	WESVARRDEC
Success Stories in the Farms	Jethro B. Dagunan	RACG Representative	Carlos Hilado Memorial State College
TSKI shares product dev’t expertise at WESVARRDEC summit	Isaac T. Abello	RACG Staff	WESVARRDEC