AANI Hour

Today is the intro for AANI Hour over GNN Destiny Cable. It will be aired every Thursday, 10-11am.

For the intro, they will have the President and Vice President, Mr. Zac Sarian and Eng. Pol Rubia respectively, of AANI.

Surely, it will be guesting people in the know in agriculture in the next weeks.

AANI ng Sunshine Chicken at Teresa Orchard

Double meaning...yes. But either way, you get the image and feeling of collaboration :)

We were at ingress early this morning for our outdoor booths at Agrilink 2009. On my right is Teresa Orchard of Zac Sarian and on my left is the retail of AANI (Agri Aqua Network International).

Pol Rubia has set up our tents and we peeped early to see how simple and doable we can show housing for our Sunshines. We go back later this afternoon to just hang nets, and kubo housing.

We are next to fantastic structures, but we planned it this way....we use the difference to accent our advantages :)

Our friend supplier of SM Supermarkets was complaining today that not all SM outlets are able to move his goods. I said "think of it the other way....you are creating a certain market and you are sticking to it...SM may ride on it". O diba?

Underrated

Is how I will talk about Bamboos.

I must have mentioned that I like the graceful sway in the wind of the Bamboo trees, when I talked about my Buddah Bamboo and my walking stick :) I read more about the different varieties and learned that Bamboo is a hardy specie of grass that grows real fast. I asked that some sticks from an ordinary Bamboo be stuck on the ground around the farm.

My interest on them was rekindled with a talk with Bamboo people recently. How their international organization is teaching farmers to plant and process Bamboo. How it will answer the housing problems as it is "plant, grow and build your own house w/ Bamboo". I fell in love not just with the concept, but with the passion those two ladies had about what they were into.

Either I haven't been to the farm for a year (UNLIKELY) or they really do grow faster than fast....surprised to see I have several Bamboo trees now....We should have a lot of Bamboo Shoots for food.


I'd like to have a collection of the different varieties of Bamboo. The Buddah I have and will start getting others. I fell in love with the Black Bamboo when I saw it in Capt Bong Reamon's farm.


Another food that I saw growing beside the photographed Bamboo is the gorgeous deep Purple colored Ube. We have several of these in the farm. We got this from Tony Lucero as he was ecstatic about this variety being sought after by Ube food processors. Pol Rubia got several too, planted and sold the seedlings. We replanted it, so we have several vines now. Really nice, malagkit and deep colored ones. I love it boiled with just a sprinkling of Sugar.

My other Ube vines are more mature and thicker. They also have large dark Purple leaves...huge, like fans.

There are some things you really plan for over time. Visualize what you want and work on it now for tomorrow.

As they say.....frequent a bar when you want drunkards in your midst. Invest time and effort on what you want.

Just like Bamboo Shoots and Ube....they are not seen, but are good food. All you have to do is dig :) Both are ironically "literally" underrated.

When Eating Is Work

I had been so excited about November 13. Always felt that 13 is my lucky number, this is one instance where it proves it.

About mid October, my good friend Margie said that Nana Ozaeta, Editor in Chief of F & B World magazine, wanted to feature naturally grown products. Margie said we should hook up together. Nana was leaving for the US the next day, but we started exchanging emails. She said she will want to do a story when she gets back in early November.

I didn't want to get my excitement up...as it seemed to me like "we'll call you".

Lo and behold, I did get again an email from Nana for an interview and shoot for the 13th. Just about the time we were setting that date, was when I had taste testing at Zucchini's, and Didi was also supposed to be in touch with Nana. Perfect timing huh????

F & B World crew met up with me to go to AANI Urban Farm in Antipolo. We went around the two ranging areas there, and Nana, Betty, Gold and Christian enjoyed the farm. Chickens, native pigs, and organically grown vegetables. Pol and Tita were gracious hosts and even cooked Sunshine Tinola and Fried Chicken. We had home cooked food and the sweetest, freshly picked salad vegetables. It was good to have our fill as Zucchini's is fine dining and we didn't want to go hungry.

After a hearty lunch, we hopped to Sct Tuazon cor Sct Castor for a shoot of the Grass Fed Chicken Confit. When we got to Zucchini's, I sort of wondered where we were going to be as it seemed there was no table for a big group. We were led to the function room. Gilbert Lee was going out and yikes, he knew Nana again. Did I mention in an earlier post that this guy knew all of my real high school buddies, individually at that! We didn't know we all knew him. He must be taken as consultant by the likes of Facebook.

As we entered, Christian immediately set up for photo shoot. Hey, when he was taking my pictures at the farm, it was kidstuff. Not here...weheheheh he took the liberty of using bottles around to prop his aluminum foils for lighting effects. He dropped a bottle and the waiter instantly gushed "that's the most expensive bottle of wine". Nope, Christian didn't lose his car today, but decided to use steak sauce bottles as props.

Why did i say that eating is work???? We had lunch already, right? And now, from 12pm...until the time we decided to tour the office and kitchen...was 5pm already! What did we have? Almost the whole new menu of Zucchini's. You will not understand when I say that I got tired by all that lifting of forks to eat. Appetizers to deZZerts. AANI to Zucchini's....we ate all, A to Z.

When you want to eat good food, well thought and done with care...partake of Chef Richard's creations. I told the F & B World crew they had to see the kitchen. I go through a lot of backdoors in delivering. This is one kitchen that will tell you the washrooms are surely sanitized. The office upstairs show happy employees. What I saw for the first time today was the staff room of the restaurant. Didi knows how to take care of her staff. I sort of saw that when I had part of employees' meal last week. But seeing her staff room with double decks, airconditioning, well stacked kitchen, lockers that look like they were for a coat room...you see how she cares about the personal details. What caught my eye more? A note on the door that sort of went what to watch out for during a storm or a flood.

The good food is just the Cherry on top of the ice cream....today was super good company and values seen.

Let me show only these pictures taken. I will not preempt Christian's work for the day. You can see more in their Jan 2009 issue.

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"!

Durian Is Coming

Do you recall last year's Durian Festival at AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center?

It will be back. Pol Rubia said the Durians are arriving Friday....so YES!!! It should be there by Saturday?

I can almost smell it...and I hope there are real ripe Puyat varieties on the first day.

If you are one of the special people who enjoy Durians - You know now where to go.

Inihaw Na Sunshine At AANI Herbal Garden And Livelihood Center

Remember the empty space beside the AANI office?

See how it looked today.


I got there this morning....I knew Gerry had done something good, basing from how my nose lead me to that spot (of course I knew what he was starting today, but I meant that "ang sarap ng amoy"). From where I was inside the AANI office, the folks seated at Cafe Amadeo were very visible. You can see happy faces. Looking at the plates infront of them, you could guess they had Inihaw na Sunshine!

Gerry offered me a piece of Inihaw. Declined...its business :) Bought three (3) pieces and I shared it with the AANI office staff and Raymond of Daily Dose Farm who was having a seminar on Vermicomposting in the next few minutes. Well, Raymond broke a piece into two. Held one on each hand, and alternately took a bite off the pieces. Parang ayaw ipahingi diba?

Observe how con gusto his seminar was, after the Inihaw...


Glad to see Bing (Bingbong of PCARRD forums)....she was there with her three (3) boys and dad. Lucky, still had some chicken for them.

To start off, I heard it will be a weekend and festival thing. Then add FTI, and hopefully move on.

The marinade, whatever it was, am sure was good. But also, the Sunshine itself was tasty.

Sweet Tuba

Been wanting to blog about Sweet Tuba before. When I was dying to have one, I called Coconut Authority to find a source. The person who answered me didn't know what it was ... "was it for export?" she asked me :)

..good MM did (see link below).

Have you had sweet tuba before? You should! Very refreshing, perfect thirst quencher and I will say that it is healthy, basing from the natural high and laxative effect on me :) Like taking Lipovitan and fiber.

Years ago as a child, I remember having this fresh from the coconut trees, when we visit Liliw, Laguna. As a child you normally don't appreciate the simple good things. Some 8yrs ago, I was reintroduced to this in Pangasinan. This time, the sweet tuba tasted differently to me. Was it because the source in Pangasinan are from Anahan looking palm trees?

You buy it early morning, drink it along the roadside. You can't miss the stalls with carton signages for SWEET TUBA. They had family sized soda bottles, so you can see the light rose heavenly liquid. I say this one is far the best tuba.

Very recently, I saw some at OPTA Cooperative in the Katipunan area, sourced from Sorsogon. Then I also asked Pol Rubia of AANI to get me some since he has a farm in Candelaria, Quezon.

The one I get from OPTA is really sweet....too sweet infact for my tuba taste. The one from Pol is more on the sourish state....

Then I came across MM's post...and YIKES, the fresh sour tuba might be from none recently cleaned PVC containers.

I will see that image when I drink...but it won't stop me from having my bottles of tuba.

Everyday Sweet Sunshine

Have you seen the new Coke ad on tv?

Last week, Pol Rubia was talking about doing ihaw ihaw of Sunshines in the two locations of AANI.

Next day my son tells me that his gf is in the new Coke commercial. Didn't put much to that as she always does ads.

Next day I saw it on tv...my attention got caught by the ad's jingle....

"Everyday sweet sunshine...."


Inihaw na Sunshine should go great with Coke :)

Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura

We had been absent for sometime during the Sunday, Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura of DWWW 774.

Today, as I was driving to DWWW, I mentioned to Doc Rey..... "feels like going home"!

Nina is still on maternity leave. Zac, the bunso, is sick (kulang sa Chakara tea).

It was Ka Pio's bday. But birthday or not, the group is always in a jolly and eating mood. The best parts are during station IDs when everyone engages in small talks.

The EDSA Garden House team was there, Pearl and Adela. Guest for today was Dir Adora of BFAR who talked about Mariculture Parks.

I took photos from where I was sitting. Note that the food was on our side :)

The first run of our info-ads for national radio was done today.

I Love The Start Of 2008

How are you starting your 2008?

I hanged some chimes for the driveway in Fairvew. I tell you...they are chiming, humming, dinging, donging, whistling and surfing the cool breeze this morning. Looks like a great year ahead!

At about 7am, I was on the phone with a client from Tagaytay who wishes to have her order delivered later tonight. I felt jumpy about this transaction as her farm, plans for a wellness center/spa has good vibes to me. The wild unkept look of the surroundings are very ME :) She is a gardener by profession and that makes conversation with her exciting to me. So, off we go to Tagaytay later.

A little after 7am, phoned Pol Rubia of AANI to see if Circle will be open (I believe in visiting my store sites at the start of the year). YES! He will be there. Indeed, likes, work togther :) I need some herbs too, for my gardener client.

Visit mother.

Eating my defrosted fresh Durian. My last pack from 2007 harvest. Wonder if the freezer at AANI still has some treasures frozen for me. Great way to start my year...Durian!

Doc Rey has been doing the rooftop since yesterday. Fixing nets, propping up my plants, feeding the Sunshines with corn, bonding with the chickens :) Still at his power washer disinfecting today. He had to wash my car as he hits it accidentally. Easier to wash it, rather than avoid the car.

Happy New Year! Thank you so much to the people who supported us, clients who stayed through the years, new found friends and customers brought by Sunshine, organizations who believe, radio audiences who stay tuned and people in the sidelines just reading and listening. This circle props us up.

A Sunny Gets His Daily Dose Of Worms

Pol Rubia of AANI got from our very first batch of Sunshines. That was soon followed by two to three more purchases.

His son Raymond, once bought a batch because his farm dog overplayed with some of the Sunshine chicks.

Raymond and I would have small talk about the growing chicks...about how he gives them worms daily. He tried photographing. Laughingly saying he can't, because by the time he clicks, the Sunshine has walked away having eaten the worm already.

Some two weeks in a row now, he purchases Sunshines, after he sells his organic vegetables in his booth at AANI. By now, he has developed a relationship with our chickens :) When we aren't around to explain the Sunshines at AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center, he does the talking and is open to accept bookings for orders.

I remember him saying to me recently that he finally got THREE photos. Glad I saw his first postings at the PCARRD forum, which led me to seeing a Sunny get his daily dose.