With/Out Irrigation Water, Better Farming, Even Better Forestry!

 

Can you connect PH’s Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) with National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and indigenous peoples (IPs)? Yes: Think water, watershed, wetland, wetness, wellness!

(Composite image: top from DA ZAMPEN[1] Facebook sharing by Noel Ocampo Reyes, bottom[2] from Weebly.com, and middle[3] from PGS Pilipinas Facebook sharing)

The NIA held a public consultation 25 June 2021 in Mabini, Pangasinan about constructing a dam in that town (Eva Visperas, 29 June 2021, “Dam Project In Pangasinan Town Opposed[4],” PhilStar.com). Mayor Ariel de Guzman said Mabini would have only minimal benefits, while damages and destruction to natural resources would be much: the river would die, and landslides would occur.

As an agriculturist and a communicator for development in the last 40 years, I say the NIA should think of sustainable development first of all – Is your program or project technically feasible? and economically viable? and environmentally sound? and socially acceptable?

Technically feasible?Yes, we can build an irrigation dam for water, a hydroelectric dam for electric current.

Economically viable? Yes, the people will pay for the services.

Environmentally sound? No. The watershed feeding water to the river has been neglected. It needs rehabilitation first.

Socially acceptable? No. ANN reports (Author Not Named, 18 March 2012, “Farmers, Indigenous People Oppose Alabamas Dam Project In Pangasinan[5],” Weebly.com) that the people are against it: farmers and IPs of the Alabamas Movement and Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL, Farmers Alliance in Central Luzon), where ALABAMAS stands for the western towns of Pangasinan: Alaminos, Bani, Mabini and Sual.

According to ANN (cited), this government project will be requiring P6.95 billion (B) in total expenses, as follows: P95 million in the preparation stage, and P6 billion in construction. I say NIA should have consulted first with the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) as to the viability of such a project – and if none, what can be done about it.

I say the preparations for the construction of the hydroelectric dam should have involved the enrichment of the watershed above and along the Balincaguing River. In fact, as every forester should know, it is the forested areas above the river that supply it with water, and is why it is called watershed – water + shed (release).

Now, the DENR would say: First is massive reforestation of the watershed involving the Balincaguing River – otherwise, it is understandable that the people will damn that dam!

While waiting for such irrigation dam, the IPs should be taught the Participatory Guarantee System(PGS), following RA 11511. The PGS is organic farming where the farmer’s produce is guaranteed as organic by the system, with minimum expenses.

What’s more, organic farming helps build the watershed!

I guarantee that with my Lazy Juan’s organic farming formula[6] (22 June 2021, “Lazy Juan’s Formula For “Instant Fertilizer, Organic” – For Happier Farming, Healthier Food, Half Cost, Higher Income!” Brave New World, Bravenewworldph.blogspot.com).

It is time to teach Filipinos, indigenous or not, that organic foods are healthy and easy to raise if you use your head!@517

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[1]http://zambo.da.gov.ph/?fbclid=IwAR0h26zpOEnqiHIXLKMECYDwOGAuYSM99gcUkLUMuloxPYiiU16sP_y91yY

[2]http://amgl-kmp.weebly.com/statements/farmers-indigenous-people-oppose-alabamas-dam-project-in-pangasinan

[3]https://x.facebook.com/1558339251050349/photos/a.1586518588232415/2791566427727619/?type=3&source=48

[4]https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/06/29/2108752/dam-project-pangasinan-town-opposed?fbclid=IwAR2d8j-t0pxa4Qx7EjEHbDt9a2vx3ioZxtwNPtlf30eTXhIKTRhhvxt6rsQ

[5]http://amgl-kmp.weebly.com/statements/farmers-indigenous-people-oppose-alabamas-dam-project-in-pangasinan

[6]https://bravenewworldph.blogspot.com/2021/06/lazy-juans-formula-for-instant.html

The Filipino Is Worth Blogging For!

Ninoy: “The Filipino is worth dying for.” Cory: “The Filipino is worth livingfor.” Noynoy: “The Filipino is worth fightingfor.” (See my essay, “3 Aquinos, Family Three Heroes, Pinoy Three Musketeers – Leaders Showing The Ways[1],” 28 June 2021, Brave New World, Blogspot.com). I say now, “The Filipino is worth writing for!”

No excuses myself. A full-blooded Ilocano, in American English I have been a self-learning communicator for the Filipino in the last 46 years: since 1975 writing, editing, photographing and publishing in print; and since 2005, blogging. Why the lag of 30 years? Starting 1986, I have been on digitalself-study 100%.

Above image is Google’s digital record of my blogging, screen capture 18 August 2014. Since 2005, I have blogged at least 6,000 essays totaling at least 6 million words:

Frank A Hilario is the world’s most creative blogger!

60+ years ago, my ways of how to write and on what subjects came from my free and avid reading of books and magazines in the library of our dear high school in Asingan, Pangasinan: Rizal Junior College (RJC, HS Dept). Books – American and British classics; magazines – Look, Life, Newsweek, TIME. Avidly reading the RJC subscription to the Reader's Digest, I picked up so many ideas and much inspiration from that magazine’s pages, including humor and alliteration, that I was much encouraged to be a writer myself! That was a surprise because there were no writers in our families, neither Hilario nor Agapito then; and my father Dionisio reached only Grade 3, my mother Sixta only Spanish Cartilla. It means that if you give freedom to someone to discover one’s inclination and talent, s/he will.

Thank God, I am self-taught as writer, editor and photographer; and self-tutored as digital writer, editor and desktop publisher – Where there is Always a Will, there is Always a Way!

Many years ago, I actually did say, “The Filipino is worth writing for” – in thought, not in words. At the end of 1980, as Editor In Chief of Sylvatrop, the technical magazine for production forestry of the Forest Research Institute (FORI), I brainchilded and published a paper on what I called communication for development (ComDev), which was my conceptual gift to the world, a model for journalism counter to UP Los Baños professor Nora Quebral’s theory of development communication (DevCom) – which I found not deliberately dedicatedto development as it should be!

What do I blog on? A wide variety of subject matters: agriculture; fisheries; pronouncements; policies; extension; creativity; technologies; crops; livestock; communication; digital agriculture; webinars; how to write; blogging; trainings; Department of Agriculture (DA), DA agencies & attached offices, programs & projects, collaborations with PH agencies, partnerships with business & farmer groups, etcetera. 

How serious am I as a blogger? Since early 2020, I have been blogging every single day an essay invariably of a total 517 words, not hodgepodge but with a Beginning, Middle and End.

All my writing is for sustainably better rural lives. Since 2005, armed with my ComDev, I have maintained that the Filipino is worth blogging for!@517

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[1]https://bravenewworldph.blogspot.com/2021/06/3-aquinos-family-three-heroes-pinoy.html

3 Aquinos, Family Three Heroes, Pinoy Three Musketeers – Leaders Showing The Ways

Love at first sight! I loved the above image (shared by Ann Gatmaytan, by Jovy Acosta-Nisperos) of an umbrella with painted images of The 3 Aquinos that I call here a combined “Will of the Spirit” that makes me think of “Father, Son & Holy Goose.”

Father Ninoy Aquino said, “The Filipino is worth dying for.” From Boston, Mass, hero flew back home – and landed on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport, shot dead. During his funeral march, 1 million lined the streets of Manila. My hero!

Mother Goose proved that “The Filipino is worth living for.” Mother Cory is “holy” because she was revered; and “goose” is perfect for her, as Spirit Animal says[1]: “Goose gives a loud warning when danger appears. Bundling this all together gives Goose the meaning and symbolism of communication, fidelity, parenting, fertility, and Providence. ... When that happens, another Goose in the flock stays with the injured bird until they can fly again, or die.”

Isn’t that perfect?! Mother “Holy Goose.” Despite the negativity, President Cory Aquino kept communicating, remained loyal, parenting us Filipinos, gathering fertile ideas, leaving it all up to God.

Son Noynoy: In his 5^th State of the Nation Address, President Noynoy quoted and said, “The Filipino is worth dying for. The Filipino is worth living for. If I may add, the Filipino is worth fighting for.”

Father, Son & Holy Goose! They were loved more after death.

French, The Three Musketeers is an historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. “It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight for justice” (“The Three Musketeers,” Wikipedia). Looking back, I can see that the Filipino Family Three Musketeers were largely heroes, chivalrous, fighters for justice. What else can I say!

Wikipedia says the Three Musketeers is primarily an historical and adventure novel. However, Dumas frequently portrayed various injustices, abuses and absurdities of the Ancien Régime, giving the novel an additional political significance. The Filipino Family Three Musketeers fought for the same: injustices, abuses and absurdities. We see it now; we did not see it then.

This is how Britannica describes The Three Musketeers:

Summary: A historical romance, it relates the adventures of four fictional swashbuckling heroes who lived under the French kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV, who reigned during the 17th and early 18th centuries. At the beginning of the story, D’Artagnan arrives in Paris from Gascony and becomes embroiled in three duels with the three musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. The four become such close friends that when D’Artagnan serves an apprenticeship as a cadet, which he must do before he can become a musketeer, each of his friends takes turns sharing guard duty with him. The daring escapades of the four comrades are played out against a background of court intrigue involving the powerful Cardinal Richelieu.

Four heroes – The Three Musketeers plus D'Artagnan. Following Dumas’ story, we are missing the 4^th historical heroic hero. How about if PH gets another President, another heroine?!@517

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[1]https://whatismyspiritanimal.com/spirit-totem-power-animal-meanings/birds/goose-symbolism-meaning/

Responding To Climate Change, We Must Adapt & Mitigate – William Dar

The poor image of the book cover, copied as-is from the original, tells this writer, editor & publisher that Elsevier does not care much about common citizens clearly catching climate change concepts. Sadly, they are sellingthe book without telling a main message.

Titled Climate Change Science and subtitled Causes, Effects And Solutions For Global Warming, the book is edited by David SK Ting & Jacqueline A Stagner and published by Elsevier, 21 May 2021, 302 pages.
(book cover image[1] from Elsevier)

Inadvertently, the hazy cover reflects humanity’s response to climate change! The question is: What can we do about climate change?

In the Philippines, “Science-Driven Fixes For Climate Change, Hunger Pushed In FAO[2]” is the title of an article by Jasper Y Arcalas (17 June 2021, BusinessMirror). While the event is global, Mr Arcalas reports only PH’s contribution via Secretary of Agriculture William Dar in the mid-June virtual discussion on “Combating Climate Change And Hunger Through Innovation” during the 42nd Session of the FAO Conference.

There, Mr Dar “called for greater international cooperation to institutionalize and advance science-driven innovations and technologies in agriculture to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and end hunger by 2030.”

A science writer who investigates his subject matters, I have learned that Man has 2 complementary responses to climate change: Adaptation and Mitigation. Adapt is to “adjust or modify;” mitigateis to “moderate” or “make less severe” (American Heritage Dictionary).

What did Mr Dar say was PH’s scientific response to climate change? I quote from Mr Arcalas, with my emendation:

Adaptation: “We employ modern technologies and innovations in our ongoing efforts to revitalize productivity and increase incomes of Filipino farmers and fishers.” Science reinvigorating productivity.

Mitigation: “We moderate the impact of climate change on food security.” Science lessening weather damage to food production.

Saying, “Agriculture is the mainspring of rural economic progress in the Philippines,” Mr Dar saw Filipinos must adapt our agriculture to the climate extremes of too wet and too dry season after season – even as government is “continuously encouraging stronger private sector investments and partnerships to attain sustainable agricultural modernization and industrialization, equitable prosperity, and national food security.”

More. Adaptation: Via science, we have to develop crops and livestock resilient with climate change. Mitigation: We have to develop methods to reduce the adverse effects of climate change when it happens. Now then, science must be “changing the dynamics of economic progress.” That is to say, leaders must see to it that in the balance, “the benefits from science-driven innovations reach small-scale farms and rural families to uplift their lives.”

Considering everyone, Mr Dar said:

Because of the complexities brought about by climate change and its impact on food systems, as well as the new normal brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, we should ensure that the benefits of science-driven innovation find a place in our farms, as well as in the homes of every rural family and ultimately, in every home in all societies.

Science must make sure no one is left behind!@517

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[1]https://www.elsevier.com/books/climate-change-science/ting/978-0-12-823767-0

[2]https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/06/17/science-driven-fixes-for-climate-change-hunger-pushed-in-fao/?fbclid=IwAR1GZwHcUvb1ef-Pe9fnTqkNqYZNy9RkkJT71gU4gBuvmb2Pmp-xqu0LDNU

Wow Is Me! Words Of Wisdom I Missed Or Ignored About PNoy

Wow! is my one-word description of ex-Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima’s eulogy for ex-President Noynoy Aquino; those 1,196 words opened my critical eyes wide from Disdainto Admiration. Really! The President is dead. Long live the President!

I was paying attention to the worst and not the best of PNoy. As Mr Purisima puts it, Noynoy brought PH “from Asia’s sick man to Asia’s bright star.”

I quote more from his untitled Eulogy[1] (PhilStar.com):

President Aquino demonstrated principled leadership… The turnaround story of the Philippines – from Asia’s sick man to Asia’s bright star – is without doubt one of his greatest legacies. He left office with a Philippines more optimistic about its future, having ended the vicious cycle of doubt and having entered a virtuous cycle of confidence.

PNoy inherited “principled leadership” from his father Ninoy. Disrespected publicly, Noynoy’s confidence came from his cabinet members like Mr Purisima. “His 6 years in office was proof of his fundamental thesis: that good governance delivers great economics.”

I recall with pride, how we raced past our peers and even outpaced China at times to post economic growth figures that were among the world’s fastest. Indeed, the 6-year growth average of 6.2% during his administration was the Philippines’ highest in 4 decades.

“Economic growth figures that were among the world’s fastest.” About international investment grade of the country:

The Philippines’ historic first ever investment grade in 2013 was also the direct result of his leadership. The international community saw how the Philippines walked our talk on fiscal consolidation and granted us 24 positive credit ratings actions – the most in history – and made us the world’s most upgraded sovereign (state) back then.

As President of your country, you have to walk your talk!

President Aquino ended his tenure with a record low 5.8% unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2016, and with high consumer and business optimism. Our standing in various international rankings likewise improved dramatically, jumping 38 notches in the World Economic Forum Competitiveness Report from 85th to 47th, while climbing 39 and 45 places in the Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom and the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report…

That’s great economics! And Noynoy showed, “Great economics results from good governance.”

From Karen Vera, sharing on Facebook:

President Noynoy Aquino had the courage to lead a difficult people, with honesty and sincerity, and yes, there were flaws. But for a large part: it WORKED. He rescued our economy, stood up to China, and was never an embarrassment as the global representative of the country he loved, and gave his heart and soul to.

And:

His presidency gave me SOME hope that we can still get our act together as a country (though that hope is getting harder to see. Some times). Noynoy didn't want to let his country down, and now it is up to the rest of us that we don't either. God bless you, Noynoy, and God bless us all to keep up the fight.

The likes of Noynoy Aquino is my President!@517

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[1]https://www.philstar.com/business/biz-memos/2021/06/24/2107832/full-text-cesar-purisimas-eulogy-former-president-noynoy-aquino

“16 Things An Agripreneur Should Always Bear In Mind”

Nestor V Saludo shared this one on Facebook: “16 Things An Agripreneur Should Always Bear In Mind[1]" (21 June 2021, OnePropertee), written by Lubar De Los Reyes who is a multi-millionaire selling real estate online. That means he knows his business!

I find Mr De Los Reyes’ thoughts super, and I think PH youth wanting to become agripreneurs could learn from him, from each of:

16 Things An Agripreneur Should Always Bear In Mind

To keep this essay short, I am presenting Mr De Los Reyes’ “16 Things” in a shorter form (yet still word-for-word from his list):

1. Be passionate about your agri-business.

2. Talk to your customers. Know what they want.

3. Learning is a lifelong process. Remember that Agripreneurs are dealing with livestock, weather and environment. These affect everyday decisions.

4. Learn and master the art of costing.

5. Have a quarterly check on your finance.

6. Your farm products should meet the highest quality standards and exceed customer expectations.

7. Ask your customers for their feedback.

8. Always set a competitive price and be reasonable in your mark-up.

9. Never ever spend all your profits.

10. Give back to the community. Farming is sharing.

11. Pay your farm hands fairly and on time. They are the lifeblood of your farm.

12. Create and nurture your own brand.

13. Always update the inventory of your stocks and equipment.

14. Grow your business by learning new technologies, processes, innovations and create a wider network.

15. Opportunities are endless in farming and agriculture; always be on the lookout.

16. Love your farm. Love yourself. Love your farm hands.

Let me explain the 16 a little bit.

Be passionate. You’re not now, but don’t worry. Get to know more your would-be business and you will become passionate!

Talk to your prospective customers. Or anyone, about your ideas – you could learn a thing or two from them.

Learning is lifelong. Be prepared to learn & re-learn always.

Master the art of costing. You have to know if you are gaining or losing anytime!

Check your balance quarterly. Don’t guess!

Your products should be of the highest quality. Don’t settle for “Puede na!” (Good enough!)

Ask for feedback  from anyone, on anything.

Be competitive. Be reasonable in pricing your product(s).

Don’t spend all your earnings. Save, save, save!

Give back to the community. And the community will love you more.

Pay your workers fairly. And your workers will love you more.

Create & nurture your brand. You will then be known far and wide by the brand you keep.

Update your inventory. Know how much and how many you have anytime.

Learn new things. Like technologies, processes, innovations. You will learn more if you have a network of friends.

Be always on the lookout for opportunities. Don’t rest on your laurels.

Love one, love all. Love your farm, yourself, your people!

All those 16 things Mr Delos Reyes advises for an agripreneur to apply should also be applicable to any farmer who wants to improve his farmer’s life.@517

 

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[1]https://onepropertee.com/16-agripreneur-bear-mind-topic?refId=jLKH9BdKEefRoc27C

Specially In This New Age Of Webinars, Presentation Must Lead To Communication!

Webinars here, webinars there: The institutional as well as individual excitements are on! when it comes to appearing online as a guest lecturer or speaker in a special webcast. Good – and Bad.

Above image shows one of the photo albums included in “UPLB Today” Facebook page (shared by NJ Anastacio). Readable entries are “CBSUA Academic Affairs And Policy Summit 2021” and “University of the Philippines Los Baños added 18 new photos to the album #UPLB Today.” CBSUA is the Central Bicol State University located in San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur, Southern Luzon.

Exactly! What is the CBSUA image doing in a UPLB Facebook page is not explicit – notimplicit either. #UPLB Today has quite a number of those albums – each one without title and without description. Someone slipping on the job.

The above cluttered image reflects what I call “This New Age Of Webinars” – good for personal exposure, not-so-good for science or knowledge gained being transferred from one person to many – because there is hardly any attempt to communicate, that is, to make the non-technical people understand “scientific language.”

Like: A technical presentation via PowerPoint is made – but there is no effort of the presenter to translate the knowledge into something memorable, something familiar.

Apropos to this, let me tell you I am a UPLB alumnus, BSA Ag Edu ’65, a teacher with a Civil Service Professional license. Which should imply my double interests in studying and teaching. Sometime in 1980, I invented what I called “Communication for Development (ComDev),” which was intentionally my personal statement on the value of UPLB Professor Nora Quebral’s concept of “Development Communication(DevCom).” While ComDev is explicit communication to promote the development of villages; DevCom does not mention development as an aim.

Professor Nora’s DevCom is “science presentation” – that’s all. That phrase in quotes precisely describes the webinars here and there in the Philippines: Roughly, each webinar is 90% Presentation, 10% Communication. 90% to impress, 10% to express.

Clearly, to me a digital writer (blogger) and editor (desktop publisher) in the last 34 years, since 1987, current presentations for PH webinars must be rewritten & edited to be 90% popular and 10% technical in language.

So now let me ask: In those PH webinars, what are experts and/or resource persons communicating? Their acquired sets of knowledge and/or their specialties in any of the sciences. Now, who remembers what is being said in any of those webinars? My generous guess is 10 among 100 – and then again, vaguely. Why because those presenters of papers and/or new knowledge have not been priorly made conscious of the need for less presentation in technical language, and more communication in popular language.

So today, webinars are good for presenters, not learners!

If you want to graduate from presentation of science or knowledge to communication, without paying for an editor, you can get ideas simply reading my blog:

BraveNewWorld@PH
(bravenewworldph.blogspot.com)

Sorry to say: Today’s reality with PH webinars is that they are 90% Presentation and only 10% Communication. It should be the other way around.@517

ASF – Asian Swine Fund Of P500 Million From PH ACPC

"Pigs are smart little creatures. They just need love" said Shelley Duvall, American actress famous for playing eccentric roles. In PH, much needed love comes now in the form of a new ASF (Asian Swine Fund, my coinage) – commercially needed considering the threat of the old ASF (Asian Swine Fever).

(pig image[1] from eCompareMo)

On Saturday, 12 June 2021, observed as “Philippine Independence Day,” the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) independently brought out much love for the little creatures recently beleaguered and still threatened with the original ASF (Asian Swine Fever): “ACPC Allots P500M To Revive Hog Industry[2]” (Leander C Domingo, Manila Times). I note that the ACPC released quite a big fund for a single animal: Action (with amount) speaks louder than words!

Domingo said the ACPC “has allotted initial funding of P500,000,000 (million) for swine projects of small enterprises, including start-up commercial hog raisers.” Note that it said, “initial funding.” There’s more where that came from.

The good news was announced in Ilagan City in Isabela in Northern Luzon, during the rollout of the “Swine R3 Credit Program” (Swine R3) hosted by Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano III. Swine R3 is a partnership of the DA (via the ACPC), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), and Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) Philippines. Charoen Pokphand is based in Thailand, which is why I call it the Asian Swine Fund.

Secretary of Agriculture William Dar led the launching of the funding program, with Emmanuel Herbosa, President & Chief Executive Officer of DBP, in attendance. The DBP is one of the Partner Lending Conduits (PLCs) of ACPC. Mr Herbosa said during the occasion that by itself DBP had allotted about P12,000,000,000 (billion) in loans for commercial hog raisers.

All the world loves pork!

The Swine R3 program is DBP’s newest loan facility. “R3” refers to Repopulation, Rehabilitation and Recovery, “to ensure the continuous supply and availability of swine and pork products, and to stabilize pork prices in the country.” Healthy animals, healthy industry.

Mr Herbosa said:

Under the (Swine R3 Program), DBP will provide funding assistance to eligible public and private institutions to establish bio-secured swine farm products. With concerted efforts, we will be able to grow a local swine industry so that we can better meet consumer demand and we can achieve more stable pork prices in the Philippine market.

He was also thinking of swine diseases. He said, "We are collaborating with CPF to ensure the viability of implementing biosecurity measures to further assist eligible swine investor-partners,"

Mr Herbosa noted that “for the public sector, DBP can provide the financing for the establishment of consolidated swine facilities so local government units can consolidate backyard hog raisers in their municipalities and provinces.” Consolidated swine facilities for better business.

Ah, but the Swine R3 program does not say it is at the expense of Philippine native pigs. I say, the native pigs are millions of pesos cheaper to produce, and their meats taste millions nicer. I hope the ACPC will come up with a separate funding soon!@517

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[1]https://www.ecomparemo.com/info/fast-facts-african-swine-fever

[2]https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/06/12/business/corporate-news/acpc-allots-p500m-to-revive-hog-industry/1802901?fbclid=IwAR2dfvLPDbZ-2YCvHf0yJa5utOfaq4LWDfFXJ657EfOvChdlYZWJjhJed6Y

Lazy Juan’s Formula For “Instant Fertilizer, Organic” – For Happier Farming, Healthier Food, Half Cost, Higher Income!

Actually, I have already given the necessary steps of my Lazy Juan’s Formula for “instant fertilizer, organic (IFO)” – new name: “Lazy Juan’s Organic Farming For Pinoys – The More You Think, The More You Earn![1]” (21 June 2021, Brave New World).

My IFO is different from the “indigenous microorganisms” (IMO) that is popular at UPLB, and which Real Organic claims is “the best organic fertilizer[2]” (YouTube). This is what s/he says:

In this video, I will show you how to make a very effective and cost-wise organic fertilizer for your gardens. The fertilizer is called Indigenous Micro-organisms or IMO in short. This will act as a soil conditioner and can make the soil (fertile) again. It can also be used to (make) compost for fast decomposition. It's very easy and fun to do.

Actually, the fertilizer is not called “IMO” – the IMO are the microorganisms that convert the dead plant tissues into organic matter. That means, it takes days before you can apply the IMO-treated plant matter as organic fertilizer.

Nota Bene: I call mine “Instant Fertilizer, Organic” because, really, it becomes organic fertilizer the moment you create it! So, IFO vs IMO. Same results: naturally healthier soil, naturally healthier crop.

For IFO, you rotavate a field filled with grass, better with the crop refuse still there – and instantly, the vegetative matter that has been cut to pieces along with the soil begins to decay because of the attack (actually, feeding) of organisms from the soil (that is, all organisms disturbed), especially bacteria, fungi, earthworms, bugs, insects. Their feeding results in the release of nutrients into the soil from the vegetative matter – so immediately, from my IFO you have organic fertilizer there!

Above, lower image, the field is waiting to be worked on. I am just a visitor there, not the owner. But it’s a good piece of conversation, because it’s waiting for the farmer to work on it. My shadow is long, by which I would like to tell you that this IFO story actually I have been telling for many years, the earliest recorded I can find on the Internet being 13 years ago, dated 16 December 2008 (see “2^nd Red Revolution! Red Nuts Grow On Badlands[3],” iCRiSAT Watch). I said in that essay, writing about American Ohio gentleman farmer Edward H Faulkner and his book Plowman’s Folly:

Plowman’s Folly (published in 1943) taught me, among other things, that one could build a rich soil from a poor one by continuously incorporating crop refuse into the topsoil, along with minimizing cultivation, thereby simulating the natural cycle of death and life of organisms, something the plowman has either ignored or rejected. His farming method is a modification of green manuring, which every farmer should know anyway.

“Instant Fertilizer, Organic (IFO)” is an original name from a Filipino agriculturist & extensionist; the concept is modified from an American farmer – I added the rotavating. A good idea made better!@517

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[1]https://bravenewworldph.blogspot.com/2021/06/lazy-juans-organic-farming-for-pinoys.html

[2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZxKaU7kL4E

[3]http://icrisatwatch.blogspot.com/2008/12/2nd-red-revolution.html

Lazy Juan’s Organic Farming For Pinoys – The More You Think, The More You Earn!

Main image above: On Facebook, Felipe Gabrielclaims planting rice “Achieving More With Less!“ 15 tons/ha. Applying: 20 bags processed chicken manure, rice straw from last cropping season, spraying IMO Probiotics at tillering, booting & milking stages; zero petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides. Inbred rice, System of Rice Intensification (SRI), in Sulop, Davao Del Sur.

Here is our exchange on Facebook:

Frank A Hilario
I can beat that if somebody will finance 1 ha… no fertilizers, no compost, no manures, no probiotics!

Felipe Gabriel
Frank A Hilario Wow, breakthrough Yan sir!
Subukan natin sir yang technology mo! Sa Aking sariling farm.

Mr Gabriel’s farm is in Paniqui, Tarlac, and hereby I accept his challenge. This is an outline of my

Lazy Juan’s Organic Farming
(Above, superimposed image taken 12 July 2016, my blanket having composed itself into a lazy human! posterized)

Strict instructions (actually practiced by someone in Asingan, Pangasinan):

Step 1.     Preparing:
Harvest crop, take out of field. Leave crop refuse; don’t burn. Don’t weed either: the weedier, the better. The secret is in the weeds! After Step 2, they will start decaying into fertilizer.

Step 2.     Rotavating.
Use tractor with rotavator or rototiller blades – not plow. Set blades to cut down to only 2-3 inches of topsoil, not deeper. Thus: Soil, crop refuse and weeds will be cut into pieces and mixed in one rotary motion – giving you a surface mulch all over 10,000 sqm (1 ha)! Lazy Juan’s rotavating is automatic mulching.

Step 3.     Direct seeding.
Plant inbred rice seeds directly, 25 x 25 cm. Before planting, string out distances for planting uniformly – or use a mechanical seeder. So, zero cost: nursery bed preparation, women pulling seedlings for transplanting, men transplanting.

Step 4.     Side seeding.
On the same day you plant the seeds, you will sow a few seeds below the dikes, for replanting any missing hills later; this is to ensure that all seedlings will mature simultaneously.

Step 5.     Replanting missing hills.
Inspect the field everyday for at least 1 week after planting, to replant any dead or missing hills – in case.

Step 6.     Irrigation.
With your ricefield covered with mulch that is slowly rotting and becoming organic fertilizer in-place every day from Step 2, the soil will be moist enough for the rice to grow. In case the soil gets dry, be ready to irrigate for a day.

Step 7.     Field Care & Watching.
No fertilizing – that surface mulch is the richest fertilizer ever! Visit ricefield weekly to check on the seedlings growing. Do not spray against any pest or disease organism; since your rice plants are rich in nutrients from the soil, they are healthy and can withstand any pest or disease attack.

Step 8.     Harvesting.
Use a rice combine to minimize loss of grains.

Step 9.     Postharvest Handling.
Get a mechanical dryer – never dry on public roads!

Step 10.  Storage.
Store dried rice properly. Your coop should have a storage facility.

Step 11.  Marketing.
Your cooperative should do it for you.

Happier farming, healthier food, higher income!@517

Happy Father’s Day, Secretary Of Agriculture William Dar!

Above, from Facebook the caption reads: “DA Urges LGUs, Farmers Groups, Private Sector To Help Transform Phl Agri Sector[1]” (21 May 2021, Frances May Ramos, DA.gov.ph). As Secretary, that is how William Dar is behaving as the Father of Philippine Agriculture today!

Mr Secretary, you have an archipelagic-family size now. You have come a very long way. From 1999 to 2014, as Director General, you were the Virtual Father of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in India. From dead last, with your fathership, you brought ICRISAT to #1 among 15 international agricultural research centers under the umbrella of the CGIAR, including IRRI based in the Philippines. You did it via your Team Captainship. Your Family is your Team.

Today, you have been the Servant Leader of Philippine Agriculture since 05 August 2019. You brought in with you what you called “The New Thinking for Agriculture” with 8 paradigms to build a new intelligent structure for national development via agriculture & fisheries:

As the news cited in the above image says, you called “for a sustained and stronger ‘public-private-people’ partnership to lead the transformation of Philippine agriculture and respond to the pandemic and other challenges.”

The two-day (NFSS) summit brought together dozens of key agri-fishery industry players, resource persons, economists, and national and local leaders, and more than 6,000 participants at the online workshops, in a blended physical and virtual platform.

A concerned huge family meeting!

One of the individual members of your Huge Family, former National Economic and Development Authority Director General and Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Cielito F Habito said during one of the NFSS plenary sessions: “Agriculture is too important to be left alone to the Department of Agriculture.” Yes, and that is why your fathering Philippine Agriculture highly values, in your words, “public-private-people partnership.”

You yourself said:

Armed with the updated commodity industry roadmaps, we can encourage and convince the private sector, including interested foreign companies, to invest in the country’s agri-fisheries sector.

As the Father of a Huge, Huge Family, you have good, abiding members; you have bright-thinking members – you also have recalcitrant members who listen only to themselves.

You said:

The perfect storm of 2020 has demonstrated the agriculture sector’s resilience, and reducing poverty remains an enormous multi-sectoral challenge. There is hunger because most people, due to the pandemic, loss of jobs and livelihood, cannot simply buy food, despite (the fact that) food is available.

If this phenomenon is not understood and appreciated by detractors, they will always blame the Department of Agriculture. We beg to disagree, as hunger and poverty (are problems) that we have been addressing, even before the Duterte administration.

I want to emphasize the fact: “Before Duterte.” Your family members are some big guys themselves, difficult to either sway or dissuade – the local government units (LGUs), farmer groups, private sector – but they are family, and life must go on as one Huge Family.

Nobody is perfect. You insist on the Whole-Of-Nation Approach. That makes you perfect as the Father of Philippine Agriculture today!@517

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[1]https://www.da.gov.ph/da-urges-lgus-farmers-groups-private-sector-to-help-transform-phl-agri-sector/?fbclid=IwAR2kjEW66h0g18wOo1RNGQPQKPLLKyr-N1HAKB3zTKGrsIgFNguvOvNN8AE

Thinking 2021 Of Jose Rizal, First Thinking Filipino

How would you like a new & different look of (above) – and a new book (mine) on our National Hero Jose Rizal?! For your pdf copy of my new Rizal book, free,email frankahilario@gmail.com, my way of paying tribute to my hero and yours.

Above image: I googled for images of “Jose Rizal” and saw that[1], by Giga Art (name not revealed); that should make us all think as idealists, young and old.

My new book, titled Jose Rizal As First Thinking Filipino, is my latest tribute to the National Hero and my first offering to the Filipino Youth, whom Rizal looked at as “Beautiful hope of my Fatherland!” (“Bella esperanza de la patria mia!”)

This is the 2nd edition of my book – old title, indios bravos! Jose Rizal, Messiah Of The Redemption. Since JR was born 19 June 1861, if he were alive, that would make him 159 years old 19 June 2021. You know what? My book is 159 pages long! That should make us all think; there are no coincidences.

Angel Number[2] says:

159 spiritually means that you have the power to push yourself to the bright future you desire. Besides, if you want to become something you admire, then you have to be ready to face your fears. Basically, you should be your only competition because you can take yourself to a future you want.

Those 53 words above are true even if you do not believe in Angel Numbers.

“Basically, you should be your only competition because you can take yourself to a future you want.” Now, what is the future we want as Filipinos following the ideals of our National Hero?

The number 159 meaning signifies the end of certain phases in your life and the opening of new doors to new experiences. These experiences will lead you to your desired destiny. You have to be willing to let parts of your old life go so that you can embrace new experiences.

Now then, that is a labor of love by Giga Art I don’t know how long it took him; it has been a labor of love for me rewriting my Rizal book first published in 2005. Jose Rizal is the “First Thinking Filipino” because he was the first to think of the disparate tribes of the Philippines as one people, one country, with one homeland.

You cannot say Rizal “awakened the latent nationalism of the Filipinos” because there was none in the beginning; rather, he wrote enough. said enough, suffered enough to bring about oneness in mind among his people.

Actually he started when he was just 8 years old, writing “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” (“To The Kids Of My Own Time” – my translation is in the book). This poem has a surprise in it; we all thought it was about “wika” (“language”), but it is a poem and is using a figure of speech; this time, “wika” refers to “freedom.” Read my book!

Yes, Jose Rizal at 8 years of age was already the First Thinking Filipino!@517

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[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaOFV2C4_8o

[2]https://www.sunsigns.org/angel-number-159-meaning/