PH Journalism from PNoy to PDutz – Dissent Or Assent Or Ascent? The Choice Is Yours!

Philippines, my Philippines: Journalism is notsimply a play of words – as a self-styled journalist for national development, to me it is a way of life! For the last 46 years, since 1975.

Journalism of Old:On Facebook, top image, Rapplersays, “Dissent = Duty.” Below (which I hid), it says: “Dissent is not a crime. Stand up for your rights.” Emphasis on Dissent, emphasis on Rights. Journalists as Knights in Shining Armors.

Journalism of New:I agree with Rappler above, but as a journalist, I do not practice “Dissent.” Yet, instead of the practice of the mere opposite, “Assent,” what I practice is “Ascent.” The difference is great! Ascent to lofty ideals.
(image of “assent vs ascent[1]” from Dictionary.com)

Setting aside the continuing Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions, it is easy to dislike the current administration of PDutz because of the politics being played and the policing being parlayed – but I always like to challenge myself, to ascend from the easy Negative to the challenging Positive. That is called Creativity. Challenge yourself with creativity sometime!

You cannot ascend thus if you limit yourself to the happenings that you see & hear around you, or see & hear on TV, or see and hear online. This is a job for Supermind!

No, you do not have to look blindly, as with the lady above with a blinder, and in red yet! There is a Supermind, a Genius within us – if only we dig deeper inside our individual heads. The lady is not a tramp, but she is not a trump either. (A “trump" is a winning suit in a card game; and the word “trump” reminds you of the do-gooder American President Donald J Trump, whom I admire by the way.)

Watch your attitude! Watch your language! Watch your mind!

“What can you do to uphold Human Rights?” is a legitimate question, but I would rather ask and answer another legitimate question: “What can you do to advance Human Good?” And I translate that into a doable question: “What can you do for the good of millions of Filipino farm families?”

Uphold is Assent; Advance is Ascend.

I graduated in 1965 from the University of the Philippines (UP) as an agriculturist and a teacher, BSA major in Ag Edu. I came up with my own theory of journalism that I called “Communication for Development (ComDev)” in 1980, which I published in the technical journal of Forest Research Institute (FORI) called Sylvatrop, of which I was Editor In Chief, and which I founded. Where UPLB’s “Development Communication (DevCom)” is not essentially dedicated to development, ComDev is, by the full name itself.

So, I do not communicate to the Filipino people with my eyes on blindfold!

So I have been helping advance the “New Thinking for Agriculture” William Dar has been promoting even before PDutz appointed him 05 August 2019 Secretary of Agriculture (see his column “The ‘New Thinking’ For Agriculture[2],” 13 June 2019, Manilatimes.net). To the whole idea, I assent!@517

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[1]https://www.dictionary.com/e/assent-vs-ascent/

[2]https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/06/13/business/agribusiness/the-new-thinking-for-agriculture/568614

Revolutionizing PH Agriculture – Farmer Scientist, Small Plots, Big Results!

In Madagascar, Jesuit Fr Henri de Laulanié invented the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). In the Philippines, I am inventing the Inverted System of Rice Intensification (iSRI) and thereby reinventing the concept of Farmer Scientist – this time, initially a farmer does SRI in a small plot of 1/10 ha and computes the results into 1 ha. Crop researchers do that all the time, why not a farmer seeking some illumination for his/her own inspiration?

Time for rice to change extension tactics! My iSRI is planting 1K sqm at a time, piecemeal agriculture, designed for you to try and get more for less; when you succeed, lesson learned – small input, big output!

Above: Top image, 1,000-square-meter plot[1] is from Village People Philippines. Bottom image, SRI rice[2] from SANDRP: Left bunch is SRI rice – need I say more?

My iSRI turns out to be an Initial System of Rice Instruction, another iSRI. So, via iSRI, the farmer can apply different technologies and systems. Whatever the results in each try, he will be glad he did!

Revolutionary: To convince any farmer of any new technology or system, ask him to do his own iSRI!

A parallel move to revolutionize PH Agriculture is for Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) itself to generate iSRI results in each of the 81 provinces in the Philippines.

Considering all of the above, I am proposing to the PH Department of Agriculture (DA) headed by Secretary of Agriculture William Dar to financially support PhilRice for generating a digital Knowledge Bank on Rice (KBR), with up-to-date scientific knowledge.

The KBR I am thinking of is unlike any website you know or have seen so far. But first, this story.

On 21 March 2009, I published “Geography Of Rice[3]” in another blog, A Magazine Called Love. This is the very first paragraph:

On New Year’s Eve of 2003, working as a Creative Consultant/Writer for PhilRice, I finished writing a book, The Geography Of Rice, all 198 pages of it. I didn’t know I was going to get fired the next day! But that’s not my story this time; that’s water under the bridge – when I was informed, very formally by letter, I blinked, and then in the next breath forgave them all for knowing what they did and not knowing more.

“To err is human, to forgive divine” – Alexander Pope.

(I was already Editor In Chief of the Philippine Journal of Crop Science at that time.)

To err is human, and the farmer is human – the more reason to provide him instructions even before he needs any of them. That is the goal of the KBR I am proposing again to PhilRice. Again because my book does in fact cover all the bases in generating a knowledge bank excellent for people who do not know anything about rice farming, including pointing out options that can be taken.

If your Knowledge Bank simply tells people what to think and what to do, you are not cultivating the farmers! Betterto please keep it all to yourself.@517

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[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAPQdRdY1g0

[2]https://sandrp.in/2014/07/19/huge-potential-of-system-of-rice-intensification-sri-needs-more-attention/

[3]https://amagazinecalledlove.blogspot.com/2009/03/geography-of-rice.html

With/Out Irrigation Water, Better Farming, Even Better Forestry!

 

Can you connect PH’s Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) with National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and indigenous peoples (IPs)? Yes: Think water, watershed, wetland, wetness, wellness!

(Composite image: top from DA ZAMPEN[1] Facebook sharing by Noel Ocampo Reyes, bottom[2] from Weebly.com, and middle[3] from PGS Pilipinas Facebook sharing)

The NIA held a public consultation 25 June 2021 in Mabini, Pangasinan about constructing a dam in that town (Eva Visperas, 29 June 2021, “Dam Project In Pangasinan Town Opposed[4],” PhilStar.com). Mayor Ariel de Guzman said Mabini would have only minimal benefits, while damages and destruction to natural resources would be much: the river would die, and landslides would occur.

As an agriculturist and a communicator for development in the last 40 years, I say the NIA should think of sustainable development first of all – Is your program or project technically feasible? and economically viable? and environmentally sound? and socially acceptable?

Technically feasible?Yes, we can build an irrigation dam for water, a hydroelectric dam for electric current.

Economically viable? Yes, the people will pay for the services.

Environmentally sound? No. The watershed feeding water to the river has been neglected. It needs rehabilitation first.

Socially acceptable? No. ANN reports (Author Not Named, 18 March 2012, “Farmers, Indigenous People Oppose Alabamas Dam Project In Pangasinan[5],” Weebly.com) that the people are against it: farmers and IPs of the Alabamas Movement and Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL, Farmers Alliance in Central Luzon), where ALABAMAS stands for the western towns of Pangasinan: Alaminos, Bani, Mabini and Sual.

According to ANN (cited), this government project will be requiring P6.95 billion (B) in total expenses, as follows: P95 million in the preparation stage, and P6 billion in construction. I say NIA should have consulted first with the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) as to the viability of such a project – and if none, what can be done about it.

I say the preparations for the construction of the hydroelectric dam should have involved the enrichment of the watershed above and along the Balincaguing River. In fact, as every forester should know, it is the forested areas above the river that supply it with water, and is why it is called watershed – water + shed (release).

Now, the DENR would say: First is massive reforestation of the watershed involving the Balincaguing River – otherwise, it is understandable that the people will damn that dam!

While waiting for such irrigation dam, the IPs should be taught the Participatory Guarantee System(PGS), following RA 11511. The PGS is organic farming where the farmer’s produce is guaranteed as organic by the system, with minimum expenses.

What’s more, organic farming helps build the watershed!

I guarantee that with my Lazy Juan’s organic farming formula[6] (22 June 2021, “Lazy Juan’s Formula For “Instant Fertilizer, Organic” – For Happier Farming, Healthier Food, Half Cost, Higher Income!” Brave New World, Bravenewworldph.blogspot.com).

It is time to teach Filipinos, indigenous or not, that organic foods are healthy and easy to raise if you use your head!@517

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[1]http://zambo.da.gov.ph/?fbclid=IwAR0h26zpOEnqiHIXLKMECYDwOGAuYSM99gcUkLUMuloxPYiiU16sP_y91yY

[2]http://amgl-kmp.weebly.com/statements/farmers-indigenous-people-oppose-alabamas-dam-project-in-pangasinan

[3]https://x.facebook.com/1558339251050349/photos/a.1586518588232415/2791566427727619/?type=3&source=48

[4]https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/06/29/2108752/dam-project-pangasinan-town-opposed?fbclid=IwAR2d8j-t0pxa4Qx7EjEHbDt9a2vx3ioZxtwNPtlf30eTXhIKTRhhvxt6rsQ

[5]http://amgl-kmp.weebly.com/statements/farmers-indigenous-people-oppose-alabamas-dam-project-in-pangasinan

[6]https://bravenewworldph.blogspot.com/2021/06/lazy-juans-formula-for-instant.html

The Filipino Is Worth Blogging For!

Ninoy: “The Filipino is worth dying for.” Cory: “The Filipino is worth livingfor.” Noynoy: “The Filipino is worth fightingfor.” (See my essay, “3 Aquinos, Family Three Heroes, Pinoy Three Musketeers – Leaders Showing The Ways[1],” 28 June 2021, Brave New World, Blogspot.com). I say now, “The Filipino is worth writing for!”

No excuses myself. A full-blooded Ilocano, in American English I have been a self-learning communicator for the Filipino in the last 46 years: since 1975 writing, editing, photographing and publishing in print; and since 2005, blogging. Why the lag of 30 years? Starting 1986, I have been on digitalself-study 100%.

Above image is Google’s digital record of my blogging, screen capture 18 August 2014. Since 2005, I have blogged at least 6,000 essays totaling at least 6 million words:

Frank A Hilario is the world’s most creative blogger!

60+ years ago, my ways of how to write and on what subjects came from my free and avid reading of books and magazines in the library of our dear high school in Asingan, Pangasinan: Rizal Junior College (RJC, HS Dept). Books – American and British classics; magazines – Look, Life, Newsweek, TIME. Avidly reading the RJC subscription to the Reader's Digest, I picked up so many ideas and much inspiration from that magazine’s pages, including humor and alliteration, that I was much encouraged to be a writer myself! That was a surprise because there were no writers in our families, neither Hilario nor Agapito then; and my father Dionisio reached only Grade 3, my mother Sixta only Spanish Cartilla. It means that if you give freedom to someone to discover one’s inclination and talent, s/he will.

Thank God, I am self-taught as writer, editor and photographer; and self-tutored as digital writer, editor and desktop publisher – Where there is Always a Will, there is Always a Way!

Many years ago, I actually did say, “The Filipino is worth writing for” – in thought, not in words. At the end of 1980, as Editor In Chief of Sylvatrop, the technical magazine for production forestry of the Forest Research Institute (FORI), I brainchilded and published a paper on what I called communication for development (ComDev), which was my conceptual gift to the world, a model for journalism counter to UP Los Baños professor Nora Quebral’s theory of development communication (DevCom) – which I found not deliberately dedicatedto development as it should be!

What do I blog on? A wide variety of subject matters: agriculture; fisheries; pronouncements; policies; extension; creativity; technologies; crops; livestock; communication; digital agriculture; webinars; how to write; blogging; trainings; Department of Agriculture (DA), DA agencies & attached offices, programs & projects, collaborations with PH agencies, partnerships with business & farmer groups, etcetera. 

How serious am I as a blogger? Since early 2020, I have been blogging every single day an essay invariably of a total 517 words, not hodgepodge but with a Beginning, Middle and End.

All my writing is for sustainably better rural lives. Since 2005, armed with my ComDev, I have maintained that the Filipino is worth blogging for!@517

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[1]https://bravenewworldph.blogspot.com/2021/06/3-aquinos-family-three-heroes-pinoy.html

3 Aquinos, Family Three Heroes, Pinoy Three Musketeers – Leaders Showing The Ways

Love at first sight! I loved the above image (shared by Ann Gatmaytan, by Jovy Acosta-Nisperos) of an umbrella with painted images of The 3 Aquinos that I call here a combined “Will of the Spirit” that makes me think of “Father, Son & Holy Goose.”

Father Ninoy Aquino said, “The Filipino is worth dying for.” From Boston, Mass, hero flew back home – and landed on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport, shot dead. During his funeral march, 1 million lined the streets of Manila. My hero!

Mother Goose proved that “The Filipino is worth living for.” Mother Cory is “holy” because she was revered; and “goose” is perfect for her, as Spirit Animal says[1]: “Goose gives a loud warning when danger appears. Bundling this all together gives Goose the meaning and symbolism of communication, fidelity, parenting, fertility, and Providence. ... When that happens, another Goose in the flock stays with the injured bird until they can fly again, or die.”

Isn’t that perfect?! Mother “Holy Goose.” Despite the negativity, President Cory Aquino kept communicating, remained loyal, parenting us Filipinos, gathering fertile ideas, leaving it all up to God.

Son Noynoy: In his 5^th State of the Nation Address, President Noynoy quoted and said, “The Filipino is worth dying for. The Filipino is worth living for. If I may add, the Filipino is worth fighting for.”

Father, Son & Holy Goose! They were loved more after death.

French, The Three Musketeers is an historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. “It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight for justice” (“The Three Musketeers,” Wikipedia). Looking back, I can see that the Filipino Family Three Musketeers were largely heroes, chivalrous, fighters for justice. What else can I say!

Wikipedia says the Three Musketeers is primarily an historical and adventure novel. However, Dumas frequently portrayed various injustices, abuses and absurdities of the Ancien Régime, giving the novel an additional political significance. The Filipino Family Three Musketeers fought for the same: injustices, abuses and absurdities. We see it now; we did not see it then.

This is how Britannica describes The Three Musketeers:

Summary: A historical romance, it relates the adventures of four fictional swashbuckling heroes who lived under the French kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV, who reigned during the 17th and early 18th centuries. At the beginning of the story, D’Artagnan arrives in Paris from Gascony and becomes embroiled in three duels with the three musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. The four become such close friends that when D’Artagnan serves an apprenticeship as a cadet, which he must do before he can become a musketeer, each of his friends takes turns sharing guard duty with him. The daring escapades of the four comrades are played out against a background of court intrigue involving the powerful Cardinal Richelieu.

Four heroes – The Three Musketeers plus D'Artagnan. Following Dumas’ story, we are missing the 4^th historical heroic hero. How about if PH gets another President, another heroine?!@517

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[1]https://whatismyspiritanimal.com/spirit-totem-power-animal-meanings/birds/goose-symbolism-meaning/

Responding To Climate Change, We Must Adapt & Mitigate – William Dar

The poor image of the book cover, copied as-is from the original, tells this writer, editor & publisher that Elsevier does not care much about common citizens clearly catching climate change concepts. Sadly, they are sellingthe book without telling a main message.

Titled Climate Change Science and subtitled Causes, Effects And Solutions For Global Warming, the book is edited by David SK Ting & Jacqueline A Stagner and published by Elsevier, 21 May 2021, 302 pages.
(book cover image[1] from Elsevier)

Inadvertently, the hazy cover reflects humanity’s response to climate change! The question is: What can we do about climate change?

In the Philippines, “Science-Driven Fixes For Climate Change, Hunger Pushed In FAO[2]” is the title of an article by Jasper Y Arcalas (17 June 2021, BusinessMirror). While the event is global, Mr Arcalas reports only PH’s contribution via Secretary of Agriculture William Dar in the mid-June virtual discussion on “Combating Climate Change And Hunger Through Innovation” during the 42nd Session of the FAO Conference.

There, Mr Dar “called for greater international cooperation to institutionalize and advance science-driven innovations and technologies in agriculture to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and end hunger by 2030.”

A science writer who investigates his subject matters, I have learned that Man has 2 complementary responses to climate change: Adaptation and Mitigation. Adapt is to “adjust or modify;” mitigateis to “moderate” or “make less severe” (American Heritage Dictionary).

What did Mr Dar say was PH’s scientific response to climate change? I quote from Mr Arcalas, with my emendation:

Adaptation: “We employ modern technologies and innovations in our ongoing efforts to revitalize productivity and increase incomes of Filipino farmers and fishers.” Science reinvigorating productivity.

Mitigation: “We moderate the impact of climate change on food security.” Science lessening weather damage to food production.

Saying, “Agriculture is the mainspring of rural economic progress in the Philippines,” Mr Dar saw Filipinos must adapt our agriculture to the climate extremes of too wet and too dry season after season – even as government is “continuously encouraging stronger private sector investments and partnerships to attain sustainable agricultural modernization and industrialization, equitable prosperity, and national food security.”

More. Adaptation: Via science, we have to develop crops and livestock resilient with climate change. Mitigation: We have to develop methods to reduce the adverse effects of climate change when it happens. Now then, science must be “changing the dynamics of economic progress.” That is to say, leaders must see to it that in the balance, “the benefits from science-driven innovations reach small-scale farms and rural families to uplift their lives.”

Considering everyone, Mr Dar said:

Because of the complexities brought about by climate change and its impact on food systems, as well as the new normal brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, we should ensure that the benefits of science-driven innovation find a place in our farms, as well as in the homes of every rural family and ultimately, in every home in all societies.

Science must make sure no one is left behind!@517

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[1]https://www.elsevier.com/books/climate-change-science/ting/978-0-12-823767-0

[2]https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/06/17/science-driven-fixes-for-climate-change-hunger-pushed-in-fao/?fbclid=IwAR1GZwHcUvb1ef-Pe9fnTqkNqYZNy9RkkJT71gU4gBuvmb2Pmp-xqu0LDNU

Wow Is Me! Words Of Wisdom I Missed Or Ignored About PNoy

Wow! is my one-word description of ex-Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima’s eulogy for ex-President Noynoy Aquino; those 1,196 words opened my critical eyes wide from Disdainto Admiration. Really! The President is dead. Long live the President!

I was paying attention to the worst and not the best of PNoy. As Mr Purisima puts it, Noynoy brought PH “from Asia’s sick man to Asia’s bright star.”

I quote more from his untitled Eulogy[1] (PhilStar.com):

President Aquino demonstrated principled leadership… The turnaround story of the Philippines – from Asia’s sick man to Asia’s bright star – is without doubt one of his greatest legacies. He left office with a Philippines more optimistic about its future, having ended the vicious cycle of doubt and having entered a virtuous cycle of confidence.

PNoy inherited “principled leadership” from his father Ninoy. Disrespected publicly, Noynoy’s confidence came from his cabinet members like Mr Purisima. “His 6 years in office was proof of his fundamental thesis: that good governance delivers great economics.”

I recall with pride, how we raced past our peers and even outpaced China at times to post economic growth figures that were among the world’s fastest. Indeed, the 6-year growth average of 6.2% during his administration was the Philippines’ highest in 4 decades.

“Economic growth figures that were among the world’s fastest.” About international investment grade of the country:

The Philippines’ historic first ever investment grade in 2013 was also the direct result of his leadership. The international community saw how the Philippines walked our talk on fiscal consolidation and granted us 24 positive credit ratings actions – the most in history – and made us the world’s most upgraded sovereign (state) back then.

As President of your country, you have to walk your talk!

President Aquino ended his tenure with a record low 5.8% unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2016, and with high consumer and business optimism. Our standing in various international rankings likewise improved dramatically, jumping 38 notches in the World Economic Forum Competitiveness Report from 85th to 47th, while climbing 39 and 45 places in the Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom and the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report…

That’s great economics! And Noynoy showed, “Great economics results from good governance.”

From Karen Vera, sharing on Facebook:

President Noynoy Aquino had the courage to lead a difficult people, with honesty and sincerity, and yes, there were flaws. But for a large part: it WORKED. He rescued our economy, stood up to China, and was never an embarrassment as the global representative of the country he loved, and gave his heart and soul to.

And:

His presidency gave me SOME hope that we can still get our act together as a country (though that hope is getting harder to see. Some times). Noynoy didn't want to let his country down, and now it is up to the rest of us that we don't either. God bless you, Noynoy, and God bless us all to keep up the fight.

The likes of Noynoy Aquino is my President!@517

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[1]https://www.philstar.com/business/biz-memos/2021/06/24/2107832/full-text-cesar-purisimas-eulogy-former-president-noynoy-aquino