Where Do I Retire?

After all the relaxing moments I get when we are on the road for seminars ( we treat those trips as vacations), talking with friends about the need for a retirement place for us as a group, so you know you will enjoy the same activities and circle of friends...it led me to look for the these photos to show my friends.

This property was bought by my parents in the 70s and it eventually went to me. It used to be part of Alaminos, but is now part of Baybay Norte in Sual, Pangasinan. Picture a "letter U" jotting out from a shore of white sand. I didn't appreciate it before as a kid to have a hill because it took time to run to the water. But now I see how lovely it is to own a hill with a beach almost all around, 360degrees view of water.

This is the left side of the property taken from afar to appreciate the elevation of the land and the view it can get from all sides. This side is the salvage area. May not be a tempting sight for most, but as a child I loved this area. I would go there by myself and those rocky formation gave me my own small pools with colorful fishes as company. Still does today, although I can't say I will still fit into those small pools.

As you walk towards the property, before you climb to the top, from the left side...this is your view. No obstructions, you get the view of the beach beside you. Close to still virginal state. Seaweeds are the only conceived dirt on the sand. The people you see there is the crew of surveyors we got, to map out and make sure of the concrete posts.

I took this photo as I emerged from thr right side of the property, now facing the beach proper. To my right, will also be water view..remember this property stuck out..sort of a tongue shaped.

We climbed back on the left side of the property. Now I appreciate the hillside, not really a cliff, as I can maneuver the climb up :) If I built a house at the top, I think I want to have sort of pier or terrace that extends to the sea, from this elevation. This beach area is so calm. If you walk in the water, you walk for a long distance at knee deep. When the water decided to get deeper, you won't notice the very gradual way it did.

Not yet quite at the top :) But the photo gives you a clear idea of the possibilities in terms of developing, and the view of 360degrees. At the back side, at the top, you see mountains, but still get a view of the still and expansive waterscape.

Thankful that my father chose this. He should have the eye for beach property, granting that he was from Alaminos, the home of Hundred Islands. 30yrs after, the property is still far from the chaotic life.

On The Road

If we are quiet, it means we are busy on the road. Yesterday we logged in 600kms, going to Pangasinan...Alaminos, Sual, Binmaley etc. Very productive, thank you.

I have on my "To Do" list, to go look for a mobile home :)

Alaminos City

An invitation got to us today to exhibit and do a seminar for the Alaminos City agri trade show in March 17-22.

Calendar checked and made this enormous reason to pay realty taxes on time, w/c of course falls within March.

So far its a YES....will keep you posted for seminar schedules.

Typhoon Cosme

The grower affected by the devastation of typhoon Cosme over North-Western Luzon is Maawi Farms.

Power is expected to be out for the next two months at least. Two houses are down. Lost about 100 layers because of the heavy pile that fell on them.

Maawi is thankful to the hotels who supported them at the onset of the power outage. Increasing their orders so Maawi will not be burdened by dressed chickens.

BUT over all....they are doing GREAT! Actually, loadings of Sunshines have increased. Hotel and deli clients are adding in numbers. Eggs from their grass/organic vegetables fed Sunshines are always fully booked. They are now using vacuum packing for the dressed meat. Very happy using Feedpro, the unmedicated commercial feeds we wrote about a few weeks back (the same brand that TJ uses).

They are expected to join our other growers for the trade shows we are lined up to participate in.

Can't wait to go visit them again soon....maybe when we take the route of the Pampanga growers :)

Realty Taxes In Alaminos City

I had to do some errands to pay real estate taxes, first thing in the morning Monday.

One thing lead to the other...next thing we knew we were meeting with the City Administrator, City Agriculturist and City Veterinarian.


Premature to talk about the meeting now, but the brewed coffee and galapong na bibingka were so good. Hmmmm....seconds weren't offered :(

Hope to see some i-NANI sa ALAMINOS soon.

Maawi Organic Farms Meets Zac Sarian

After Zac Sarian's interest in our Sunshines, capons and Zacsess stories :), we had been visiting our regular growers.

Farm visit #2 is Maawi Organic Farms in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Very close to my heart, as Alaminos is where my roots started.

After the radio program and breakfast, March16...as Zac entered the vehicle, he asked in jest to make sure that there was an AM radio working. Why? Boxing! We didn't stop for meals, got to Lucap when the bout was on it's last two rounds, so we stayed inside the car :)

Good thing we knew who won....then we had lunch of assorted inihaw of seafoods and of course Alaminos longganisa. There was no arorosep. It would have been perfect.

Headed to Maawi Farms of Jocelyn and David. As usual, I documented the farm visit...taking photos of the picture takings and interviews.


The vegetables and fruits are grown organically, so are the Tilapias. We spent a lot of time under the shade of the trees and taking in fresh air.

Next stop was where the Sunshines are...before the sun sets :)

First batch of Maawi was in April2007, loading 1000 regularly. Since they were neophytes and not based in the Philippines when they started, they didn't have any market for their dressed chickens at that time.

I encouraged them to dress the males and keep the females. For one, the males were heavier and commanded a higher price. But the best reason was #2.....they will be the only ones who will have eggs from ranging Sunshines come October2007, perfect time for the Agrilink2007.

As we were talking last weekend, she saw the light to that difficult first steps in marketing and that yes, she is the only one now with eggs from ranging Sunshines, on commercial quantity. They are now thankful that her 2nd batch of layers have started to drop.

Now supplying several hotels, delis and restaurants with her organic fruits, vegetables, dressed chickens and of course eggs.

Watch out for farm visit #3

Maawi Organic Vegetable & Chicken Farm

When the idea of going to Alaminos, Pangasinan was brought up at 6am...I said "YES"!

This is where half of my roots are from.

We left AANI QC Circle at 9am. Got to Sausalito for lunch a little after 1pm. Those two pictures were taken from the food place.

Jocelyn and David did well with the farms. The chicken farm is separate from the organic vegetables, so biosecurity is better.

There are five poultry houses. Good we went there as from initial photos sent, I thought the buildings were elevated. Nope, they were built on the ground, so no expense for flooring. The side doors open straight to range areas and kept open for the chickens to go in and out during the day.

There was a time they decided to experiment and got some chickens from another supplier. Mortality was high and they were not as resistant to diseases as the Sunshines.

We were brought to the vegetable farm also. I took so many photos, but I don't know how my digital could have gotten them over exposed. Good the video came out well.

No pesticides used here.

They have always aimed to create a niche in the 2.5kilos and over, chickens. Keeping standards to harvesting at 85-90days minimum. Slowly they are getting their footprints in the market.

The eggs from her uncaged Sunshines are being taken by a French patisserie with several branches in Manila. A couple of hotels have called them back after they submitted samples, a large chain is making an initial order.

Jocelyn and David are enjoying doing the rounds selling their chickens and vegetables that they are proud of.

From Maawi Organic Farm in Alaminos, Pangasinan

Jocelyn sent new pictures showing the Sunshines ranging :)

She first called to inquire about free range chicks at a time we decided to put on hold our distribution until we got the quality we wanted.

I am sure that since April 2007, when we now have Sunshine Day Old Chicks, she was glad we didn't sell her substandards before.