Frank And Healthy Minds

None Of The Above: The “Masaganang Sakahang Kabalikat Rotavator” (“MSK Rotavator”) is my proposed physical and richly rewarding image. Rotavator examples shown above, I am dedicating this intellectual effort to “The Farmers Who Need To Rise From Poverty To Prosperity.” {Images: “Kuliglig” from youtube.com , “Kubota” from facebook.com ) The name is in honor of Father Ciriaco “Acong” Sevilla Jr , who was the trailblazer of the Roman Catholic movement called “ Munting Sambayanang Kristiyano ” (MSK) . Each MSK is a small community of Catholic parishioners cultivating their love of God and of fellowmen. I wrote a tribute to Father Acong years ago, in 2013L “Remembering Fr Acong. Hero For The Church Of The Poor” ( Frank A Hilario , blogspot.com ). His heroism comprised building an incredible 400+ MSKs in the Gumaca Diocese from 1980 to 2007! (Me, I want to be a hero for the poor farmers.) I wrote the other Sunday, “Lessons Learned From Roman Catholic “Father Acong” About Successfully Bui

Aside from solving the problem of delivering on his promise of a P 20/kg rice for PH consumers in the Philippines as according to my advice in my earlier essay, BBM can regenerate the damaged heart of PH Agriculture by focusing on organic farming – smartly with my proposed reinvention of the rotavator. (“Bongbong” from twitter.com , “Heart” from futurity.org ) Wednesday, 27 Oct 2022, I blogged, “How Farmers Can Grow Miracle Rice II, Vendors Sell At P20/kg And Make Millions Filipinos Healthier & Farmers Happier!” ( Frank And Healthy Minds , blogspot.com ). There, I mentioned Organic Agriculture (OA) as the simple/not-so-simple triggering solution to BBM’s problem of producing P 20/kg rice for consumers. As well I mentioned that the rotavator needs to be redesigned so that it automatically works for the farmer towards OA – the reinvented rotavator will automatically create and distribute evenly on any field full of weeds an automatic plant-soil-mix mulch. As it deserves, I

"How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?” was one of the songs featured in the 1959 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, “The Sound Of Music.” When Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr was running for President, he promised a P 20/kg rice. So, how do you solve a problem like a “ P 20/kg rice?” (BBM with farmers from northluzon.politics.com.ph , prices from reuters.com ) Here comes columnist Segundo Eclar Romero who puts ““Two Questions For Marcos Jr” (25 Oct 2022, Inquirer, inqm.news ): Responding to gentle suggestions that he should appoint a full-time Agriculture Secretary, President Marcos Jr is adamant that he will hold on to the position, saying he is “still needed there.” … The problems in the agriculture sector are “so difficult that it will take a president to change and turn it around.” “The problems in the agriculture sector are ‘so difficult that it will take a President to change and turn it around.” Yes! That is, if you don’t have a roadmap leading to P 20/kg rice! The

Recently, on Facebook the title of Eric North’s BS thesis (Bachelor of Linguistics, 2013, Cornerstone University in Michigan) caught my attention: “Philippine English, Linguistic Imperialism and English Language Teaching.” A Filipino writer in English, certainly I disagree with “linguistic imperialism” as applied on both sides of the fence. “Words have power” indeed, but you have to form them from somewhere to become a message. My wide & wild & wizened googling convinced me 25 years ago – I’m 82, thank God! – English is the most powerful language in the world, has the most knowledge . I say: “ English is power !” (“Words” from dreamstime.com , “Knowledge” from quotesgram.com ) I have been a writer mostly in the manner of the American Reader’s Digest , unusually & actively communicating starting 1975 when I began founding & becoming the Editor In Chief of the 3 major publications of the Forest Research Institute (FORI) – monthly newsletter Canopy , quarterly tec

No ladies included, I don’t know why; 6 gentlemen are competing to be the next UP President: Patrick Alain T Azanza, Salvador B Belaro Jr, Angelo A Jimenez, Fidel R Nemenzo, Benito M Pacheco, and Fernando C Sanchez Jr . A UP alumnus, I care less who they are – I care most about what each as UP leader can present as Vision & Mission . They are Catanduanes State University President Patrick Alain Azanza , former 1- Edukasyon Party-List Representative Salvador Belaro Jr , former Faculty Regent Angelo Jimenez , current UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo , former UP Diliman Vice Chancellor For Research And Development Benito Pacheco. and former UP Los Baños Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr . My goggling says: Mr Azanza is “considered an expert in ICT-based education and ISO-certified learning environment” ( facebook.com ). Mr Belaro “studied PhD in Educational Leadership Management at UP College of Education” ( facebook.com ). Mr Jimenez is a lawyer ( asiapacificbasin.org

I have been reading & rereading the book “ Father Ciriaco Alberto Sevilla, Jr – MSK Trailblazer” (242 pages, published 2010 in Lucena City, edited by Milwida S Reyes ). A 12-year-old book – is the content still relevant to come up with a new version? My answer is, “Yes!” Personally, I want the book to highlight the love for the poor parishioners that Father Acong showed, as he had single-mindedly created 400+ Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the far-flung villages of Quezon Province before he died Oct 2007. If that is not love for the poor, I don’t know what love is! About the BECs, Msgr Lope C Robredillo, VG, says [“An Overview Of The Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), From The Other Side Of History , msgrlope.blogspot.com ]: The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines devotes two paragraphs to describe the BECs… “They are small communities of Christians, usually of families who gather together around the Word of God and the Eucharist.” As Roman Catholic, an edit

“I know that youth action is key in transforming agri-food systems to feed the world” – former PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar said in his keynote speech at the FAO World Food Forum last Tuesday in Rome, Italy. I am reading Mr Dar’s speech, “Transforming Rice-Based Agri-food Systems,” delivered 18 Oct 2022 at the World Food Forum, which covered Youth Action, Science & Innovation , and Investment . That said, of all the speakers at the forum, why am I singling out Mr Dar? Because he is a Filipino primate like me, and he had been my favorite PH Secretary of Agriculture in the last 24 years since President Erap appointed him in 1998. He has excellent international exposure. With his Vision, Mission & Strategy , his 15-year Director General-ship of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in India brought ICRISAT from dead last to #1 among 15 CGIAR agencies, including IRRI. Unbelievable! We adult primates having failed our

This is excellent news – Women in the Philippines are now reinventing organic farming! So says Jun N Aguirre in his latest article, “How Tulunan Women Are Reinventing Organic Farming” (10 Oct 2022, Daily Tribune , tribune.net.ph ). No, the women are not from my Luzon – Tulunan is in their Mindanao. (Mr Aguirre is from the Visayas.) As I see it, “ Reinventing ” here means “making it easy & rewarding to do everyone would want to do it.” What exactly are Tulunan women doing to reinvent organic farming? They are converting food waste into organic fertilizer in just 3 days – instead of 3 weeks! They are using the Compost Activator Solution (CAS) concocted by Lorie Pablo Daquioag , a satellite engineer, native of Tubungan, Iloilo. The activator comes in a planting kit that includes 1,000 mL of CAS, an up-cycled 15L waste bucket, 3 packs of seeds, 10 pieces of planting pots, compost soil, and a 250-mL measuring cup. The complete planting kit is an innovation by itself, and a savio

Sunday, 16 Oct 2022, is “World Food Day” and the theme is “Leave No One Behind.” The Food & Agriculture Organzation (FAO) of the United Nations says, “Millions of people around the world cannot afford a healthy diet” (FAO, fao.org ). What is the problem? FAO says, “The problem is access and availability of nutritious food.” Oh, I agriculturist from the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños believe in what the FAO is saying, 376 words in all, under the title “Leave NO ONE   Behind” – especially this part: Governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society and individuals need to work together in solidarity to prioritize the right of all people to food, nutrition, peace and equality. Indeed, every one of us, including youth, can work towards an inclusive and sustainable future, showing greater empathy and kindness in our actions.   To all that, I say, “Yes, ladies & gentlemen!” Unfortunately, FAO does not mention at all the double-headed hydra called Che

It occurred to me today, Sunday, 16 October 2022, that changing the symbol of the University of the Philippines System (UP) is long overdue – because the Oblation (smaller but sunnier image) has ever inspired disapproval , even radicalism, and never creativity ! This is a creative person writing, self-taught in communication and in digital media – yes, I am a UP alumnus, 1965. The bigger image is my photograph (taken 29 July 2016) of the fiberglass sculptural piece of Maria Pureza Escaño , which she titles “The Rose Of Marya: Service Through Excellence” ( Maria Pureza Escaño , weebly.com ). Commissioned by the Sigma Delta Sorority , “Marya” is now a landmark at the UP Los Baños Alumni Plaza. Ms Maria says of it: Recently, Maria Pureza Escaño was handpicked by the University of the Philippines for her concept and rendition of "The Rose of Marya: Service through Excellence," an allegorical seven-foot fiber glass sculpture celebrating100 years of excellence and service to

“Magaling si BBM kasi pumili siya ng magaling na Secretary of Justice!” I say. (BBM is wise choosing a wise Secretary of Justice!) I say he knows what he is doing is right – “he” referring to either or both of them. Sol Nolasco shares on Facebook (inset) PH Justice Sec Jesus Crispin Remulla’s declaration from the Daily Tribune about the drug case of his son Juanito Jose Remulla III: Isang pagsubok lang Ito sa aking pamilya, sa aking sarili, at marahil, in so many ways, pagsubok sa ating bansa on how we handle a sensitive matter like this… I'm the head of the Justice Department, I will let justice take its course. This is only one test for my family, for myself, and maybe, in so many ways, test for our country on how we handle a sensitive matter like this… I'm the head of the Justice Department, I will let justice take its course. (my translation) Repeat: Juanito’s father is PH President BBM’s appointee as Secretary of Justice. “I will let justice take its course” –

Are Filipinos world-class citizens and lovers of good food? “Lovers of good food” I can swear to – here is inspiring news I learned only today arising from the World Rice Conference held in Makati (Manila) 3 years ago, in Nov 2019: Renucci Rice is “World’s 3 rd Best” – after Vietnam’s and Thailand’s rices. The first time is always the best time! I confess that I, a wide reader in the digital world, did not know this before until my friend Jerry A Quibilan sent me an email note pointing to Jarius Bondoc’s article in The Philippine Star (12 Oct 2022, “Leyte Rice Is World’s 3rd Best; Other Provinces Can Aspire Too” ( philstar.com ). Very much welcome news – and then I noted that Mr Bondoc is reporting news that is 3 years old! Mr Bondoc says: Leyte-[grown] Renucci Rice is the world’s third best. Although a last-minute entry in the World Rice Conference in Makati, November 2019, it beat 27 other [entries] in appearance, texture, moisture, aroma and grain length. Only perennial winne

Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr was elected President of the Philippines and its 7000+ islands high tide or low tide. He is the Leader of all Government Leaders of the country. He should give up being Secretary and be the President of all Secretaries of all administrative departments in the islands. I full-blooded Ilocano (FBI) say BBM is best in that role. With Climate Change roaring upon us in the forms of super-typhoons and floods and landslides, “now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country!” (Images: “PEP” from pep.ph , “Manila” from climateadaptationplatform.com ) I FBI am thinking of who will be the next Secretary of Agriculture. One who is independent-minded, as I am. He believes 100% in Balanced Fertilization – use chemical fertilizers & pesticides in here and use organic fertilizers & pesticides there. Differently, I believe 100% in Regenerative Agriculture (RA), which calls for 100% organic materials & methods. First things first: Wha

BBM is leading the Department of Agriculture (DA) to transform PH Agriculture. I have been expecting him to come out with a Roadmap… a roadmap is not a straight line… “From Farmer Poverty to Prosperity.” (“Roadmap” from slidesgo.com ) ANN says “BBM Sets Directions To Transform PH Agriculture” (Author Not Named, 08 Oct 2022, Manila Times , manilatimes.net ). Not so fast, Miss ANN! When you give directions, you must describe where you’re coming from vis-a-vis where you’re going! What PH Agriculture Roadmap? We can learn from experts, and I find this clue helpful: “Vision And Mission Statements -- A Roadmap Of Where You Want To Go And How To Get There” (Aug 2016, Iowa State University , extension.iastate.edu ): “Where you want to go and how to get there.” Miss ANN says: The Department of Agriculture being [led] by the [President] himself, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, brings a new dimension to the development of the country's farming and fishery sector, especiall