Practitioners of organic
farming set monitoring
By Noel Victa
Correspondent
dec. 25, 2006
PRACTITIONERS of organic farming are policing their own ranks from possible dishonest practices that might destroy the future of this booming industry.
Farmers engaged in organic agriculture have set internal quality-control mechanisms to ensure that products delivered to the markets are really grown free from artificial or chemical fertilizers and pesticides, a group based in Northern Luzon said.
According to Felix Tan, a member of the La Trinidad Organic Practitioners (LaTOP), the group has established a monitoring initiative to guarantee that its members are producing organic crops.
“We conduct monthly inspection to check if our members are the ones who produced the vegetables that are delivered to organic stalls at the public market,” said Tan, adding that the mechanism would guard the group from unscrupulous farmers who claim to produce organic crops even though they use chemicals.
Among the internal control measures done is the registration of crops that each member would plant, the quantity of expected yield and the probable date that these would be harvested.
Rogel Marzan, also a member of the LaTOP, said each member is expected to comply with the Philippine National Standards on organic agriculture.
Members should meet at least the minimum required standard for organic farming, including the proper mixture of organic fertilizers, Marzan said.
The group also encourages its members to go beyond the basic requirement of organic agriculture.
Tan said the organization has set its own standards to encourage members to further improve their farming practices.
“Members who engage in enhanced organic farming are given recognition. The group ranks his farm as either two-star or five-star farm, depending on his farming practices, Tan said, adding there are already two farms that were ranked five-stars—the Cosmic Farm, owned by Marzan and the Master’s Garden.
Meanwhile, advocates of organic agriculture have scheduled their second regional organic congress at the Benguet State University next year to further promote organic farming.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Vegetarian noodles
Newly developed veggie noodles highly nutritiveJimmy Laking
Health, 4/20/2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vegetable noodles soon to be processed on a commercial scale by the state-owned Benguet State University are rich in Vitamin A, iron, and protein and were developed from temperate crops with known nutritive values.
“It is probably for this reason alone that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo decided it should be marketed and made available nationwide,” said Dr. Rogelio Colting, president of BSU.
The highly nutritive noodles were developed by a team headed by Dr. Violeta B. Salda, who took up previous studies on noodle production in Hong Kong.
To make the pro-duct available nationwide through the “Tindahan ni Gloria,” President Arroyo has awarded BSU on March 22, a P10-million funding for the purchase of equipment and the putting up of a building needed for a processing center.
Colting said the processing center will process different kinds of vegetable based products like pasta, noodles, meat, puree, soup, and powder.
He said vegetables will be sourced from local farmers, ensuring an alternative and steady market for their products.
“In a way, the center will help to stabilize veggie prices because the center will be buying their pro-ducts the whole year-round,” he said.
He said the pro-ducts are unique in that these are guaranteed to be developed from vegetables with high nutrient contents. “It would be ideal to family needs.”
He said that the funding provided by GMA would enable the university to perfect the technology in the production of noodles and other vegetable products.
He said the production center is equivalent to an assembly line for fresh noodles using fresh vegetable products.
“We will start first on a pilot scale then increase production as we acquire the necessary equipment,” Colting said.
Health, 4/20/2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vegetable noodles soon to be processed on a commercial scale by the state-owned Benguet State University are rich in Vitamin A, iron, and protein and were developed from temperate crops with known nutritive values.
“It is probably for this reason alone that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo decided it should be marketed and made available nationwide,” said Dr. Rogelio Colting, president of BSU.
The highly nutritive noodles were developed by a team headed by Dr. Violeta B. Salda, who took up previous studies on noodle production in Hong Kong.
To make the pro-duct available nationwide through the “Tindahan ni Gloria,” President Arroyo has awarded BSU on March 22, a P10-million funding for the purchase of equipment and the putting up of a building needed for a processing center.
Colting said the processing center will process different kinds of vegetable based products like pasta, noodles, meat, puree, soup, and powder.
He said vegetables will be sourced from local farmers, ensuring an alternative and steady market for their products.
“In a way, the center will help to stabilize veggie prices because the center will be buying their pro-ducts the whole year-round,” he said.
He said the pro-ducts are unique in that these are guaranteed to be developed from vegetables with high nutrient contents. “It would be ideal to family needs.”
He said that the funding provided by GMA would enable the university to perfect the technology in the production of noodles and other vegetable products.
He said the production center is equivalent to an assembly line for fresh noodles using fresh vegetable products.
“We will start first on a pilot scale then increase production as we acquire the necessary equipment,” Colting said.
martial art 1
Atok pride misses WBO title; Igorot boxers cited by GMAJogin Tamayo
Sports, 3/30/2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Cordilleras missed having a legitimate world champion last March 17.
The youthful Javier Malulan of Atok, Benguet lost by a close split decision to Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand for the vacant World Boxing Organization flyweight title in Pattaya, Thailand.
“Bugbog na iyung Thai na kalaban ni Javier pero nung huli kinapos na... niner-biyos daw,” said international matchmaker and local boxing promoter Brico Santig who accompanied Malulan and another Filipino boxer from Davao.
Malulan, from the Everlasting stable, skipped the main event during the Great Fights at the Heights last March 9 at the CCDC gym in Buyagan to face his biggest challenge in his professional career.
“Sayang, may world champion na sana tayo,” said Santig who also accompanied Malulan and Amor Tino, another boxer from Bokod, Benguet in receiving their citations from no less than President Gloria Arroyo during the 8th Banquet of Champions and the Elorde Awards Night last March 28 at the Manila Hotel.
The two Cordillera champions joined seve-ral other Filipino world boxing champions including newly crowned World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion Man-ny Pacquiao, Gerry Peñalosa, Nonito Do-naire, Bernabe Con-cepcion, and former champ Luisito Espi-nosa, among others.
Tino is the WBO Youth Asian Pacific superfeatherweight champion while Malulan is the WBO-AsPac flyweight division champion.
Meanwhile, after winning gold and silver medals in the World Muay Boran Championships, some members of the victorious Cordillera delegation stayed behind in Thailand to attend a summer camp in muay thai.
Ricky Agayas and George Lusadan, gold medalists in sparring, and Reneboy Bellisil and Delver Mangaoile, silver medalists in the same event, underwent training at the Bangkok Sawat Training Camp and will be home by April 5.
Agayas, also the lone gold medalist in the World Martial Arts Festival last December in Thailand, together with his group also won the gold in the muay aerobics team event.
Sports, 3/30/2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Cordilleras missed having a legitimate world champion last March 17.
The youthful Javier Malulan of Atok, Benguet lost by a close split decision to Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand for the vacant World Boxing Organization flyweight title in Pattaya, Thailand.
“Bugbog na iyung Thai na kalaban ni Javier pero nung huli kinapos na... niner-biyos daw,” said international matchmaker and local boxing promoter Brico Santig who accompanied Malulan and another Filipino boxer from Davao.
Malulan, from the Everlasting stable, skipped the main event during the Great Fights at the Heights last March 9 at the CCDC gym in Buyagan to face his biggest challenge in his professional career.
“Sayang, may world champion na sana tayo,” said Santig who also accompanied Malulan and Amor Tino, another boxer from Bokod, Benguet in receiving their citations from no less than President Gloria Arroyo during the 8th Banquet of Champions and the Elorde Awards Night last March 28 at the Manila Hotel.
The two Cordillera champions joined seve-ral other Filipino world boxing champions including newly crowned World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion Man-ny Pacquiao, Gerry Peñalosa, Nonito Do-naire, Bernabe Con-cepcion, and former champ Luisito Espi-nosa, among others.
Tino is the WBO Youth Asian Pacific superfeatherweight champion while Malulan is the WBO-AsPac flyweight division champion.
Meanwhile, after winning gold and silver medals in the World Muay Boran Championships, some members of the victorious Cordillera delegation stayed behind in Thailand to attend a summer camp in muay thai.
Ricky Agayas and George Lusadan, gold medalists in sparring, and Reneboy Bellisil and Delver Mangaoile, silver medalists in the same event, underwent training at the Bangkok Sawat Training Camp and will be home by April 5.
Agayas, also the lone gold medalist in the World Martial Arts Festival last December in Thailand, together with his group also won the gold in the muay aerobics team event.
wushu 1
Wushu Olympian shines; Slow Pitch tourney slated
by Jogin Tamayo
baguio midland news Nov. 2 , 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still fresh from his bronze medal finish in the recent Olympic Wushu Championships in Beijing, Benjie Rivera went back to work again with a silver medal in the 56-kilogram sanshou event in the 4th Wushu Sanshou World Cup held in Harbin, China last Sept. 19-21.
Regional president Tasuitong Candelaria said that Cordillera athletes “continue to be a force to reckon with in combative sports with a proven track record in excellence.”
Candelaria revealed that Olympians Rivera and fellow bronze medalist Marianne Mariano continued competing abroad a few weeks after the Beijing stint in preparation for the coming world championships.
Meanwhile, The Baguio City Batted Balls Club will kick off its Slow Pitch Tournament starting Nov. 9 at the Melvin Jones grounds.
The club is also conducting a clinic on batted ball skills every Sunday at the Athletic Bowl.
“This is open to all interested elementary and high school students and is free of charge,” said Alex Dalog.
“This is aimed at improving and promoting batted ball games in the grassroot level,” added Dalog.
Interested teams for the tournament may get in touch with Jano Cardenas (0927-826-2769) or Lovise Llaneta (0927-934-0315) and Dalog (0928-524-1677) for the clinic.
by Jogin Tamayo
baguio midland news Nov. 2 , 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still fresh from his bronze medal finish in the recent Olympic Wushu Championships in Beijing, Benjie Rivera went back to work again with a silver medal in the 56-kilogram sanshou event in the 4th Wushu Sanshou World Cup held in Harbin, China last Sept. 19-21.
Regional president Tasuitong Candelaria said that Cordillera athletes “continue to be a force to reckon with in combative sports with a proven track record in excellence.”
Candelaria revealed that Olympians Rivera and fellow bronze medalist Marianne Mariano continued competing abroad a few weeks after the Beijing stint in preparation for the coming world championships.
Meanwhile, The Baguio City Batted Balls Club will kick off its Slow Pitch Tournament starting Nov. 9 at the Melvin Jones grounds.
The club is also conducting a clinic on batted ball skills every Sunday at the Athletic Bowl.
“This is open to all interested elementary and high school students and is free of charge,” said Alex Dalog.
“This is aimed at improving and promoting batted ball games in the grassroot level,” added Dalog.
Interested teams for the tournament may get in touch with Jano Cardenas (0927-826-2769) or Lovise Llaneta (0927-934-0315) and Dalog (0928-524-1677) for the clinic.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Environmental issues 1
Albay boy’s drawing bests 1,676 worldwide
By Ephraim Aguilar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: August 31, 2008
GUINOBATAN, Albay, Philippines—Bryle Napay’s mind is etched with memories of rainy days when he would set aside his black leather shoes and wade to school on slippers as floods would rise fast in their village in Camalig town.
These memories were what inspired Bryle, now 16, to join the Shoot Nations 2008 contest, where his drawing bested 1,676 entries from all over the world.
Shoot Nations, organized by Plan International and London-based Shoot Experience, is an annual photography and drawing contest, which encourages young people to express their thoughts on global issues.
It aims to use these art forms as tools for cross-cultural, language-free communication. Entries are sent online.
This year’s theme revolved around climate change, a global menace that has prompted advocates to launch worldwide campaigns on awareness and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
But Bryle’s drawing, which he finished in just a day using paint and oil pastel, conveyed a simple message out of “a hand holding a seedling.”
It was captioned, “Reminds me that we can still do small things before it’s too late.”
A newbie in outside-the-school drawing contests, Bryle, senior high school student at the Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School here, said he never thought his drawing would win as “Best Overall Drawing” in the all-age category.
Bryle’s winning entry will be printed for exhibition at the World Youth Congress in Quebec, Canada, for the United Nations International Youth Day 2008.
It is also posted on www.shootnations.org and was exhibited at the OXO Tower Gallery in London last Aug. 12 to 17.
Bryle said his awareness of the ill-effects of environmental degradation as experienced by his community vividly showed him the impacts of a changing climate.
“Since [my] kindergarten [days], our village had always been flooded,” he recalled.
This reality, Bryle said, made him easily understand that deeds as small as littering trash have greater effects on a larger population.
He said that as thousands of young people view his drawings, he wants to send a message of unity.
“If every one would contribute in small ways and with all our efforts, we can save mother earth,” he said.
He lamented that most of the so-called “wired generation,” or those born in the advent of mobile technology, have become passive of environmental issues.
“Even if there are environmental laws and education in schools, some young people would not really care. But this can change if the youth are properly educated,” he said.
Dream
Given the chance, he said, he would love to create cartoons, whose content advocates environmental protection.
“I want to make animé about climate change so the youth will be aware of this issue,” he said.
After winning the contest, Bryle said he was motivated to learn more about environmental issues.
Because of his Shoot Nations stint, Bryle received an invitation to become a young ambassador for climate change in the YouthXchange, a international campaign initiative on sustainable consumption and production.
^ Back to top
©Copyright 2001-2008 INQUIRER.net, An Inquirer Company
By Ephraim Aguilar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: August 31, 2008
GUINOBATAN, Albay, Philippines—Bryle Napay’s mind is etched with memories of rainy days when he would set aside his black leather shoes and wade to school on slippers as floods would rise fast in their village in Camalig town.
These memories were what inspired Bryle, now 16, to join the Shoot Nations 2008 contest, where his drawing bested 1,676 entries from all over the world.
Shoot Nations, organized by Plan International and London-based Shoot Experience, is an annual photography and drawing contest, which encourages young people to express their thoughts on global issues.
It aims to use these art forms as tools for cross-cultural, language-free communication. Entries are sent online.
This year’s theme revolved around climate change, a global menace that has prompted advocates to launch worldwide campaigns on awareness and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
But Bryle’s drawing, which he finished in just a day using paint and oil pastel, conveyed a simple message out of “a hand holding a seedling.”
It was captioned, “Reminds me that we can still do small things before it’s too late.”
A newbie in outside-the-school drawing contests, Bryle, senior high school student at the Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School here, said he never thought his drawing would win as “Best Overall Drawing” in the all-age category.
Bryle’s winning entry will be printed for exhibition at the World Youth Congress in Quebec, Canada, for the United Nations International Youth Day 2008.
It is also posted on www.shootnations.org and was exhibited at the OXO Tower Gallery in London last Aug. 12 to 17.
Bryle said his awareness of the ill-effects of environmental degradation as experienced by his community vividly showed him the impacts of a changing climate.
“Since [my] kindergarten [days], our village had always been flooded,” he recalled.
This reality, Bryle said, made him easily understand that deeds as small as littering trash have greater effects on a larger population.
He said that as thousands of young people view his drawings, he wants to send a message of unity.
“If every one would contribute in small ways and with all our efforts, we can save mother earth,” he said.
He lamented that most of the so-called “wired generation,” or those born in the advent of mobile technology, have become passive of environmental issues.
“Even if there are environmental laws and education in schools, some young people would not really care. But this can change if the youth are properly educated,” he said.
Dream
Given the chance, he said, he would love to create cartoons, whose content advocates environmental protection.
“I want to make animé about climate change so the youth will be aware of this issue,” he said.
After winning the contest, Bryle said he was motivated to learn more about environmental issues.
Because of his Shoot Nations stint, Bryle received an invitation to become a young ambassador for climate change in the YouthXchange, a international campaign initiative on sustainable consumption and production.
^ Back to top
©Copyright 2001-2008 INQUIRER.net, An Inquirer Company
30 years of treating patients for free
Inquirer Headlines / Regions
http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/thegoodnews/view.php?db=1&article=20081011-165816
HOMETOWN SNAPSHOTS
HOMETOWN SNAPSHOTS : 30 years of treating patients for free
By Donna Demetillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: October 11, 2008
BAGUIO CITY – The revelation came to Dr. Victor Dumaguing 30 years ago when a woman and her son came to him for treatment.
He recalls that day: “A mother brought her son for treatment of pneumonia and tuberculosis. I examined the mother and found she, too, had tuberculosis. I thought to myself: How could she take care of her son when she herself was sick? Whatever money they had, they should use it for medicines.”
Since then, Dumaguing, 59, has been treating patients for free.
“I opened my eyes to the realities of the medical field. I saw the need,” said Dumaguing, a native of Naguilian, La Union.
On Sept. 29, he was among 10 doctors honored by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate Philippines in the annual search for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP).
“I was the only doctor there who is from the province. I felt honored that someone was chosen from the Cordillera,” said Dumaguing, who stands firm in his desire to stay in the country and serve Filipinos.
After graduating from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) Medical School, where he finished salutatorian, Dumaguing worked at the government-owned Philippine General Hospital.
Working in the outpatient department of a government hospital, he treated people who were very ill and had little money to spare for medication.
It was at that moment that Dumaguing made a “covenant with God” that he would never collect fees from his patients.
He is one of the doctors of the Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart here where patients line up to see him as their doctor and friend.
“He is our doctor but he is also our guidance counselor,” said a patient.
Dumaguing continues to give free medical attention, earning his bread and butter from teaching instead.
On weekends, he goes around the villages where he conducts lectures on maternal and child health, performs circumcisions, does blood tests and deworming, and gives away basic medicines for cough, colds, fever and diarrhea, among other things, as part of his outreach program.
He also joins civic organizations in various charity works. He has been called “the rain or shine doctor” for going about medical missions in bad and good weather.
^ Back to top
©Copyright 2001-2008 INQUIRER.net, An Inquirer Company
http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/thegoodnews/view.php?db=1&article=20081011-165816
HOMETOWN SNAPSHOTS
HOMETOWN SNAPSHOTS : 30 years of treating patients for free
By Donna Demetillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: October 11, 2008
BAGUIO CITY – The revelation came to Dr. Victor Dumaguing 30 years ago when a woman and her son came to him for treatment.
He recalls that day: “A mother brought her son for treatment of pneumonia and tuberculosis. I examined the mother and found she, too, had tuberculosis. I thought to myself: How could she take care of her son when she herself was sick? Whatever money they had, they should use it for medicines.”
Since then, Dumaguing, 59, has been treating patients for free.
“I opened my eyes to the realities of the medical field. I saw the need,” said Dumaguing, a native of Naguilian, La Union.
On Sept. 29, he was among 10 doctors honored by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate Philippines in the annual search for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP).
“I was the only doctor there who is from the province. I felt honored that someone was chosen from the Cordillera,” said Dumaguing, who stands firm in his desire to stay in the country and serve Filipinos.
After graduating from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) Medical School, where he finished salutatorian, Dumaguing worked at the government-owned Philippine General Hospital.
Working in the outpatient department of a government hospital, he treated people who were very ill and had little money to spare for medication.
It was at that moment that Dumaguing made a “covenant with God” that he would never collect fees from his patients.
He is one of the doctors of the Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart here where patients line up to see him as their doctor and friend.
“He is our doctor but he is also our guidance counselor,” said a patient.
Dumaguing continues to give free medical attention, earning his bread and butter from teaching instead.
On weekends, he goes around the villages where he conducts lectures on maternal and child health, performs circumcisions, does blood tests and deworming, and gives away basic medicines for cough, colds, fever and diarrhea, among other things, as part of his outreach program.
He also joins civic organizations in various charity works. He has been called “the rain or shine doctor” for going about medical missions in bad and good weather.
^ Back to top
©Copyright 2001-2008 INQUIRER.net, An Inquirer Company
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