160 Days in La Trinidad Valley

Before I will leave this place tomorrow, I would like to post some of the pictures taken in this place. I live here for 160 days and I want to come again in the future. It is believed that this valley was a swamp area. Price of land is as high as in Baguio and population is growing due to students and immigrant workers coming in these valley.

fvbn

Km 5 to 6 in La Trinidad

open during market days only

"komboy"

cutflower section

chinese cabbage

Kapag summer, dahil panahon ng pagha-harvest ng strawberries sa swamp area, maraming nagtitinda ng strawberry shake at mura lang.

BSU: The Organic University

Located at the heart of the strawberry capital of the Philippines is the Benguet State University (BSU). It started as a farm school in 1916, La Trinidad Agricultural High School in 1946, Mountain National Agricultural College in 1969, and became a state university on January 12, 1986. BSU was dubbed as pro-organic university in 2004 and is the first academic institution in the Philippines to acquire an organic certificate. This university has a vision to become a premier state university in South East Asia.

There were 456 enrolled graduate students during summer 2011. During semester term, there were 900+ enrollees of the graduate school which is 10% of the overall population of students enrolled in the university. BSU also admits foreign students since 1980′s. This semester, I have a classmate from Ghana, Africa, taking PhD in Agronomy.

 

BSU has sister universities in Taiwan (National Chung Hsing University), South Korea (Sangju National University), and Belgium. This marker was put up in partnership of BSU and Sangju National University (SNU) in Seoul.

Posts with resemblance to that of pine tree bark.

BSU ground infront of the colleges

BSU library (with wifi)

During our summer class, we visited the 900m² organic garden project manage by Dr. Silvestre Kudan, our professor. Multicropping and the application of compost materials are practice in the BSU Generous Garden.

BSU Generous Garden

Dr. Kudan showing the African night crawlers.

Dr. Kudan showing the runners of “Sweet Charlie” variety of strawberry at BSU farm, Balili, La Trinidad, Benguet.

Organic and multicropping pattern

Multicropping: lettuce, broccoli and onion

There were other green houses built funded by the government of Belgium and Israel. They have the same design.

This one was donated by the government of South Korea.

Greenhouse demo on natural farming

BSU has also a diadegma and mite predator rearing house.

As a proof of BSU being a pro-organic university, an organic market was established where they sell the produced from the farm/garden. Others products were supplied by farmers who practiced organic farming.

According to Dr. Kudan, organic vegetables does not rot, it will only mummified and turned into compost. It has long shelf life compared to vegetables raised using chemicals. In the book Plant Foods and Nutritional Immunology: A Scientific Approach written by Dr. Jau-Fei Chen, it was stated that organically produced vegetables have higher nutrient content compared to vegetables grown with chemicals.

Vegie noodles, cherry tomatoes, strawberry jams, strawberries, yoghurt and vegetables

Oyster mushroom and vegetables cookies

Students and teachers at BSU spoke different language. This includes Kalanguya, Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, Ilokano, Tagalog, and English. The first three are the native language of this place.

Rescued by her Sovereign Father

Today, a disobedient daughter’s request was granted by her Faithful and Sovereign Father. She was so glad that the help came in time. She was helpless and can not control the situation anymore. And she is thankful to her Sovereign Father because again, she was rescued.

-Father’s joy (Abegail)

Thank you, guys

I would like to thank these two friends of mine who traveled hundreds of kilometers to meet me at the summer capital of the Philippines – BAGUIO. During the last quarter of 2010, I remember the three of us attended the pabinyag of Ate Debbie’s son. I posted our pictures in my flickr account entitled “A day with Mausy and Resi”. Again, before I leave our workplace (PhilRice, Nueva Ecija), we spent a night walking around PhilRice compound taking pictures. In January 2011 I left and live at La Trinidad, Benguet more than 100 km away from our workplace. After 3 months, Mausy go back to her hometown (Calamba, Laguna) leaving Resi in our workplace. She was employed at Los Baños, Laguna.

After 6 months of being apart, I am glad na nakasama ko na naman kayo. I am very thankful for the friendship, for the encouragement, and love. You are a blessing to me.  Thank you. ขอบคุณ

Burnham park

Boating burnham park

America in 3D Baguio City, Philippines

America in 3D held at Baguio City, Philippines sometime in July this year. Ambassador Harry Thomas was there for this 3 day activity. Natuwa lang talaga ako dahil sa akin tumingin ng kinuhanan ko ng picture instead na dun sa isang camera man.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas with friends

Kasama sa mga nakapost ay ang alumni testimonials, nandito si Ate Mariz ng PhilRice.

Para sa Aking Ama: Salamat Daddy

Sa iyong pagkalinga mula noong ako’y bata pa,

Sa pagmamahal na inalay mo, ama,

Kapag may pinupuntahan ka, lagi mo akong isinasama,

Sa hapagkainan, paborito kong ulam lagi mo ibinibigay. 

 

Pagkatapos ng kainan, kami’y makikinig ng kwento mo,

Tungkol sa buhay at sa lugar na pinanggalingan niyo,

Pero dahil sa kahirapan mga pangarap mo hindi mo natupad,

Masama man ang loob sinikap mo pa ring gawin ang iyong responsibilidad.

 

Daddy, ipinagmamalaki kita,

Nanatili ka sa tabi ni lolo at tinulungan siya,

Hanggang sa siya’y pumanaw nasa tabi ka pa rin niya,

Hindi mo siya iniwan para tuparin ang mga pangarap mong mag-aral habang nagtatrabaho sana.

 

Kaya naman, noong ako’y inyong pag-aralin,

Nag-aral ako ng mabuti para mabigyan kayo ng karangalan,

Para kasama ko kayong umakyat sa entablado taon taon,

Kaya nalungkot ako masyado noong hindi niyo na ako kayang pag-aralin.

 

Pero sa tulong ng Diyos Ama sa pamamagitan ng isang organisasyon,

Natapos ko ang kurso at inialay ko ito sa inyo,

Daddy, malayo man ako sa inyo ngayon,

Gusto ko namang ako ang sa inyo’y makatulong.

 

Daddy, salat man tayo sa pera at karangyaan,

Masaya naman tayo, sama-sama tayong sa pagpunta simbahan,

Ito ang mga alaalang baon ko saan man ako magpunta,

Lagi kong alalahanin nandyan lang kayo, nagmamahal, naghihintay sa aking pagbabalik.

DO NOT CRY

Last summer, I go home for a break from the school. There were many chicks around our house. Nangitlog ang apat na inahing manok. When I was at home, my job was to feed them at noon and afternoon. We are feeding them with corn, sweet potato, and rice.

Feels secured at the back of the mother hen

The chick with 2 heads? No, the spotted brown is standing at the back of the white and black chick. I love this one!

Relaxing after eating…

One of the 4 mother hens and the rooster, father of all the chicks.

Strolling?

Tired?

You should rest.

Looking for something?

Afraid?

Don’t run!

Don’t cry. I will take care of you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Farming: The Christian Way

This article was lectured by Mr. Silvestre Kudan, professor at Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet.

In Genesis 1:31, we read: And God saw everything that He made, and, behold, it was very good. God’s creation was described as “very good”. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it (Genesis 2:15). There is no doubt, that Abel, a keeper of sheep, and Cain, a tiller of the ground, had been taking good care of their farms (Genesis 4:2). However, the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 7:29 said: Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. The manufacture of synthetic chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides are included to these inventions.

Agricultural chemicals had negative effects to the soil like making it acidic, depletion of organic matter, affecting the microorganisms’ population, thus, plants become sick. Besides, not only the plants are affected but also the people who eat the plants, the environments, and the whole planet earth.

The use of agricultural chemicals is not only profit-oriented but also leading the people away from God especially those who are materialistic. Matthew 6:24 concludes “You cannot serve God and Money at the same time.” Material richness is the focus of many farmers who are not contented of what they have in life.

He based his statement above on the 23,036 text messages he received from farmers. Most of them are depending so much from chemicals and not integrating their faith in God who said:…and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrew 13:5; Joshua 1:5).

 

Most frequently asked question of farmers is:

 

*What should I spray on my plants to hasten its fruition or maturity?

Is this not clear indication of greed and not knowing what the Almighty God can do? Let us examine the following passages from the book of truth:

   I Corinthians 3:6-7 I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter.  It is God who matters, because He makes the plant grow.

   Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot…

Each crop has a number of days to mature. This can be affected by the temperature of the growing area but not the chemicals to be sprayed and farmers should understand this truth.

On irrigation

   Isaiah 30:23  He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful.

   Ezekiel 17:8  It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.

Sunlight

   Deuteronomy 33:13,14  May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield;

The problem most farmers are asking is about pest control. This came out because of imbalances in the ecology when farmers use poison/chemicals where the beneficial organisms are eradicated. They practice mono-cropping, use synthetic fertilizers, plant hybrid, etc., which already changed the things made by God “very good” in the beginning. Besides, many farmers are disobeying the Creator, disregarding His laws. Let us consider the following verses:

On Pests…Curses for Disobedience

   Deuteronomy 28:15, 22 However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:…The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish.

   Deuteronomy 28:38, 39 You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it.  You will plant vineyards and cultivate them but you will not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them.

   Amos 4:9  Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, I struck them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me, declares the Lord.

   Haggai 2:17  I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord.

   Isaiah 1:19, 20  If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

   2 Chronicles 24:20 … This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper.  Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has forsaken you.

   Malachi 3:7  Ever since the time of your fore-fathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty. But you ask, how are we to return?

   James 4:8-10  Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

   We should also understand that the capacity of the land to produce was reduced when the blood of Abel was poured by Cain. Genesis 4:11-12 says, And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength…thus, we need healing of the land.

   2 Chronicles 7:13,14  When I shut up the heavens so there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

You might be asking, how do we seek for the face of God? The Bible is the authority to tell us.

Psalm 17:15  And I – in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (Tungkol sa akin, aking mamasdan ang iyong mukha sa katuwiran: ako’y masisiyahan pagka bumangon sa iyong wangis.)

   Deuteronomy 22:9  Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled. This is a clear prohibition on the production of hybrid and GMO.

Soil

Another aspect which farmers should understand is the improvement of the soil fertility. The soil provides all the nutrient elements for the plant to develop and in the soil the multitude of microorganisms work for making those nutrients to become available for the plant. This makes the soil a “living soil” and not just a “matter” as those doing business on poison look at it.

   2 Chronicles 26:10 He (Uzziah) also built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain.  He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.

   Isaiah 25:10  …will be trampled under him as straw is trampled down in the manure.

   Matthew 13:8  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Other Cultural Practices

   John 15:2  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will even more fruitful.

   Romans 11:19 Thou wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

 

Farmers’ Values

   Proverbs 20:13  Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

   Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

   Proverbs 23:20-21  Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

   Deuteronomy 19:14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old times have set in thine inheritance, which thou inherit in the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it.

   Deuteronomy 27:17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

   Deuteronomy 25:15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

   Proverbs 20:23  Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

   2 Corinthians 12:14…After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

   Haggai 2:8  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

   Revelation 11:18  The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.

Salamat…Paalam

Dito sa mundo, ang lahat ay may simula at ang lahat din ay may katapusan. Kahit ayoko man, kailangan ko nang lumisan..(seryoso naman nito hehe)

Salamat sa aking kaunaunahang ‘employer’, ang institusyong maituturing na isa sa mga less corrupt government office sa Pilipinas. Malinis, may waste segregation, laging available ang malinis na tubig, international at kinikilalang may integridad. Kapag dito ka nagtrabaho, kailangang gumana ang utak, marunong sa time management, may integridad, marunong rumespeto sa kapwa, at higit sa lahat may takot sa Diyos. Marami akong natutunan sa lugar na ito. Maraming nabago at maraming nadagdag. Maraming nakilalang mga taong nagpabago sa aking pananaw sa buhay.

Sa isa at kalahating taon na pagtira ko sa institusyon at sa bayang ito, pakiramdam ko comfort zone ko na ito. Itinuring ko na ring ‘aking lugar’ ito. Dito, nangarap akong makapunta sa South Korea at Taiwan. Sinimulang pag-aralan ang Korean language at Mandarin. Nagplano na mag-aral sa ibang bansa.

Dito rin sa lugar na ito, nakilala ko ang mga taong bumubuo sa Tuesday group. Tuesday ang pangalan ng grupo dahil every Tuesday ang bible study.

Si Ate Jackie na siyang nagpa-exam sa akin noong nag-aapply pa lang ako ay siya ding nag-imbita sa akin na dumalo sa bible study nila hanggang maging regular na ang pagpunta ko sa activity na iyon. Hi Ate Jackie, mauuna pa pala akong aalis sa iyo. Salamat sa friendship at pagiging kapatid sa akin, sa mga advice.

Si Kuya Mike na unang nakakwentuhan ko sa institute. Salamat sa sharing ng mga stories and plans, sa pag-entertain every time na may kailangan ako. Sa pagkopya ng pictures sa computer mo, sa mga materials na kailangang hiramin sa iyo, sa pag-assist mo, at sa pagtugon sa mga paki-usap ko through text and calls.

Si Mausy na naging kapalagayang loob. Salamat sa mga bonding moments natin. Mausy, marami akong problema at plano na nasabi sa iyo. Salamat sa pakikinig. Sa mga advice din. Pasensiya na sa mga kakulitan ko. Para sa akin, masaya na akong sinusutil ka. Nakakatuwa ka kasi (hehe).

Hi Stoix, my textmate, chatmate and super ‘encourager’. Salamat na lang nabuhay ka, eheh. Kasi di ba, regular kang nagpapagamot dati, ngayon mukhang okay ka na(?). Mabuti na lang at sa huli naranasan mo din ang tulad ng naranasan ko. At least, you know the feeling. At naiintindihan mo na ang mga pinagsasabi ko tungkol sa sitwasyon ko. Salamat sa koneksyon ha? Sa encouragement at pakikinig sa mga reklamo at plano.

Jec, mukhang sa ibang bansa ka na maa-assign. Salamat at nakilala kita. In times of emergency, maasahan ka. At kahit hindi emergency, nag-ooffer ka. Continue trusting and obeying God. After all, life is futile without Him.

Thanks Charis for being good to me. Kay Elmer sa mga sharing and prayers during bible studies. Swing for the sweetened saba. To Edward, Richard, Jehru, Jez, Ate Lea..maraming salamat sa inyo.

Kay Resi na komedyanteng seryoso. Unique ka. Most of the time, nakakatawa/nakakatuwa ka, pero minsan seryoso masyado at tahimik.

Kay Froilan at Kuya Jimmy..Thanks for reminding me of the scheduled bible studies and prayer meetings.

Nanggaling man tayo sa iba’t ibang lugar, tayo ay pinagtagpo ng Diyos sa iisang rason. That is, to glorify Him.

Salamat din kay Karen na noong unang pumasok sa office ay laging nakangiti pero hindi ko sinusuklian ng ngiti. Deadma lang ako pero ilang linggo lang at naging kakwentuhan, kasama sa dinner, lunch at breakfast na sa cafeteria. Magkikita din tayo sa BSU.

Maraming salamat inyo. Xiexie.

Pansamantagal, magpapaalam na ako. Annyonghi kyesayo.

Ang Luntiang Probinsiya ng Quezon

Sa aking paglalakbay papuntang Bicol, nadaanan ko ang luntiang probinsiya ng Quezon. Kung ang Benguet ay maraming pine tree, dito sa Quezon ay coconut tree naman. Ang unang mga bayan na madadaanan ay medyo patag. Ngunit mas maluwang ang bulubundukin ng probinsiyang ito lalo na sa Bondoc Peninsula at Atimonan. Napakaluntian ng paligid. Maraming bahay sa gilid ng highway pero hindi halata dahil natatakpan ito ng mga puno at iba pang halaman. Sa daan, napakaraming niyog…

At niyog pa..

Siguro kung titira ako dito, araw araw may gata ng niyog ang pagkain ko. Araw araw din akong umiinom ng buko juice at kumakain ng buko. At baka iinom na rin ng lambanog.

Marami ding saging na nakatanim along the highway.

Hindi nga talaga rice producing province ang Quezon. Handicrafts making mula sa abaca fiber ang isang hanapbuhay nila dito.

Ginagamit pa rin dito ang kabayo at kalabaw as a means of transportation.

Narito ang ilan pang magagandang tanawin na nakita ko sa Quezon sa aking paglalakbay.

Ang ilog na kadugtong ng dagat.

Ang magkabilaang matataas ng niyog na napapagitnaan ng highway.

Nadaanan ko ang unique na bayang ito..Bakit nga ba Unisan..

Ang dagat sa gilid ng highway sa Atimonan ay malakas na ang alon dahil sa nagsusungit na panahon noong mapadaan ako.