By Niño Manaog, Capiz State University
and Sally Villasis, Aklan State University
In the Regional Techno Gabay Program (RTGP)-Regional
Applied Communications Group (RACG) 4th Quarter Meetings and Annual Report Writeshop
held on December 7–8, 2011 at the Aklan State University (ASU) in Banga,
Aklan, members of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research
and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) capped 2011 by way of heartfelt
tributes and presentations of achievements in the various endeavors of its
members.
WESVARRDEC
"rebounds" up the PCAARRD list
Before some 120 consortium members composed of partner
member agencies (PMA) representatives, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) and personnel
of the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) centers, WESVARRDEC
Director Joseph Edward Idemne took pride in announcing the overall rank of the
consortium for the Ugnay 2012, a biannual selection of the best consortia
across the country by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, Forestry
and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).
For the period in review, WESVARRDEC posted 90.85%,
ranking sixth among all the consortia nationwide. According to Idemne, since
2007, WESVARRDEC has performed consistently well in the R&D management
and utilization, which is attributed to the cooperation and active
participation fostered between and among the consortium member
agencies. Idemne credited the accomplishment to the full support of the
partner member agencies to the activities of the Techno Gabay members,
particularly the MSs and the FITS Centers from across the region.
Highlights of the gathering were the tribute to the two
outgoing coordinators of WESVARRDEC, namely: ASU’s Dr. Anna Mae Relingo, RTGP
Coordinator and Capiz State University’s Dr. Cora F. Navarra, RACG Coordinator.
In the December 7 Fellowship Night at the ASU Review
Center led by RTGP Staff Nicolas Banquero and Administrative Officer Suzette
Peñaredondo, Dr. Relingo and Dr. Navarra were hosted to a night of speeches,
songs and revelry.
“A
Mother to Us”
An emotional letter from RACG Representative Vishia Mae
Tolcidas of FITS OPA Negros Occidental who is now based in the United States
was read by fellow representative Helen Bignayan of the Bureau of Plant
Industry - National Mango Research and Development Center (BPI-NMRDC). For
Tolcidas, she virtually has not left WESVARRDEC; her learnings from
working with Navarra and the RACG will remain with her. Her skills gained and
her performance only made her a better person, a sentiment likewise shared by
Judy Bulquiren, manager of FITS OPA Guimaras.
Meanwhile, former RACG Staff Nino Manaog, who worked with
Navarra for two years, also shared how Dr. Navarra drew out his potentials and
those of other RACG members and inspired in them the passion to serve the
consortium.
In a speech, MS Rebecca Tubongbanua of FITS OPA Guimaras
shared on her commercial success in the mango processing industry and credits
it to the collective efforts of the consortium. Tubongbanua cited Navarra’s
“motherly” efforts to help her promote the mango processed technology and
products in various means and instances. According to Tubongbanua, the
published materials, press releases and the various exposures that WESVARRDEC
has facilitated for her have all contributed to “what she is now,” a successful
mango processor reaping awards here and there and enjoying a profitable
business that also provides livelihood to women in the countryside.
In response, Navarra expressed gratefulness to the
opportunity offered by the RACG for her personal and professional growth. She
also singled out that consortium work is indeed a personal commitment insofar
as it is not about finding the faults in other people’s work” but rather
drawing out the strengths of the members that can best serve the consortium and
the the rest of the community. Likewise, Navarra stressed on placing importance
on the service to the target clientele which she considers the essence of
consortium work.
Growth
and Learning in WESVARRDEC
After RTGP Staff Nick Banquero shared on the years of
activities and learnings with the RTGP, Dr. Reynaldo Dusaran, TG Team Leader of
the Central Philippine University and Rhodora Lapastora of the West Visayas
State University also paid tribute to Dr. Anna Mae Relingo.
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According to Dusaran, the Techno Gabay achievement has
been notable because of the active participation and leadership of Dr. Relingo.
Lapastora likewise cited how the partner member agencies are made aware of
their responsibilities for the Techno Gabay interventions to the FITS
Centers. For her part, Dr. Clyde Abayon, TG team leader of ASU, shared to
the audience "Christ's Bell," a poem given to her by Dr. Relingo, few
years back.
Meanwhile, MS Norberto Ceballos of Maasin FITS Center
also expressed his gratitude to the WESVARRDEC’s interventions through which he
was granted two Science and Technology Based-Farms (STBF) projects by PCAARRD. For
Ceballos, these projects have benefited not only himself but also a big number
of constituents in the said locality.
For her part, Relingo imparted on her growth and
achievement for four years in her capacity as the RTG coordinator. During the time,
Relingo said her learnings are invaluable as she was taught a number of lessons
and was inspired by most members of the consortium who continue to do their
work for the service of the community.
After the speeches and special numbers, the WESVARRDEC
staff also rendered a heartwarming song number for the two honorees. The
fellowship night also featured group games, videoke singing contests and
prizes.
Showcase of Products
Prizes given to winners consisted of products donated by
a number of FITS Centers from across Western Visayas. These items included
the mango processed products of MS Rebecca Tubongbanua from Guimaras
and ginger ale powder from Libertad in Antique. Other prizes given
included vermicast and vegetables from Numancia; bariw products from
Nabas; coconut food products from Ibajay; puto tostado and vegetables from
Altavas, all of Aklan; and balut from Lemery in Iloilo; pineapple wine
from Passi City; and bamboo charcoal and bamboo products from Maasin, all from
Iloilo.
