Next Write Route

Been very busy lately, and just recently came from Tarlac for the 8th National Organic Agriculture Conference.  I was there primarily for Spread Organic Agriculture in the Philippines (SOAP) and my editor for Agriculture Magazine, Zac Sarian said I should write about it.

I am not apt to write about the event per se, but will want to touch on the takes I got, speaking with the different sectors.

BTW, if you want to see the photos taken during the 8th  NOAC:  
Day1 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.228499520542705.55218.215083435217647&type=3
DAY2 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.237950716264252.57630.215083435217647&type=3
DAY3 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.238588632867127.57750.215083435217647&type=3

For FOOD Magazine, Nana Ozaeta gave me THE_Camote to write about!  Perfect timing, as we at SOAP had been working on this.  Short article, direct to the point and visuals should be able to capture the reader....that is why I asked for a photographer to please do it for me :)

Agriculture Magazine November 2011

Now available!

We are honored to be able to write about Sec Proceso Alcala in a different branch :)

True, it wasn't about agriculture, but knowing the man behind it.

Agriculture Magazine Office

Went to pick up some items...let me take you inside....

This is the main lobby.  On your right will be the Classifieds Ads area and your left is the Circulation Department.  See the framed photos on the wall?  Those are the covers of the current issues of the different publications under Manila Bulletin.

As we were discussing some pages to be printed...  That is Mr. Zac Sarian, the editor.  One of the staff for Agri, Mel.

The editor back on his desk.

Agriculture Magazine October 2011

 

Orders for Super Avocado had been pouring in :)

Yes, the ordinary white chicks can be pastured!

 

Housing design is important.  Give them a lot of space, air and sunshine.  The cost of the building in sustainable agriculture need not be expensive.  Imperative that they have easy access to the open range.

The chickens need shaded areas to comfort them from the heat of the sun.  Much like people..how you feel is how they experience it too :)  When we made the shift, other growers tried it too and have seen the logic to pursue it.

FAQs are tackled in our column, email us for your queries.

Doc Rey's column tackles veterinary issues.

Happy 14th Anniversary to Agriculture Magazine!  Honored to be working with you.

Agriculture Magazine September 2011

Yesterday at Agrikapihan, I was excited to see the September issue so I went at 8am. Guess what?  The two stalls that carried it, Teresa Orchard and AANI, had already sold the copies they brought!

Early today, I was going to check out National Bookstore. Since it is a Holiday, no traffic and my relaxed mind brought me just cruising. Next thing I knew I was in Quiapo hahahahahha....so, why not....go to the head office of Manila Bulletin to get copies.

Parking was so easy and the light rain was an easy excuse to don my raincoat:)

The children are really the ones we have to focus on educating:)

We had an easy time interviewing Dante Delima as there was a deeper story other than simply farming.  BTW, my editor says he hardly has to do anything if at all to my submissions.  Thank you.  But for this article...he added two words.  Why?  Maybe because he wanted to edit something, whatever he can.  In the opening paragraph, he added that Dante Delima and "his brother" Tibaw.  Well, they are brothers in sustainable agriculture after all :)

What was hard to do was to write it up, as a short story wasn't going to do it justice.

Dante Delima is worth meeting up in person.  You can't judge a man by his shoes.  Nor can a man's worth be seen in paper.

You have to experience being with a True Blue Farmer :)

Mr. Zac Sarian asked Doc Rey to do what his initial intention was for a column...that from a Veterinarian.  So here is his first article.

Who is Dante Delima?

He is now with the Department of Agriculture, Director III, Bureau of Plant Industry and National Rice Program Coordinator.  That is his official title.

But who is Dante Delima?  What made him be what he is today?

Let's delve into him....editing now for the September issue of Agriculture Magazine.

Agriculture Magazine August 2011

I was at a food writing seminar today, Power of Pen 3, when the Manila Bulletin booth was unpacking and preparing their table. Asking what Agriculture Magazine they had, they said August. Wow...sure? YES!

Happy to write about the Glinoga Organic Farm :)

Natural Farming Family

After being given a column on natural farming in Agriculture Magazine, we knew we wanted to go beyond the topics of simply natural farming. We wanted to show the people behind it, what it takes to be a natural farmer, who are the ones that have the sustainability....natural farming requires dedication and patience :)

A topic that played on our minds is the family as a unit...a natural farming family. Rare time that Doc Rey and I will be on the same wavelength, but we were one on this...the Glinogas.

Mid June, after I rushed my July2011 debut column, I met the Glinogas for an interview. Gold, the younger son, was sick but he patiently obliged and quietly waited. Silver, the older one, animatedly intermediated during the interview. These are 11 and 14 year old boys. I told Doc Rey he missed the wonderful vibes of the family!

Bittie Glinoga, an airforce pilot meets a nurse, Weng Fortun, during a course for paramedics/rescue, where she was the teacher.  One had a land, the other was raised by a farming family. Years later, they wanted to revive the denuded farm and give jobs to Pitogo, Quezon folks.  Glinoga Organic Farm was born.

I won't preempt our column for August 2011, but just a preview of things:

Lubi Lubi or Niyog Niyogan cooked as guinataan

Lagikway used as anti-hypertensive in the Pitogo, Quezon community.  Cooked like Camote Tops.

The Glinoga Organic Farm has a stall at the AANI FTI Weekend Market every Saturday and Sunday.  I told them that I wish that MM of Market Manila discovers them there.  That was in June.  After two (2) weeks, read this post :)  Good things are hard not to be noticed!

Read the full story soon:)

Agriculture Magazine July 2011

Our column "Natural Farming w/ Sandy and Doc Rey" debuts in the Agriculture Magazine for July 2011.

Mr. Zac Sarian makes an announcement in his Agripage of Manila Bulletin:

Breakthrough for natural farming. Great opportunity for Philippines for Natural Farming Inc :)

Natural Farming with Sandy & Doc Rey

This was what kept me excited yesterday as it was confirmed that my 1st article

was accepted with minimal revision (2 words!) and that please send our photos

for showing beside the name (sounded real already) and if we can write the next

article already (am still not yet over the awe that it is real).

Someone told me last week that I should have sent several so the editor may have

a wider selection, if not, my material may just be set aside. I shrugged my

shoulder and thought, we wrote what we thought was best for the 1st :)

Final, Mr. Zac Sarian is giving Sandy and Doc Rey a column. I submitted my copy

with SUNSHINE w/ Sandy and Doc Rey as the original column name. When the final

copy was sent back to me, they changed the column title to "Natural Farming

with Sandy and Doc Rey".

Very good timing when Zac asked us, as it was the perfect venue to market PNFI. 

He didn't give me parameters and I can write about anything. Breakthrough for

marketing of PNFI :)

Background:

Long ago, Rey and Zac were going to do a series of books. Soon after we met

Andry, and the idea came to me about the "He saym She says"....why not "natural

farmer says, Vet says"! Great! But, the natural farming protocols came later,

after that probably when it did, our interest on the project waned or Zac was

preoccupied and didn't want to write it. Can't be sure what was the real

reason.

Last week when we were talking....I didn't even mention yet about PNFI as I was

going to give press releases to market PNFI.....he said he wanted me and Doc Rey

to write a column on livestock and poultry. I asked if he was serious and if he

was, can it be about something that was encompassing and closer to our hearts

now...natural farming. Then he said...perfect to bring back my original idea of

"natural farmers says, Vet says" now perfect!

Look at my article's last line :)

join the Philippines for Natural Farming, Inc on FB

https://www.facebook.com/Philippines-for-Natural-Farming-Inc and on the Yahoo

group http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/philippinesfornaturalfarminginc/

I am lining up already next articles....Mabuhay ang natural farming. Mabuhay

ang PNFI!

Mr. Sarian just called now...waiting for the photos as the July issue is being

laid out, and asking about next article submission....totoo na nga ito.

After These, What Is Next?

Agri Plain Talk, Manila Bulletin, December 11 2010

Agri Plain Talk, Manila Bulletin, Jan 08 2011

Agriculture Magazine, Jan 2011, Page7

Panorama, Jan 02 2011, Page 20 and 21

In December 25 2010, Mag Agri Tayo, shown every Saturday at 9am over Channel 4 had featured the white pastured chickens too.  We are now partnering with them in given a school on the air and will be showing in several episodes our farming practices.  In early 2010 they did a 2part feature on us already, but they are now interested in the whites and the natural farming.  Watch out for the January 29 2011 episode.

Can you guess what the next stories of Mr. Zac Sarian will be focusing on? 

Good Start, Pay Forward

January 2 2011, Panorama of the Manila Bulletin had a two page spread on our pasturing white chickens. January 7 2011, Mag Agri Tayo (Every Saturday, 9am, Channel 4) set an appointment for another shoot next week covering Azolla, fPJ and OHN....this was just after they featured us on white pastured chickens in their December 25 2010 episode.   January 8 2011, Agripage of Manila Bulletin played up the use of Azolla as an alternative feeds for animals.  By mid morning, Channel 5 did a chance interview on us at Mercato Centrale for the Sunshine Chicken and we had another chance to highlight Azolla.

Today, I was also asked how much would Azolla cost?  "It multiplies so fast that I think it is a sin to sell it...besides, we were taught and given time and Azolla, it has to be paid forward to others".

These were the two photos that were used by Mr. Zac Sarian's Agripage, Jan 8, 2011:

AZOLLA IS CHEAP CHICKEN FEED - If you want to economize on feeds for your free range chicken, you should try growing Azolla even if you have just a small fishpond.  Just like what Dr. Rey Itchon is doing in their farm in Santiago City, Isabela.  They raise Azolla in their Tilapia ponds and harvest the water plant for feeding their white chickens which are raised as free range chickens.  The Itchons say that the chickens just love to eat Azolla which is rich in protein.  They only feed their chickens once a day with commercial feeds that is without any antibiotics.  Instead, they enhance the health of their fowls by adding fermented plant juice, which they themselves make, in their drinking water.  Photo above shows the Itchons' pond full of Azolla while at the lower photo, the chickens are relishing the Azolla given them.

Close up of Azolla:

We are now harvesting 50kgs a day, that translates to savings of PHP1500 a day.  That is what we feed the Sunshines.  We haven't even counted our Pangasius and Tilapia that live on Azolla alone.  We did a sampling recently and the growth is comparable to commercial fishponds that are fed with commercial feeds.   

Setting up additional holding areas to bring up the harvest to 100kgs a day :)

Thankful For 2010....Looking Forward To 2011

These past days, I had been composing in my mind how to post for my year ending blog.  I  can just think of blessings.  Am sure I had my share of trials, but those are learning expeditions for future realizations.

For Sunshine Chicken, I can't ask for more.  Only on our 3rd year for the dressed chicken market, we got a lot of media mileage for 2010.  How many TV shows featured us?  At least six (6).  Mag Agri tayo featured us twice this year.  I have to look at their support and of course to Mr. Zac Sarian, Editor for Agriculture of Manila Bulletin, who is always documenting our moves in the pastured, free range chicken industry. Both of them had been covering our transition from colored to white.  The last segment we had in December 25 with Mag Agri tayo will be followed up soon by a TV shoot again next week.  That show got a lot of good reviews and feedback.  Mr. Sarian just wrote about us last week and will follow up in the January issues of Agriculture Magazine and Panorama.

As for our sales for dressed Sunshine Chicken?  Take it from the cue that we are always loading dayold chicks :)

Just as I was composing in my mind how to "Thank" 2010 and everyone...I got a call informing me that Bobby Inocencio passed away while vacationing in Dumaguete.  Bobby is the Father of Free Range Chicken industry in the Philippines.  He reintroduced and opened our eyes again to how chickens should be raised, not just for backyard, but for commercial too. Solraya Enterprises as that time was just into distributing of dayold chicks for Bobby's Teresa Farm.  I may not agree with his business styles, but after we stopped doing business, we maintained friendship.  Later on, when we started importing and selling chicks, roles were reversed and he bought our Sunshine chicks and sold them the the clients who trusted and just wanted to buy from Bobby :)  That is one thing that remained, and SASSO of France knows that...that triangle of work and respect remained between SASSO of France, Bobby of Teresa Farm and Solraya Enterprises.  I had to let France know right away about Bobby's passing away....even before I remembered to call Bobby's UP College barkada (we had common friends).

There will be no Sunshine Chicken if there was no Bobby Inocencio.  We have no unfinished business together and he knew we were friends even after the business deals were over.  Last contact was to greet each other for Christmas.

Thank you to all for the joys and blessings shared.  If we shared trials....that is it...just trials to see how we deal with all of these :)

The 3rd Pinoy Organic Festival

The venue and set up for this show was simple and basic. Tents, ordinary tables, under the trees, in the parking lot. No frills, no extravagance...by default it went with what basic and organic really meant. The attendees were mostly farmers, which is the point of this event. It was a good convergence for farmers like us.

Senator Miguel Zubiri was there. He is the principal author of the Philippine Organic Agriculture Law. At the end, it will really be the organic and natural farming practitioners, herbal advocates and the consumers who will be guided by moral ethics and common sense. Oh well, that is my opinion.

Doc Rey conducted a seminar on the last day. Very well attended and the interest was held.

I went around Sunday morning and found a sweet tuba seller! My favorite drink ever! Asked her to reserve the last bottles for me and asked her if we can go visit her farm. She is one of the few OCCP Certified Organic farms. Timing, because she also wanted to carry Sunshine Chicken in her store to go with her veggies. That should be another post, after we visit the farm.

I asked Mr. Sarian, editor for Agriculture of Manila Bulletin if he wanted to join the trip. That is how agri friends spend time together....farm visits :) We get to enjoy good company and the best fresh produce.

It is those farm tours that allow us to know, where to get what. We really see how the farms are operated and how the produce are grown. Oh no, we are not a certifying body nor an organic organization. We are just enjoying time together with friends.

Mr. Zac Sarian during opening day.

Relations That Work

Means that we collaborate, we work individually, and work with one another....and we are all hard workers :)

It is rare that we get to sit down with friends and still do our jobs. The trade shows offer that kind of opportunity. Most times we are all miles apart, but the shows centralize us.

Doc Rey enjoys day2 of INAHGEN 2010 with Rene Almeda of Alaminos Goat Farm and Mr. Zac Sarian of Manila Bulletin :)

Can you guess what's next?

Ilocos Sur Weekly

We have to thank the coverage that Agriculture Magazine gives us, and their trust in our products. They feature our growers, announce our seminars to reach out to people who wants to learn for livelihood, and report on the different aspects of successful money making ideas.

One province that had supported the Sunshine endeavor is Ilocos Sur. By now, there are several independent growers (who no longer rely on government's dispersal) lechon manok vendors, doing the ready-to-range and food processing.

Why did the ready-to-range prosper? Because the people have compared the quality of those privately raised in comparison to those brooded under make-do-to comply scenario. Watch out for more features by Manila Bulletin on these growing industry :)

And yes, we are able to visit the growers often, because we have an outlet of Solraya there, for Sunshine day old chicks. To make it affordable and readily available.

So, when our friends asked if we wanted to meet up...it was an easy YES! Perfect time to document while doing farm visits. Great meals with friends...

See how uniform the harvest of Corn? The farmer used organic fertilizers. Durabloom in particular.


Side note: This is the image of Our Lady that is pasted in my mind now. When I talk to Her, this is how I see Her. Last Monday, while sitting outside Gov. DV Savellano's office, I saw this statue. Now I know why this is the image in my mind. I see her all the time :) She stands guard outside the Gov's office!

Agriculture Magazine Jan 2009

Talk about great starts....

The latest issue of Agriculture Magazine by Manila Bulletin, has the editor writing about Gov DV Savellano's agriculture projects for Ilocos Sur.

Timely that we are making the trip tomorrow to IS, and bringing with us the gift of media coverage :)

Zac Sarian hopes to be back to Ilocos Sur very soon to check on the harvests and dispersals of Sunshine Chicken in that province. Dispersals are done weekly. They should be harvesting the first batch real soon.

Problems And Anxieties Are God's Gifts

I sounded cool in that earthquake scare? Nahuhuh......I searched on the scare on the internet and exited my browser after being calmed down by notes on the hoax. Then I went by my real assignment here in Cebu :)

Really glad I made this trip, because it brought me down memory lane. My cousins not seen for ages were honestly happy to see a relative on their mother's side. I was the only one, they had no choice. My sister said it will be a nice feeling after...she was right.

Must be a different humor in this pleasant island...but I don't remember laughing in a sermon for a wake. My aunt passed at age 84. The priest recounts how a strong woman she must have been (and she is, trust me!)....1st World War had her at 6yrs, by 2nd World War she was about 14, she saw 7 Popes, and ALL the Philippine presidents. The priest continued to say that she was lucky not to have heard the earthquake scare. I can't really control laughing. Good that my cousins also saw the funny side to all that. Most didn't :)

Age isn't just a number, it does really change us in a lot of ways. We all look like how our aunts/uncles and parents did 30 years ago. Where are their kids...I asked. Well, home, doing their own things. Just like how we were when we were teeners, and now we act and sound like the adults we didn't want to be around us. They were making sure a Manila cousin was to look after their college students.... am sure the same way their mom was making sure a relative watched as they were sent to UP Diliman :)

So scared about coming to this trip alone, I met a lot of "small worlds" in that couple of hours! From exes, classmates, friends.... The tickling thing was when someone asked me what I did for work...I fumbled for words to start off "importing chicken"..and he smiled and jokingly said..."Sunshine Chicken"...OF COURSE, how did he know???? He said he had called me already and spoken over the phone after he read the cover story on the Agriculture Magazine. Good timing that our growers are harvesting now so I was able to refer them.

Back at the hotel, check on email right away. You won't believe this but several emails inquiring about Sunshines after they were led to the blog by their search on the earthquake scare in the Philippines. I immediately checked on the blog's statistics and true enough.....a lot of visitors came, led by their search on the earthquake.

My best presents come in doggie bags.

Tomorrow is a new day that shines :)

DCS Trading, Rosales Pangasinan

This photo is the laugh of my day!

DCS Trading in Rosales, Pangasinan is a long standing dealer of ours.

On our way to Calasiao last Wednesday, I decided to take a photo of the store so I can post it here. Not a great one as the store was still closed before 7am, and I realized that the banner is too small when the dealer displays it up front. So I had no intentions of posting this photo until Danny calls me tonight.

He said "great cover for the Agricuture"...then he goes there is a story I have to know that will make me laugh. I butted in by saying I took a photo of the store...

That was the root of it all :)

I knew he has security cameras, but no big deal to me and I didn't think about it when taking pics. I saw several of his men go in and out as I was parked, but I just took pictures from the rolled down passenger window.

wehehehhehe They called LTO to verify. Of course my name came out as registered owner, but there was a typo so the name didn't register to him, plus of course he calls me by my nickname. They called NBI to tag the car and the name. Wow, good thing I used another car today lol.

Anyway, as he was reading the article in the Agriculture Magazine, our names were there and it dawned on him that it was me taking pictures, my car, no DCS stalker! Aside from the fact that he now saw the typo of the texted name to him, he realized that the plate was sort of personalized and he was able to equate datas.

That is the beauty of long relationships, there are many things you laugh about.

Joey Rigor who does the Sunshine Capons gets his stocks from DCS Trading. We should have Danny around when we visit the farm of Joey in Victoria, Tarlac to feature the capons.

See if DCS has fresh stocks.

Agriculture Magazine, April 2008

We are happy to be on the cover of the latest issue of Agriculture Magazine.

Two of the growers (Maawi Farms and Krukukuk Farm) visited are featured with us in the April 2008 issue.