Democracy: Philippine Style

When subjected to social criticism, Philippine democracy seems to be more ideal than real because of the economic gap between the few who are rich and the many who are poor. When viewed from the social, economic and historical perspectives, it is apparently less than acceptable.

We Filipinos believe that our government must have a positive impact on our lives. For example, the poor believe that one of the roles of a democratic government is to alleviate their living conditions, but if ever change is presently taking place, it is going on at a snail’s pace, hence its impact cannot be felt, if at all.

Today, we have politicians who are self-motivated, but who are also private interest-motivated; they serve their own interest at the expense of others, most often the exploited poor in the rural areas. This is where the need for change is truly felt. The search for the honest committed public servant is on, but is he around in Philippine politics?

Today more than ever, we need a government that shall uphold a true and Filipino-oriented democracy. To some extent, the Philippine conditions depicted in the mass media do not portray the real picture. This might be so because the pictures created are products of perceptions rather than scientific investigations and research. In these forms of mass media, the pulse of the masses is not felt. The disparity between perception and reality is reflected in the alienation of the few who go by opinion as contrasted with the many who go by experience. Why not go down to the level of the majority—the rural and deprived areas where disenchantment and discontent about many things are strongest?

Despite the many shortcomings of Philippine politics, we are still a nation, united and strong against inequity and injustice.

The masses have no need for politics but what they need is an answer to their grievances and frustrations. Does the Philippine democracy we have now give freedom to every citizen? Or is it rather what they call political culture? One that gives central and crucial role to the politician.

While it is fashionable to call politics as a disease in our national life, we must face the fact a majority of the people depend on the government for their well-being. The political culture, therefore, must permit and encourage the use of political figures for a decent purpose. For one, accessibility is the measure of political success. Politicians must perceive accurately the welfare of their constituents and try to serve them well.

But in most cases, politicians regard the idea of democracy as personalized and individualistic instead of populist. Right now, it is the minority who are concentrated in the middle class who favor the political culture. Politics has been institutionalized to promote their personal and economic interest rather than the welfare of the majority. Unless a change takes place, politics will remain the world of the few who are able to manipulate everything in their favor.

From Eleuterio G. Bernardo’s “Democracy: Philippine Style,” Panay State Polytechnic College Faculty Forum 1 (2): 4, 10. Mambusao, Capiz: Panay State Polytechnic College, 1989.

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)