Organic Seminars, March 10 & 11, Hongkong

SPREAD ORGANIC AGRICULTURE in the PHILIPPINES (SOAP)  

Goes to Hongkong

FREE SEMINARS: Organic Seminars, Mar 10 & 11, Hongkong

FOR: Agriculture Livelihood Projects (ALP), but will be open to all to join

WHERE: FILIPINO WORKERS RESOURCE CENTRE, 650 2/F POST OFFICE BUILDING, CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD, CHEUNG SHA WAN, KOWLOON. contact number 90102198 or 61296301.

PROPOSED SCHEDULE

OPENING REMARKS: Sec Proceso Alcala

MARCH 10 am: Sustainable Organic Agriculture Practices (ASEC Dante Delima)
MARCH 10 pm: Hog Raising (Teresa Saniano)
MARCH 11 am: Pastured Chicken (Rey B. Itchon, DVM)
MARCH 11 pm: Rabbit Raising for Meat Production (ASEC Dante Delima)

OPEN FORUM with Sec Proceso Alcala both afternoons

We'd like to be able to design the courses according to your needs and interests. 

Please email spreadorganicagriculture@yahoo.com with subject: HONGKONG.  Let us hear from you to spread the word better :)

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.

My New Favorite

Because of my involvement with natural farming, marketing and writing, I find myself always looking out for new things.  Or...good, old things that others are taking for granted.

This week was the Department of Agriculture's BAR Agritechno Forum at SM Megamall Trade Halls.

The show also gave weight on the commercial production of naturally farmed native pigs.  All of a sudden I missed our own farm, where we have pastured native pigs.  Yes pastured and just fed fruits and vegetables.

Just the way pigs were raised before

The booth of the Philippine Carabao Center drew me, because I really buy their products on the way to Isabela.  They have a new flavor for their yogurt drink...Dragon Fruit!

It was creamy, pulpy, just the right tanginess...it is my new favorite.  In color, it even standsout beside my all time loved Strawberry Yogurt :)

Dragon Fruit flavored

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.

Casual

Today was the opening of AANI Harvest Festival. Very casual day for us as we knew friends will be there and the event was our homebase group :)

L-R: Pol Rubia, Gerry Manaoag, Pio Rodriguez, Zac Sarian, Doc Rey and Rene Almeda

There were new products and exciting exhibitors so I had fun meeting some people. Different vibes. You know it when its not about agendas :) I hope this new generation is in time to really make changes.

We also looked forward to the seeing again the new Department of Agriculture's Secretary Procy Alcala. This will be our first time to see him after he was named for DA.

We all had good laughs as he saw familiar faces and knew that the "hellos" had no strings attached :) See how honest laughters are!

Department of Agriculture Secretary Procy Alcala

Dialogue With DA Sec Alcala

We were advised last night that DA Sec Procy Alacala had confirmed to attend AANI Harvest Festival opening on July 16 at 8am. Following will be a dialogue with Sec Alcala, that will be open for all.

Join us in this opportunity to meet our new DA Secretary! Open to all. No entrance fees.

AANI Harvest Festival
Quezon Memorial Circle (use Commonwealth gate)
July 16, 8am

File photo taken in 2008. Then Cong. Alcala was always open to discussions and consultations.

Time For Getting On The Ground

Yesterday, it was confirmed that Cong. Procy Alcala will be the new Secretary of Department of Agriculture.

Early this morning, Tere texts that she and Dante are on the way to Manila to do initial support work for Secretary Alcala. Rare time that we can all get together, she calls to ask if time permits, will Zac Sarian and I have time for coffee after work?

The strong rain late afternoon didn't deter us from meeting up. Over dimsum and pots of tea, we shared laughter and just assuring ourselves who the real people are.

Its been sometime now since we all met. As usual, started with Zac and my itchy soles....wanting to get out of Metro and visit farms. For Doc Rey and I it is learning. For Zac, more often than not, in search for stories to tell. We went to Quezon and met the Earthkeepers (search tags Earthkeepers). In one trip to Davao, Tere led us to meet Dante and Tibaw...she said "they are True Blue Farmers".

Rest is history and it started a real respect of one another....not just because of the experience in natural farming...but more of natural people.

I didn't want to miss this...over long conversation, taking photos. I was able to capture the core group of Secretary Alcala.

Dante and Tere were the major movers and researchers for the Likasaka book on natural farming.

They credit the push and spreading of their work, to a lot of support from Zac Sarian of Bulletin.

I am thankful for the opportunity of being with them on a relaxing note. We were not work, we were their break from it all...it was for us all to get grounded. Tomorrow, it is time to get the feet on the ground to do the work.

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.

Why The Tests?

Blood tests are done to monitor the health and condition of the Certified Parent Stocks. Aside from us owners wanting to make sure they are healthy, the government, namely the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture monitors to make sure they know the history of the flocks that are given local shipping permits.

They do testings at about 2months old and at 6months old when the local shipping permits will be applicable to that particular batch. When there is a problem on poultry in a particular area, records will show what were shipped to that area on a particular time. Records are very important. They can refer to the history of the breeders that shipped on the particular date of chick-ins.

Say hello to our September2009 batch. They eagerly awaited BAI's arrival.


There were looking as Doc Arlene and Hermie were preparing.


They patiently waited for their turn.

Naga Seminar UPDATED

DA in Camarines Sur have just been in touch and wants to schedule a seminar for Raising Sunshine Chickens for March 06. This will be done on the same day as their dispersal of 1month old Sunshines.

This is thru the project of Cong. Luis Villafuerte, who had started to order Sunshines since late 2007.

You may coordinate with DA Cam Sur. Meantime, keep those dates open, so you may attend our FREE seminar in Naga. Doc Rey intends to be in the area, for your questions, for a couple of days.

DA Guimba Seminar

Scheduled for tomorrow, January 16 at 2pm.

LGUs in the area have requested for a seminar on Raising Sunshine Chicken. If you are interested, feel free to join.

If you want a seminar held in your area, just coordinate with us and we will conduct one for you.

AANI Christmas Bazaar

December 11-14, to be held at the AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center, East Ave Gate, Quezon Memorial Circle.

Various agricultural products will be made available as this will be in partnership with Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

This may be the last grand activity for the year in this location, as come January 2009, we move to the other side. I actually like the new site better. Coming from Commonwealth Ave, you enter the Commonwealth entrance of Quezon Memorial Circle. You will see the AANI to your right, with perfect parking. If you are driving around the Elliptical Circle, you will find it at the tip of Commonwealth Ave, across Philippine Coconut Authority.

Agrilink 2008

I only had time to take pictures when I was fixing up booth early before the opening, so no photos of the real life of the Agrilink 2008. Such a pity to miss documenting it...but it stays in us :)

Remember my post on thought balloons? How I was segregating my thoughts and calendars in my own "thought balloons" to sort of give comic relief and allow myself to see through a child's eyes? I had no idea yet how I was to spruce up the Sunshine booth. Then, it dawned on me...BALLOONS! Why the choice of colors? Those are the colors of our new improved Sunshine lines :)

As soon as the guard allowed me to enter World Trade Center, I prepped the booth. Then two men were walking up, talking, then stopped at their heels. I guess the booth was effective as an eye catcher :) I didn't know the man in barong, but the second man in t-shirt..hmmm...I realized after a couple of seconds was Sec. Arthur Yap. Soon after, Doc Rey arrived and started talking with the two men. Wehehehhe...it was much much later that he realized it was the Secretary of the the Department of Agriculture.

He will remember our unrehearsed booboos as he walked through with Pres GMA and stopped by our booth and explained to her about the Sunshines. They took pictures with the Sunshine chicks display.

I tell you, those scenes made the Secretary rememember Doc Rey, as he greeted Doc Rey as he was having coffee again later, "bata, madami ka na bang benta?". Doc Rey again didn't recognize him as he was now in barong :)

Louis Perrault, GM for SASSO arrived also. Dinner was a good time to unwind and have laughs outside work.

Next day, there was this man talking/laughing with us about our booboos with the Secretary (oh he was the other man in barong). I asked Pol Rubia who he was...Lydon Tan was the name.

Agrilink 2008 was so busy for us. We had an indoor booth under the French Pavilion, and an outdoor booth under the Friends of AANI tents :) Our outdoor staff was so busy with the retail sales of Sunshines and dressed chickens. It was so cute that people would inquire if the vacuum packed chickens were available. I guess that's our trademark now. Good decision to have a big freezer full for Oct 9-11.

Very successful! Not just in terms of sales. I will say far more than just income.

See you in my next thought balloons.

"Sec Yap, see you in Isabela"!

Come To The 1st Rice Expo

It's ALL ABOUT the FILIPINO RICE

AANI posted this flyer in our booth during the Philippine International Flora & Fauna. It got a lot of attention. We hope it catches you too and attend the event :)

Of course we will be there!

Dawn At AANI Sa Boystown

Early this year, the Department of Agriculture started a techno-demo farm, a joint initiative with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim at the Manila Boystown Complex, Parang Marikina. It was a doable project, but if the supervisors were not focused nor passionate about the activity, it may not succeed. Eventually the project was abandoned.

The techno-demo farm and rehabilitation of idle land in Boystown was now offered to Agri Aqua Network International (AANI), the endeavor is still with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and an able Col. Levi Viesca who is present at the site Mondays through Fridays. The City of Manila will assist in the marketing of the produce of the demo farms.

When we went there yesterday, we saw the initial work by Pol Rubia on the vegetable plots. They have already harvested and sold at the AANI markets.

We walked around and Pol showed us the spot alloted for the Sunshine Chicken. He had always been ecstatic about the project and where we will be. Now I understand fully. The place is perfect for urban farming. Thank you for our location! Right by the entrance (perfect security), beside the church, and it has a building that may be used for housing by the AANI boys and as brooder room.


Before our visit there yesterday, I was searching on Boys Town and that was when I read about the DA's techno-demo farm, during Mayor Atienza's time they wanted to convert this facility to a housing development and abuses allegedly committed by the former administrator :(

Walking through the facility is a humility reality check. Pol was talking with the boys and you can hear about not seeing parents, former street children etc. Now you see them playing, courteous although some are still aloof and wary of new faces like us. As for the senior citizens, they were waving at us :) Maybe thinking that not too long ago they were just our ages.

If you consider an agri-tourism-civic trip, AANI Sa Boys Town should be an option....

Sunshine At AANI Sa Boys Town!

Dispersals by DA-CAR, Free Seminar February

The dispersal of Department of Agriculture-CAR for the Hunger Mitigation Program, of 5000+ Sunshine Chicks, had been awarded to our dealer in the area.

A free seminar is scheduled about the 2nd week of February, in Baguio. More like 14Feb :)

Everyone will be welcome to attend. Will post details once final.

Biosecurity

We get requests to visit our breeder farm. Sorry, but for biosecurity reason, we do now allow visitors. It will be to your utmost interest, our clients, that we are able to maintain our breeders in top health. Even amongst us partners, we refrain from doing so, as we have one assigned to breeding anyway, while others are assigned to finance and marketing.

That is the main reason why we maintain our booths at AANI FTI, AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center and our demo on urban farming at the rooftop of our Fairview outlet.

You will see us there and able to get one on one pointers in raising our Sunshine Chickens.

Periodically, we have our free seminars. If you want seminars in your area, coordinate with your local DA, Municipal officers etc and advise them that we may be contacted for FREE SEMINARS in your area.

Recent dispersals have been in CAR, Bicol and Batangas.

Let's work hand in hand with government to give us all, Sunshines on our tables and to help us in livelihood.

We didn't decide to call it Sunshine for nothing. Sunshine gives us freshness and hope...it doesn't cost a lot to raise Sunshines... let's not forget the health benefits and of course the taste. Lasang native!