THE CONGRESSMAN WITH KALINGA EXHIBITORS

Kalinga Congressman Manuel Agyao (2nd from left)and DTI Provincial Director Grace Baluyan(5th from left) jointhe entrepreneurs from the province at the Trade Fair of the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong.

LADY GOVERNORS with the President of the Republic

The lady governors of the Philippines. Gov. Diasen of Kalinga is at the extreme left.

GOV. DIASEN GRACES REGIONAL COOP MONTH CELEB

By Marciano Paroy Jr.

The Regional Cooperative Development Council (RCDC) held its Regional Cooperative Month celebration here in the province on October 26-27. The two-day affair culminated with the recognition of outstanding cooperatives and individuals who contributed significantly in the pursuit of cooperative principles.

It was an enlightening affair. Once again, we were reminded of the important roles that cooperatives play. In her message before the delegates from the different Cordilleran provinces, Governor Floydelia Diasen stressed that cooperatives are our partners in development. No one can refute the advancements that they contribute.

That is why the Governor did not balk at the monetary remuneration that the Provincial Cooperative Development Office allocated for the best three micro-cooperatives in Kalinga.

In her rejoinder, Mrs. Emerita Fuerte, President of National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (NASECORE)-CAR Chapter, lauded the Provincial Government for apportioning prize money to the awardees. The money is but secondary to the recognition, of course, because what really matters is the fact that the winning cooperatives are pushing for meaningful developments in the communities where they are based – that, in itself, is much heavier than all financial rewards put together.

Again, congratulations to the micro-cooperatives that won in the provincial level: Dupligan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (1st Place), Kajchilan MPC (2nd Place), and Western Balbalan Credit Cooperative (3rd Place). May you all continue to grow – and hopefully become as remarkable as the bigger coops in Tabuk.

At the regional level, TAMPCO landed as Second Most Outstanding Cooperative in CAR – next to the formidable Baguio-Benguet Community Credit Cooperative.

*****

In the realm of public administration, stronger support is always elicited when leaders are surrounded by efficient individuals. While it is true that it is but their duty to perform the tasks attached to the jobs they hold, their competence can serve as model so that it may replicated in the other offices.

For the cooperative program, Gov. Diasen was given all-out support by the Provincial Cooperative Development Officer, Mr. Robert Salabao, the Kalinga Provincial Cooperative Union (chaired by Mrs. Florita Cosmiano), the Cooperative Development Authority of the province (with Mr. Abel Dawey) and of the region (with Mr. Martin Manudon).

Indigenous Rights: Are They Non-Existent?

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

October is Indigenous People’s month in the Philippine calendar. The spotlight shed on indigenous communities, most notably those in the Cordilleras and those in Southern Mindanao, once again brought out the question on whether or not the rights of IPs are indeed being enjoyed by the concerned themselves.

Kalinga province, as one proud vessel of unique indigenous culture, is especially targeted by human rights groups. Why not, the province – and its IPs – are constinuously being wooed by mining companies that wish to tear open the province’s rich gold reserves.

Wasn’t there a law passed several years back that caters to IPs?

An important step towards the full realization of the rights of indigenous people was taken by the Philippine government with the adoption of RA 8371 – the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997. This constitutes the principal framework, after the Constitution, in which indigenous rights must be considered.

Many of the provisions of IPRA are intended to enable and promote the full enjoyment of their rights. Nevertheless, some analysts have pointed to weaknesses in the law which may lead to contradictory or ambiguous interpretations that do not fully favor indigenous rights. They also mention the fact that other laws (such as the Mining Act of 1995) include other provisions that make the application of IPRA difficult.

Indeed, the major concern seems to be not so much the text of the law itself, as the difficulties of its implementation. This appears to be a challenge that must be met squarely by government agencies and the judiciary, as well as by Philippine society in general, if the objectives of the Act are to be truly attained.

Implementation depends not only on political will but also on the institutional effectiveness of the government agencies that are responsible for it. This means in first place the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples which takes a specific role and leadership in the promotion of indigenous peoples’ rights within the framework of the administration.

The NCIP is the lead agency in protecting and promoting indigenous rights, as well as implementing government policy with regards to the indigenous communities and improve its coordination with other government agencies such as, in particular, the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources.

Indigenous knowledge systems, particularly regarding environmental management and subsistence agriculture, have come under increasing pressure from outside economic forces in recent years. Indigenous communities are justly proud of their traditional knowledge and concerned about its preservation and protection. This is part of their cultural integrity, considered to be an important and justiciable human right. The intellectual property of indigenous peoples should be a matter of high priority at all times.

Non-acknowledgement and recognition of the cultural and social specificity of indigenous peoples is also a form of latent discrimination, as has been noted by the World Conference against Racism. This latent discrimination can only be overcome by adequate educational and cultural policies, and in this respect the curricula of the schools and the contents of textbooks have been mentioned as deserving careful revision in order to do justice to the true history of indigenous peoples and their contribution to national society.

Economic and social development are urgent tasks of our time, particularly when more than half of the world’s population lives in dire poverty. Among these, the indigenous peoples have been acknowledged as being particularly vulnerable. But the United Nations have agreed that if development is to be at all effective even in purely economic terms, it must be a human rights centered development. The full enjoyment of human rights by all the people concerned are as important, if not more so, than growth rates, productivity and profits.

The commitment of the Philippine government to the human rights of indigenous peoples has been underlined by President Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to establish and chair herself Task Force 63, which is concerned with emergency situations involving indigenous peoples.

- with readings from The World Conservation Union

CHED Director Bernal Visits Kalinga Colleges

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

Dr. Freddie Bernal, Regional Director of the Commission on Higher Education (CAR) visited colleges here in Kalinga last October 18 for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2000.

CHED is mandated to look into the programs of schools on Drug Education and Prevention as implemented by their respective Offices of Student Services. For KASC, Dr. Adoracion Taguba, Director for Student Services and Admission, welcomed the monitoring team composed of the Regional Director, Engr. Ranie Levita, Ms. Tersita David and Mrs. Menchie Kuengan.

Dr. Carmelita Ayang-ang, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, proudly informed the monitoring team that the school does not have a problem on drug addiction.

“One strong factor that is contributory to the control of the problem is the presence of guidance counselors within each institute, aside from the college guidance counselor, Lovelia Iringan,” Dr. Taguba told the group.

The monitoring activity requires each higher education institution to comply with the following areas: Integrated dangerous drugs prevention concerns in the general education component; Integrated dangerous drugs prevention concerns in the professional subjects particularly that of Teacher Education courses and Health-related courses; Conducted symposia, debates, plays, essay-writing contests and similar activities on dangerous drugs prevention and control; Participated actively in dangerous drugs prevention programs and activities initiated by the government and non-government organizations in the community, as part of the extension service/program; Conducted awareness program/advocacy on dangerous drug abuse prevention activities.

“We have complied with all of the above areas,” Dr. Taguba said.

Along with KASC, the CHED monitoring team also visited St. Louis College of Bulanao, Kalinga College of Science and Technology, and Cordillera A+ College og Technology.

KALINGA BOARD PASSERS

YA-AO, PATONGAO PASS LICENSURE EXAMS

Two female graduates recently gave their curricular programs a reason to keep doing better when they passed their respective licensure examinations: Dorothy Ya-ao for BS Agricultural Engineering and Maricel Patongao for BS Agriculture.

“The exam was difficult, but because of the preparation that I had, I was able to surmount the hardship that I had to grapple with during the exams,” Engr. Ya-ao said.

This clearly points to the importance of an intense review that graduates must be subjected to. The KASC Review Center, in fact, was the review center selected by two other Agri-Eng licensure takers: Engr. Jocelyn Ittiw (from Cagayan State University), and Engr. Sharon Boguen (from Isabela State University).

Those who were involved in the Agri-Eng review were Engr. Rafael Padre, Engr. Edgardo Tamayao, Engr. Solomon Lao-aten, Engr. Mildred Alvarez, Engr. Ofelia Rubio, Engr. Rhonjon Garming and the IMEAT Dean Amado Imper.

As for Ms. Patongao’s success for the BSA program, Dean Joseph Aguilar is hopeful that future takers will do better.

ACCREDITATION UPDATES IN KASC

Last school year, the Institute of Arts and Sciences (AB Political Science and AB History), Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (BS Agriculture and BS Forestry), Institute of Mathematics, Engineering and Applied Technology (BS Agriculture Engineering) and Institute of Entrepreneurial Arts (BSC Management) were accredited. The Institute of Teacher Education was first accredited to Level I during the school year 2005-2006.

According to Dr. Raymund T. Balbin, the executive dean of our school, KASC will have another accreditation visit on December 2007 if not on February 2008 as instructed by Dr. Eduardo T. Bagtang, the College President.

Dr. Balbin stated that Level II re-accreditation status is a status wherein the program subject for accreditation will be have a second survey visit by a team of Accrediting Agency for College and Universities of the Philippines (AACUP). The program will be evaluated with a grand mean of at least 3.5 and not one among the ten areas to be evaluated will get an area mean lower than 3.0.

The Level II Accreditation status of a program will be fully recognized only when it is approved by the AACUP Board and duly certified by the National Network Quality Assurance Agencies, Inc. The Level II re-accreditation is effective for a period of 3-5 years. Thus, a curricular program must be prepared again for the 3rd AACUP survey visit to be evaluated to Level III Re-accreditation. If a curricular program with a Level II reaccredited status is not reassessed within five years for Level III, it will lose its Level II status and will be downgraded to Level I.

The Executive Dean explained the processes that are prescribed in accrediting a course or a curricular program. The process of accreditation involves three phases:

1. First Phase – major activities before the accreditation visit that must be complied with:

a) Holding Consultancies

b) Initiating Processes

c) Preparing for the Basic Requirements

d) Forging an agreement

e) Organizing and supporting the team accreditors

2. Second Phase – activities during the accreditation

a) Assembly/Arrival of external accreditation

b) Cluster/team meeting

c) Courtesy call

d) Opening program

e) Knowing the institution/ program and local counterparts

f) Second team/cluster meeting

g) Preparation of the individual accreditation’s report

h) Preparation of team report

i) Exit conference and closing program

3. Third Phase – activities after the accreditation visit mostly done by the Accrediting Agency (AACUP) who shall be responsible in informing the accredited state university/college about the results of the technical review, AACUP report and submission of the accreditation Report to NNQAA for certification.

According to Dr. Balbin, the priority degree programs for school year 2007-2008 are the following:

a) ITE – Bachelor of Elementary Education and Bachelor of Secondary Education for Level II

b) IAS – Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

c) Graduate School – Master of Arts in Education, Master in Public Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Education

He also said that the various institutes are preparing for the accreditation. Ever since the accreditation program has been started, the different institutes of the school had continuously worked in satisfying the requirements and criteria for accreditation. They have established their accreditation centers in their own buildings and have deputized their faculty members as task forces to work on their respective areas. Even those who are not scheduled for accreditation are continuously preparing and eventually will ask for accreditation surveys (internal and external).

As we have observe during the last accreditation, our deans and the faculty members have stay late at night and sometimes have reported on Saturdays to work on their respective areas. It is the same now with the upcoming level II accreditation.

Our executive dean presented the beneficiaries of the accreditation.

a) Students – we will have an access to quality curricular program

b) Parents – accreditation helps our parents know which program they will send us to avail of quality education

c) Graduates – those who will graduate from accredited courses will have an edge over other job applicants because employers prefer those who have graduated from institutions of higher learning who have accredited programs.

d) College/Universities – the accreditation programs gives prestige to school with accredited courses because they are recognized as HEI with quality standards and high level educational services.

Our administrators in KASC is aggressively pursuing all efforts in accrediting our courses because they want to satisfy the requirements for the conversion of KALINGA-APAYAO STATE COLLEGE to KALINGA STATE UNIVERSITY.

Accreditation is also a factor in assessing the appointment or transfer of a SUC President. Say for example, a SUC President have not accredited any single curricular program in his four or eight years term; as such, will be a strong factor for his non-re-appointment or transfer.

Lastly, our executive dean wishes to appeal to us students that we must do our part in helping our deans and instructors in accomplishing the documentary requirements of the various areas, cooperating in activities relevant or can somehow contribute to the accreditation, play a vital role in information dissemination about the VMGO of KASC and other relevant information on the four folding functions of KASC. Accreditation is not only for KASC college officials and faculty staff but for students and parents as well as stake holders must be concerned with.

He also said that we should all strengthen our commitments and bear more sacrifices for we and the next generation of KASC students will reap the results of accreditation of the different KASC curriculum programs. We should all rally behind our accreditation program and realize our dream – A KALINGA STATE UNIVERISTY.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PATCH CULTIVATION AND SWIDDEN FARMING PRACTICES

Ernesto Miguel, Ph. D. and Irene Calsiyao

Edited by MARCIANO PAROY JR.

Abstract:

This study was conducted to assess the factors associated with Swidden farming/Patch cultivation practice in Barangay Magao-gao, Pinukpuk. The study was conducted from November 2005-April 2006. It focused mainly on the factors of Socioeconomic, Cultural and Political aspects in the community.

Results of the investigation showed that the factor of culture and tradition is the main reason for patch cultivation in the Barangay of Magao-gao, which obtained the highest mean frequency of 94.6. The socio economic factors on labor, capital and knowledge also showed strong factors.

However, the political factor did not elicit strong reaction from the respondents although there were no clear policies and programs currently implemented in the practice of this system.

Research design used in the study was mainly descriptive in nature where simple random sampling was used to identify respondents. Of the total 109 household members in the Barangay, fifty-five farmers respondent were taken as subject for the study. Structured questionnaire was distributed to the respondents, which was individually explained. The final methods conducted were personal interview to elicit answers from the farmers on matters regarding the outcome of their answers.

1. Rationale

The province of Kalinga is located in the northern tip of the Cordillera. Access to the province is difficult, not only because it is mountainous, but also of the poor road condition. The topography of the province likewise restricts mobility within and between the 8 municipalities of the province. There are some barangays, which are still accessible through hiking.

The Province of Kalinga is still governed by their indigenous customs. Since time immemorial, the people of Kalinga have shown strong organizational cohesiveness and solidarity through their indigenous system.

For its agricultural production, the province of Kalinga have only 52% of the total farmlands with irrigation facilities; the remaining 48% of the farmlands are non-irrigated, particularly upper Pinukpuk. Farmers of these non-irrigated farmlands are applying the patch cultivation, or swidden farming.

Magaogao is one of the 23 barangay of Pinukpuk, Kalinga, and considered by the old resident folks as the mother barangay along the Chico River zone. Believed then to be the barter center, it was identified as the first municipal site covering Junction, Mapaco, Camalog, Sukbot, Cawagayan, Pinucoc, and Burayucan – now a part of Balong. Children from the mentioned barangays are the beneficiaries of formal education offered, and it is noteworthy to mention that it was Magaogao that had its first school ahead of the other barangays.

From the seven original Kalinga sub-tribes of the Gamonang tribe occupying the vast and rich 3,666 sq. km. land area, the community has expanded to 649 individuals, now mixed with Ilocanos and Ibanags through affiliations.

What caught the attention and interest of the researcher in the conduct of this study was the practice of patch farming despite some local government efforts in bringing social infrastructures and different associations and cooperatives in the barangay of Magao-gao, aside from its being once the center of communication and barter trade for its neighboring barangays that are now more economically successful.

II. OBJECTIVES

General Objectives:

The study aimed to find out the different factors associated with patch cultivation/swidden farming system practiced by the farmers of Barangay Magao-gao.

Specific Objectives:

1. Identify the different factors associated with patch cultivation/swidden farming in Barangay Magao-gao.

2. Determine which of the different factors are most associated with the practice of patch cultivation /slash and burn.

3. Look into the barangay profile and see its connection with patch cultivation

III. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Shifting Cultivation, otherwise known as Swidden Farming, is one of the practices of indigenous people living in the upland who are mostly subsistence farmers involved in cultivating food crops in a patch of cleared forest land for a certain period in time.

In shifting cultivation, after a period of continuous cultivation that mostly lasts from 2 to 3 years, the land is left to fallow as farmers shift to other areas to cultivate food crops. The same land will be tilled again after a considerable period has elapsed. The practice contributes to the sustainability of the ecosystem as it renders the land being tilled a period of recovery for it to recoup nutrient lost from a period of continuous cultivation and undergo a period of ecological recovery.

A Kalinga man, as soon as he is matured, desires to start life of his own. The usual and continuous work activities of the Kalinga husband involves preparing the rice terraces and clearing the “uma” for crop planting (Sugguiyao).

The original settlers in the hinterland started cultivating the land areas as soon as they found them. They cleared the forest areas from which they raised rice and vegetables for subsistence requirement.

IV. PROCEDURE/METHODOLOGY

The research design used in the study was mainly descriptive. Simple random sampling was used to identify the respondents. Of the 109 households living in Sitio Magao-gao, 55 of them or 50.46% were taken as subject of the study. These are the farmering households that practice swidden farming.

A questionnaire was used in gathering data from the respondents. However, this was supplemented by actual field visit of the researchers and observation in the farmers’ field in order to document the sustainability, purposes and major component of the practice. The profile of the Barangay was also included as secondary data for collaboration of findings. Data gathering period was from November 2005 to April 2006. Data gathered in the study were analyzed using frequency, means and percentage.

V. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Patch Cultivation System

Patch cultivation, common term for “shifting cultivation,” is a deforestation technique used to clear large areas of forest, predominantly in tropical and subtropical areas, for agriculture and other purposes.

In many forested areas in the tropics, the regeneration of mineral component in the ground, after frequent agricultural use, takes a very long time. There is considerable pressure to find new, unused arable land to farm. This land is obtained by clearing expanse of virgin forests and later burning the wood. The formerly used fields are often abandoned or allowed a phase of reforestation before cultivating again; however, it may take years – the most being 7 years for an area to become agriculturally useful once more.

Over time, time huge areas of forests have been destroyed through patch cultivation because an average rural family needs about 25 to 40 hectares of land to be rotated. When the clearing takes place, ashes from the burnt vegetation fertilize the soil.

After 2-3 years of cultivation, the mineral elements of the humus in the soil are extensively exhausted. The growth of weeds increases and further cultivation is unwise and becomes impossible without a new clearing. Depending on the population density of the settlement, the reforested areas are put back into cultivation at intervals. As soon as the forest undergoes serious permanent damage from overuse, it is transformed into sparse landscape of scrub or grassland, which is useful neither as woodland nor arable land. The soil then loses its upper fertile layers.

Productivity of shifting cultivation areas usually declines after the third cropping, hence it is considered to be un-sustainable. This is attributed to factors like erosion, invasion of weeds, and removal of nutrients due to crop production.

The Practice of Patch Cultivation as Farming System in Barangay Magao-gao.

Slash and Burn in Barangay Magao-gao involves several stages of which some are regulated by religious beliefs and practices. Some stages are essential for orderly and effective workmanship, minimizing growth of weeds while controlling pests.

Torba – This is the initial stage of slash and burn where a group of men gathers in the yard of an elder’s house after a good breakfast to do some forecasting on the future of slash and burn farming system. Farmers usually line themselves up in going to the site at around 8:00 o’clock and they usually bang anything noisily to drive away the “idao” – a Kalinga bird for bad omen. They even close their ears so as not to hear the chirping of the bird. Boundaries are indicated and agreed once cutting and felling of big trees started.

Agguma – This means cutting down of shrubs and felling and buckling of trees. After 2 to 3 days when the torba has been devoid of any unfavorable omen, the agguma is started. This is done by the family like the bayanihan system.

Since the dry season occurs in Magao-gao from the month of February to the later part of May, the agguma is usually done from February to the early days of March to allow enough time for the trees and shrubs to dry for burning in the middle of April.

Sogob – Means burn; this stage is usually done on the third week of April when weather is mostly dry and quite warm. Burning is usually done between 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Burning the uma is not simply achieved to facilitate thorough clearing and cleaning of the areas. It is done to minimize weed growth. After burning, the Uma is left for a while or a week before starting with the next stage of Kaingin farming. This is done to minimize the ashes that hinder the farmers to do the next Stage.

Para – Collecting and clearing of unburned tree trunks and their branches for consumption of the farmers in his swidden farming. Tress collected is usually piled.

Kago – Removing stumps of shrubs, cutting and uplifting the superficial roots of trees and uprooting dried vines still sticking from the ground. These are collected and burned to ashes. Although the para is more taxing, the kago occupies the longest period of work in the uma.

Kallid – sweeping the ground; this is done to remove the small twigs, leaves and fine roots on the surface of the ground. This is because they are considered as obstruction to seeding. These loose materials are carried away during heavy rains and are most likely to cover and obstruct seed emergence.

Tallog – uprooting of weeds in the uma, prior to planting in the uma which was exposed for a long duration and was left unattended for awhile. Weeds have started to emerge hence the farmers usually uproot the weeds. It is at this point where the farmers started to plant some vegetable crops particularly those climbing crops at the base of cut trees.

Padong – Fencing. The area of a farmer is usually fenced to protect the crops from animal invasion. The woods that were piled will than be used by the farmers.

Osok – Planting of palay. Two to three days before a farmer plants rice which is the main crop, a bundle of palay previously selected and was put aside intended as planting materials are threshed by foot at home after being properly cleaned. Planting usually starts at the first week of June as the ground by then is soaked from rains. A sharp pointed piece of wood as big as the hand of a farmer is used to bore holes in horizontal and vertical alignment at 8 inches and 1 foot distance depending on the variety used and the slope of the area. By pair, the women usually do the dropping of seeds of five to seven per hole.

Planting should be finished before noon to avoid being overtaken by rain since it would be hard to drop the seed when wet. Seeding usually starts from the bottom up.

Usually after planting, the farmers construct temporary shacks inside the uma as a resting and cooking area. There are instances where the farmers used it as sleeping quarters. The shack is very necessary since it is where the farmers pile up their harvest before it is transported into their respective homes.

Weeding with the use of landok, a small grab-hoe. Weeds are uprooted usually in bayanihan or when they asked their neighbor to help them, and pay them 60 pesos a day. Weeds are not thrown away but instead they are left to decay at the base of the rice and later it becomes as fertilizer. The uma is occasionally visited by the farmers when planting was done.

Barasbas – By September, farmers have to remove the overgrown weeds and twigs from the stump to give way to the sunlight to penetrate the plants. It also a way to drive away the dangao and exposed rats burrows. Farmers have to sleep in their shack and occasionally shout to drive away wild pigs.

Ani – Harvest. Men and women start gathering the panicles using homemade knives especially shaped for the purpose of harvesting upland rice. Harvesting usually starts at the bottom. Bundles of palay are collected and placed in poles hanged to dry. This will be placed later in a shack. It usually takes days for the farmers to harvest an uma – around four days depending on the size of the uma.

Akot – to carry a thing from one place to another. This is the final stage of farmer’s task in doing the patch cultivation and slash and burn practice. Piles of palay are transported from the uma to their respective houses.

Present Situation in Barangay Magao-gao

Magao-gao is one of the 27 barangays of Pinukpuk with an estimated area of 3,666 sq.m. From the seat of the municipality of Pinukpuk, it can be reached at a travel time of 2 hours by motorized vehicles via Poblacion, Tabuk, Kalinga, or through hiking crossing the Chico river during summer. Only 42.2 hectares are utilized from the lower part into agricultural venture for coffee, rice and corn. The Barangay has a total population of 649 with 109 numbers of households. The bigger segment in the population falls under the age bracket of 15-49 years which comprise the labor force of the barangay.

Majority of the people belong to the Kalinga tribe, which composes 75% of the total population. Twenty five (25) are Ilocanos and the rest are Itawes (5%) who are affiliated to the natives of the locality.

With regards to education, 25% have no formal education, 20% had attained elementary level, 20% finished elementary and 22 % had reached the secondary level. Only few, however, have reached college due to poverty in the locality. Students have to go out of the barangay to pursue secondary education.

Economic Situation in Magao-gao

The people living in the community are engaged in farming from which they depend largely for existence. The flat areas of the barangay are developed for palay and corn production Aside from palay and corn, families maintain coffee and fruit plantations. Others are engaged in other livelihood activities such as backyard animal-raising. However, these are on limited scale due to lack of transportation and market outlets.

Resident sell their products in Tabuk, Kalinga – which requires high transportation cost because of the absence of a bridge connecting the Aliog River to Tabuk, Kalinga. Selling price for banana ranges from 40.00 to 60.00 per hundred pieces depending on the variety.

Source of Income

Research in the past revealed that the original Kalinga settlers, driven from their lowland territories by the more powerful ethnic groups, trekked to the mountains in search of a homeland where they could live a peaceful life and establish a community. In their struggle for survival against the harsh realities of life, their first means is to raise the basic staple food (rice) and other crops for a living. They started clearing the forest which is termed as “uma” in Kalinga . This practice remains up to the present as an occupational activity. It requires constant mobility of families within the forested areas in search for additional supply of palay, root crops, legumes, and other vegetable products considered necessary for living and well-being. Extra palay stored for future means a lot to the Kalinga in times of scarcity and is a status symbol besides being used as barter item for other necessities and valuable materials (Sugguiyao).

The findings on income is the highest factor on Swidden Farming in Barangay Magao-gao. The inhabitants’ main reason collaborate with the researchers’ findings. However, after deeper analysis by the researchers on the barangay profile, plus after intensive and persuasive interview, there appears to be a strong indication that the real cause of the farmers’ imposed pressure on the forest resources is migration and population growth. The forested and grassland areas in Barangay Magao-gao used to be pastureland for the original settlers in the barangay. There were only seven families who were not engaged in the practice and who have not indulged themselves in the practice. They have grown into more than 649 individuals or 109 families.

The productive area in the lowland would be impossible to feed the growing population which is still growing – thus, the forest is the best and only way to solve the crisis. As indicated by a United Nations report, widespread poverty is the real situation in the said barangay and environmental degradation is a result of population pressure. The interaction of the two problems influence each other.

Labor

As Kalingas seek basic necessities to support themselves, they endeavor cooperatively especially in the practice of swidden farming, not to mention that the practice entails a lot of individuals to perform cutting and felling of big trees.

The Bayanihan system is termed by the Kalinga as “papango.” Kalinga kaingineros always group themselves and decide when to clean the uma up to the harvesting of palay. A more intensive interview was conducted via re-interview of the respondents on labor as big factor in swidden farming to satisfy some doubts of the researchers. It was found out in two ways: first, respondents answered that they can save a lot in swidden farming, wherein labor performed by farmers who do not have uma is much cheaper at a cost of only fifty pesos per task performed in a day. On the other hand, farmers said that cost of labor in the lowland is too high that it would be impossible for them; hence it is more practical in upland farming than in the lowland as manifested by some idle lots in the lowland areas in Barangay Magao-gao since the cost of farming in the lowland is very high.

Capital

As presented in the first part of discussion on the socioeconomics of Barangay Magao-gao, the place was left behind in terms of economic prosperity. People are mostly involved in upland farming, there are no other sources of income to augment their meager income from the wealth of the forest.

Knowledge

As soon as a Kalinga man matures and desires to start a life of his own, he sets out to cultivate the uma; only few attained higher education. They learn of the system immediately as they become aware of life. Their parents bring them to the forest farm in performing the swidden farming. They become adept and accustomed in the system; from land clearing to the choice of planting materials, and are also adept in forecasting eventual good harvest.

From simple immersion of the researchers in Barangay Magao-gao, the researchers found out that the farmers are foreign to new techniques of farming particularly in the lowlands where the use of new technologies is widely disseminated by our government.

Land Tenure

To the Kalingas, land is considered an indispensable commodity upon which life depends. Considering themselves as the representative and guardian of their natural environment, they look upon their relationship with the land as both social and spiritual. Land to them is a gift of God, freely given- thus man has a right to ownership – for him and his offspring. They clear the forest from which they raise food crops for subsistence requirement. They claim that they are being protected from outside intruders by their exclusive right over the mountain forest .The land, which is already looked upon as a free gift that could be owned individually, is cultivated and made productive by the individual. In the swidden agricultural system in Barangay Magao-gao, the individual does not exercise his right over a piece of land he occupies for the system. He is allowed by some owners as long as he can make it productive, anyway they do leave the place any time the real owner says so.

Cultural Factors Affecting Patch Cultivation

The practice of patch cultivation in the Barangay is part of the culture and tradition learned from their long experience of producing their needs in the remote and fragile upland. Sugguiyao in her book stated that Kaingin or Swidden farming came into existence among the ancient Kalinga settlers as the inevitable imperative to stabilize community life.

They ventured into the system to establish right over their agricultural crops not as stable land owners or of having possession right over specific swidden sites that they put into production. They are mainly there in order to survive, but not to trail those who have been practicing it for years. Although inheritance is executed by Kalinga families, in Magao-gao only those that were utilized for years and have been planted with rare trees are given to their offspring.

Political Factors Affecting Slash and Burn

Although the government has prevailing programs to eliminate this practice, it was found out that these policies are not practiced in Barangay Magao-gao.

It is believed that instead of driving out these farmers in their dappat, government should allow them instead to practice patch farming rather than push them to ultimate poverty.

Government projects, like the Community Resource-Based Management, has made efforts but they have yet to be implemented fully in the said Barangay.

The Barangay council has yet to determine what has to be done since it cannot stop the farmers from practicing it because they cannot find any solution to the farmers’ economic problem. In the final analysis, this factor does not have any significance on the farmers particularly in their swidden farms.

VI. Conclusion

Based on the findings of this study, it was found out that the factor on culture and tradition was the immensely cause of swidden farming in Barangay Magao-gao. However, after an intensive and persuasive interview among the respondents, other factors played a big role in the practice of swidden farming.

Further and deeper analysis of the respondents’ answers, coupled with personal observation revealed that it is an innate characteristics of every Kalinga to indulge in this system. But it is not due to economic reasons presented in the indicators but it is due to the immediate needs of the farmers that have to be addressed.

VII. Recommendation

The Community Based Forest Management of the government, particularly the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, should be implemented in Barangay Magao-gao to educate the farmers on the proper utilization and management of their respective forests.

VII. REFERENCES

Van der Ploeg, Masipiquena and Bernardo, the Sierra Madre Mountain Range: Global Relevance, Local Realities.Cagayan Valley Program on Environment and Development Program, 2003

EARTHLINE SPEARHEADS JOURN TRAINING

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

With the theme, ‘Writing to Uplift One’s Organization,” the Earthline organized a journalism training-workshop on September 6-7 at the 2nd floor of the Main Library building, KASC Bulanao Campus. The training workshop was initiated by the Earthline staff members together with Marilou Adora (advider for The Mentor), and Marciano Paroy Jr. (Earthline Adviser) .

The activity was participated in by staff members of Access (The Community News-magazine of BSDC and IAF), The Granary (the official student publication of the Laboratory High), Heritage (IAS newsletter), The Mentor (ITE newsletter) and staffers of the IEA newsletter. Interested students also benefited from the said seminar.

The training was not only designed to hone and develop the journalism skills of the participants but also served as a training ground for leadership and team building. The speakers during the workshop were; Perfelia Buen (BOT Secretary); Fannaliza Sacki, English Instructor and a contributor to Regional newspapers; Daniel Cagan, Editor-in-Chief of Guru Press; Estanislao Albano Jr., from the City Information Office of Tabuk; Giovanni Asbucan, Newsette Adviser of TNHS; Marilou Sawadan, Dev.Com Practitioner and Placido Alsiyang Jr., former anchor of Radyo Ng Bayan.

EXTENSION OFFICE REACHES TINGLAYAN

By Marciano Paroy Jr.

The Extension Office of KASC, through the leadership of President Eduardo Bagtang, Extension Director Maximo Garming and Executive Dean Raymond Balbin, Mr. Tomas Carabbacan, inked a memorandum of agreement with the Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), LGU Tinglayan, Office of the Congressman on the execution of a Livelihood Skills Development and Capability Building for out-of-school youth and unemployed women in Tinglayan.

The said project provides “the underserved and underdeveloped, depressed and deprived local communities and their disadvantaged constituents with opportunities for livelihood skills and access to alternative educational services.”

As a life-changing mechanism, the program consists of three components: the Values Formation/Reorientation, Skills Development Training Course, and the Capability Training Seminar where graduates from the various skills training courses will be organized into small-scale cooperatives.

For the short training courses, the program utilizes the expertise of trainors like Dr. Virginia Petang and Herminia Basungit (Cookery), Eng. Renato Pajarillo, Mario Boydon, Ernesto Sayson, Tito Buslig, and Tony Baruzo (automotive servicing, small engine servicing, wiring installation, electronics repair, and carpentry).

The program started last year, and it has recently been given a renewal by LGU Tinglayan. When it shall push through with its expanded turn, additional training courses shall be incorporated, like wax-making (Dr. Virginia Petang and Mrs. Zorayda Gavino), candle-making (Perfelia Buen), soap-making (Dr. Helen Bais).

This extension program was one of the papers presented during the regional symposium of the Highland Agricultural Resources Research and Development Consortium (HARRDEC) last August 16-17 at the Benguet State University, where it placed third.

SEM-ENDER NOTES FROM THE ADVISER OF THE EARTHLINE

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

Earthline, the official student publication of Kalinga-Apayao State College, is on its 10^th year of printing. Since 1997, it has evolved from a pre-dominantly technical journal and slowly assumed the character of a student publication whose tone is decidedly pro-student – while not overlooking its role as a paper that is one with the administration in pushing for meaningful development both in the faculty and in the student level.

It is without doubt that those who served in the editorial board of this paper would be proud to recognize the evolution that Earthline has undergone.

*****

The Institute of Teacher Education, the Institute of Arts and Sciences, and the Institute of Entrepreneurial Arts will be publishing their own institutional newsletters. The Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, however, is ahead in this matter – with the community newsmagazine ACCESS which is published by the DevCom Department. ACCESS will soon publish its third issue and, as usual, it shall cover community concerns – the turf of DevCom as a discipline.

Mrs. Fe Buen has expressed her alarm that the institutional papers might be a duplication of articles being covered by Earthline. But that can be avoided if the institutional papers will draw parameters and be creative in establishing a tone and approach that is distinctly, say, ITE. The name of ITE’s paper is The Mentor, that of IAS is Heritage, while that of IEA has yet to be labeled. Their names should already suggest what is to be read in the pages. The Mentor may exclusively deal with issues confronting future teachers; The Heritage is obviously an inspired name from those in the History department of IAS, so we may be expecting treatises, expositions, and argumentative pieces with a liberal treatment – considering that social sciences have a lot of ground to encompass.

As an ardent exponent of the print medium, I wish complete success to ITE, IAS, and IEA – especially to the advisers, Dr. Marilou Adora, Mr. Daniel Cagan, and Mrs. Leonora Bruno. Earthline will always be supportive.

*****

A certain activity will surely find its way into the pages of the Earthline if the people behind such activity would be prompt in informing Earthline about it – preferably beforehand. It is accreditation season once again, and we should all recognize the importance of documenting these activities. A published activity is a published activity – no one can refute its weight as an evidence.

Babaen iti panangi-timbre yo iti activities in your department, we would be helping one another, and thus make both our work easier.

*****

Before I forget, I had made a mental note way back in August about expressing appreciation to the Rubio couple for helping us out in the stage décor for the Induction program. In fact, Engr. Ofelia and Architect Samuel are behind the stage decors of almost all programs that took place this sem. Lest I forget, the Earthline writers decided to feature infra issues on the December issue.

*****

Lastly, let us give ourselves an imaginary group hug… we did so many good things this sem. Sige, kasta ngaruden…

COMMUNITY HYGIENE: The IAS Project

COMMUNITY HYGIENE: The IAS Project

by Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

The onslaught of diseases that remain unchecked until their fatal stages can be traced to the simple lack of initiative of people to maintain hygienic households and their surroundings. As population increases, community hygiene is delegated to the sidelines as people scamper for mores sources of food. This imperils the ability of people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. An imbalance ensues: as they struggle for subsistence, hygiene is disregarded.

It is because of these observations that the Extension unit of the Institute of Arts and Sciences came up with a project to reach out to those who know less, and instill in them the benefits of maintaining a clean and healthy community.

Target: Bado Dangwa.

The IAS project draws from the data collected from the interview that the project proponents conducted with the barangay officials and health workers of Bado Dangwa. Conclusively, the barangay indeed recognizes that they have pressing concerns on waste disposal, environmental health, food sanitation, personal hygiene and reproductive health. The researchers behind the project believe that addressing these problems would lead to the minimization – if not eradication – of the aforementioned concerns.

With Mr. Jeremias Ammakiw as project leader, being the Extension coordinator of the department, the IAS extended its enlightening support to the people of Bado Dangwa last September 1. Dr. Joy Grace Doctor, IAS Dean, oriented the barangay folks on her institute’s vehemence in reaching out to them. She also talked about personal hygience. Lecturers from her institute tackled environmental sanitation (Dr. Paulino Reyes), waste disposal and material recovery (Mr. Jeremias Ammakiw), food safety and sanitation (Mrs. Jessie Grace Martin).

Hon. Pedro Angog, barangay captain of Bado Dangwa, gave his all-out support to the extension workers from the academe.

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KASC RESPONDS TO CLAMOR ON LEADERSHIP TRAINING

by Marciano A. Paroy, Jr.

Students are future leaders. It is with them that the developmental path of the community will be paved. This is one indisputable reality. And so to better prepare them for the tasks at hand, classroom instruction is coupled with additional training that exposes them to the realities of the workplace that they hope to be joining soon.

This presupposition has recently been explored by the KASC Office of Student Services, headed by Dr. Adoracion Taguba, when it conducted a five-day leadership training program for student leaders of the Bulanao Campus, with lecturers delving on varied disciplines.

Designed by Student Coordinator Marilou Sawadan, the training program kicked off with Dr. Norfredo Dulay’s lecture on achieving effectiveness by projecting all the behavioral traits and well-groomed stance of a good leader. This was further elucidated on by Mr. Eduardo Ancheta who focused on using the power of creativity in trying to positively influence other people. Laurence Bayongan, municipal administrator of Tabuk, defined the parameters of student leadership, and how much they can also attain within the confines of their areas of responsibility. Mrs. Sawadan lectured on how to manage stress derived from disorganized carrying out of tasks.

Diverting the students’ mindset to the bigger picture, Dr. Maximo Garming and Dr. Raymond Balbin lectured on team-building, and the all-too-important Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) Analysis. Mr. Herbert Imatong taught the trainees the proper conduct of meetings by way of parliamentary procedures. And Mr. Jeoffrey Peralta took the students on a financial ride by teaching them all the basics of financial management and bookkeeping.

The gem of the training program, though, was the participation of officers from the 5^th Civil Military Operation Unit of the Philippine Army. MSgt. Moises Cristobal Jr. and Sgt. Nelson Abad appropriately and eloquently plunged into an outright dissection of leftist ideologies and the dangers that the students may not be aware of when they choose to join these groups.

“I don’t know what to think,” Catherine Luyaben, a student trainee said. “The soldiers were very convincing, but then there are also cause-oriented groups that are genuinely helping out in the society.”

Mrs. Sawadan expressed, “I do hope that the students would put into action everything that they have ever gleaned from the training program.”

GRACE KIDANG SWORN IN AS KASC ALUMNI TRUSTEE

By Marciano A. Paroy, Jr.

After more than a year of dearth in the alumni leadership of the Kalinga-Apayao State College, graduates of this institution from all three levels – high school, college, and graduate school – convened in a succession of separate elections to choose their officers that would look after the interest of alumni for the next three years. This culminated in an election of one federated set of officers culled from the three associations – KASC Alumni Association-Dagupan Campus, KASC Alumni Association-Bulanao Campus, and BIBAK-NAS/Lab High Alumni Association. Clinching the presidential seat is Grace Kidang of the Dagupan group, defeating Valentin Palattao and Aquino Perez, of Bulanao Campus and BIBAK-NAS/Lab High, respectively.

As President of the Alumni Federation, Ms. Kidang will be recognized by the Board of Trustees of KASC as the alumni representative – a position which puts her in company with thinkers who hammer out plans for the state college.

Ms. Kidang, Provincial Tourism Officer of the province, formally had her oath of office administered with Hon. Judge Marcelino Wacas of the Branch 25 of the Regional Trial Court swearing her in.

Outlining the Alumni Trustee’s role in the Board, College President Eduardo Bagtang pointed out that Ms. Kidang is now part of the “premier policy-making body of the state college, and as such, she will be expected to discuss with other trustees her insights on development concerns affecting not only the alumni, but the whole KASC as well.”

“KASC has produced thousands of graduates, many of whom have found gainful employment both in the public and private sector, and overseas as well,” the new alumni trustee said. “With this fact, there is a need to keep an actively working federation that would not only trace these graduates, but also obtain their commitment in lending a hand to the school where they came from.”

Ms. Kidang, who takes over the seat vacated by former alumni trustee Noblito Barcellano, is ably supported by Vice President Francis Buen, Secretary Marilou Adora, Treasurer Arlene Oyando, Auditor Christopher Vargas, PRO Marciano Paroy Jr., Bus. Mgrs. Marjuline Lawagan and Jonathan Bangngayon, Sentinels Carol Pecua and Giarhard Awis.

TALALANG, SESEC-AN POWER SUPPLY RECUPERATES

by Marciano A. Paroy, Jr.

Far from the lowlander notion that much of the upper-stream municipalities of Kalinga still grapple and grope in the dark, the Balbalan barangays of Talalang and Sesec-an beg to differ. They have actually been using electric power generated from hydro-energy for quite some time now, since the community had been inspired to replicate the micro-hydro power plant of Dulao in the neighboring province of Abra.

However, as most systems that do not benefit from the proficient maneuver given by technical experts, both the Talalang and Sesec-an power plants soon gave in to the strain of inexperience. Result: the power plants could only give out 50% of the target output. Obviously, if the power plants really had to sustain the power needs of the two communities, some serious rehabilitation work had to be made.

“This is where the Affiliated Non-conventional Energy (ANEC) of KASC came in,” Engr. Manuel Bilagot, ANEC Project Leader, said. “Having won the contract from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which provides the finances for micro-hydro power projects in the country through the Department of Energy (DOE), KASC-ANEC has the upper hand in conducting site surveys and in formulating plans so that the projects would meet their targets.”

The sites identified by ANEC, Talalang and Sesec-an, passed the assessment conducted by ADB consultants on identifying micro-hydro power operations that need serious rehabilitation. Assured with a funding, the local government unit of Balbalan, as the ultimate recipient of the projects, had to pitch-in its counterpart amount, which is further complemented by the free labor given by the community people.

The entry into the two communities by KASC-ANEC is technically matched by the Research and Development Center for Renewable Energy Systems and Technologies (REDCREST), the only DOE-accredited technical working group that is capable of putting Kalinga micro-hydro projects into operation.

REDCREST, headed by Engr. Obed Jose Bilowan, completes the pentagonal alliance that includes ADB, DOE, KASC-ANEC, LGU-Balbalan, through Mayor Allen Jesse Mangaoang – with each group providing its expected contribution that was instrumental for the completion of the project.

“The effective collaboration among the agencies concerned is a continuing venture,” Engr. Ronnie Awing, REDCREST Vice-President, explained. “But also very crucial is the willingness of the barangay officials and other rural folks to give their share in terms of labor, and their openness to be trained so that they may be outfitted with a power source that could meet their energy needs one-hundred percent.”

Engr. Victor Malasi and Engr. Brandy Bitalan, both experts from KASC-ANEC, confirm the sustainability of the rehabilitated power source for the two barangays.

“With the continuing partnership between KASC-ANEC and REDCREST, there is no doubt that the rehabilitated micro-hydro projects would contribute a lot in the development of Talalang and Sesec-an,” Engr. Malasi ended.

ITE CONDUCTS LIVELIHOOD SKILLS TRAINING

By Marciano A. Paroy, Jr.

Swaying the general notion that the KASC’s Institute of Teacher Education (ITE) strictly focuses on academics, Dr. Helen Ba-is, adviser for the Home Economics Livelihood Education and Science Club, recently initiated a training program on the development of livelihood skills at the Bulanao Campus.

Intended to expand the options of students on productive opportunities, the training equipped the clients with the basic know-how on soap-making, herbal processing, virgin coconut oil preparation, and improvisation of lab equipment,.

Dr. Helen Ba-is, who also happens to be the Laboratory Custodian of the state college, coordinated the training program with the Cagayan Herbal Processing Plant, which sent its expert Mrs. Carmen Valera, at the same time representing the Philippine Institute of Alternative Medicine. Mrs. Valera labored to transfer her skills to the students, and at the end of the training, large volumes and quantities of the outputs were produced: virgin coconut oil, soaps from kamias, bayabas, carrot, papaya, anti-fungal ointments, cough syrups from lagundi and “dangla.”

“This undertaking can be made as a lucrative income-generating project of the ITE,” Extension Director Maximo Garming said.

Inspired by the positive turnout of the first activity, Dr. Ba-is is now making plans for Phase II of the training, which will then focus on cookery, food preparation and preservation. She will then be expected to utilize her experience and findings from her 2001 research on using ash lye as a food additive to rice cakes – a brainchild that earned her an opportunity to compete at the Regional Symposium annually held by the Highland Agricultural Resources Research and Development Consortium (HARRDEC).

“At present, the only problem we have with regards to the output is on packaging so that they may be sold as usable products,” Researcher Ba-is added.

The finished products of her recently concluded training program are displayed at the KASC Laboratory of the Bulanao Campus.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS?

by Marciano A. Paroy, Jr.

Mang Inggo, 55, of Casigayan, has always been cultivating his inherited farmland since he was a little boy when he would tag along with his parents as they would visit the fields. Raised as a farmer, he never had the inclination to acquire formal education. The future for him then was rather bleak – he never imagined himself to be wearing a three-piece suit one day. Early on, he accepted that his life was destined to be spent doing the back-breaking tasks of a farmer.

And he is now living that future.

But there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, Mang Inggo and his peers remain to be our biggest hope in the overall direction towards meaningful development. The farming industry and its ally – agribusiness – maintain their mark as the real springboard from which we might eventually attain that long-hoped-for industrialization.

“We were almost there,” Mang Inggo claimed when asked about the country’s dream to be industrialized. But that perception, of course, may just be remnants of the Marcos era. In fact, when a die-hard Ramos fan was asked, he said, “We were there already in the early and mid 90’s but we nosedived after that, didn’t we?”

It depends on what era and under whose administration you grew up in.

But it is a fact that not a single administration ignored the potent force of agriculture as a catalyst for development. Vision, mission, goals and objectives are simply recast. Programs and projects are simply re-packaged using different wordings. Implementers are sent to training activities where they did not really learn something new.

But the sincerity, the commitment and the dedication of agriculturists and extension people have remained un-changed.

And, all the while, Mang Inggo has always been there – tilling, buying inputs, harvesting, calculating losses and gains. Waiting.

To wait is somewhat innate among farmers. Most of them have not always been known to go out and seek for something that could benefit them. They would rather stay in the farm than reach out and establish linkage. This explains why a well-meaning agency conducting an extension program finds itself as a source of curiosity for farmers who have the automatic notion “What are these people up to? Kitan tayo man.”

This line of thinking is what the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center aims to change. Situated at the Kalinga-Apayao State College, under the umbrella of the Research and Extension Office, the Center is intended to be a depository of information and technology that the farmer can use not only to complement and improve his existing practices, but also to inspire him to expand his farming activities.

EXTENSION OFFICE NONSTOP IN OUT-REACH

by Marciano Paroy, Jr.

The Extension Office of the Kalinga-Apayao State College, with Dr. Maximo Garming at the helm, sustains its commitment to reach out to various clientele by providing them with trainings, seminars and workshops designed to answer their information and skill needs.

Last October 7, the Institute of Engineering, Mathematics and Applied Technology (IMEAT), conducted a Training on Stress Management at KASC Bulanao. The activity was aimed at equipping the participants with the fundamentals on handling situations that contribute to stress – and how to better manage one’s emotional and mental reserves in the event that stress has inevitably set in.

Dr. Maximo Garming, Dr. Raymund Balbin and Mrs. Marilou Sawadan gave the enlightening lectures to KASC alumni employed at St. Toni’s, Dep-Ed, LGU-Tabuk, Provincial Government and Saint Louis College of Bulanao. Giving the lecturers a hand were IMEAT Dean Danilo Falgui and IMEAT secretary Esther Guzman.

On the provision of skills, the Extension Office conducted a training on Candle-Making at the Lin-awa Center in Bulanao last October 4, with Mrs. Pefelia Buen teaching the craft.

Mrs. Buen, Secretary to the Board of Trustees of KASC, considers candle-making a very lucrative business if it is fully explored by enterprising individuals – considering that no one has yet cornered the venture in Tabuk.

The training in Lin-awa was participated in by teachers, nuns, and several members from the youth sector.

The Extension Office shall continue to build up its list of trainings this second semester.

STEPHEN B. OMAOIS: In Memory of a GURU Gem

by Marciano A. Paroy, Jr.

(NOTE: When Stephen Omaois was murdered in cold-blood way back in 2004, the following article was written as my way of honoring him and his short-lived excellence in community journalism. The whole piece never saw print ever since the day it was written, out of my respect for his unheard-of cry for justice. Justice can’t be said to have been dealt satisfactorily, and those who are supposed to be serving incarceration time are having a good time out there in the safe streets of Tabuk. Therefore, Stephen’s story has to be heard again, lest he feels that he has been forgotten.)

With what might be his dying spurt of reserved adrenalin, Stephen crawled, his face wincing in pain, his nose brushing the soggy pile of dirt below him. He clawed his fingers through the damp earth – gaining a stronghold with which he could horizontally grovel himself inch-by-inch.

Weak. Powerless. Drained of strength to cry in pain. So he clawed his way, desperately believing that it took him further away from his tormentors.

As soon as he got away, he told himself, he would head straight home – have a nice warm bath, and tuck himself for a good night’s rest. Deadline for his articles was a few days away anyway, so he had all the time to relax then. Hell, he might even come up with a good recount of this episode. He might even write about it in the first-person. But he brushed that prospect aside as he surmised it might even scare his mother. As he himself is scared now.

So Stephen kept on clawing his fingers through the muddy soil, almost digging, his tears not even bothering to roll down his cheeks as they dripped directly to the earth which his mouth was almost grazing.

And in that momentary silence when he thought that those behind him seemed to have gotten the satisfaction of seeing him writhe in pain and left, Stephen turned his face up, oblivious of the wounds and maniacal brutality that were earlier inflicted.

He squinted as he tried to make out the figure hovering over him in the darkness. And as it dawned upon him that the silhouette outlined his attacker in a ready-to-strike position, with a rock held in his hand, he didn’t even had the strength to close his eyes as the tightly gripped rock descended towards his skull.

As his last mortal breath escaped his lips, Stephen did not even have a last thought.

Thus ended the life of a budding journalistic gem.

Stephen Bas-ong Omaois (1980-2004) perfectly fitted the oft-used epitaph “Gone before his prime.” Only 24, he was still basking in his own existential limbo, trying to find out what he really wanted in life – looking at his foray into community journalism as a brief stopover towards that still unidentified career path – yet, in doing so, he was beginning to carve out a niche for himself, slowly and, in an unprecedented manner, earning attention from the intellectual and academic circles of his hometown where he wrote for the Guru Community Press of Tabuk.

His obviously tireless factory of high-minded prose was impressive, prompting readers reaching the end of his column to wonder what might be in store for them next issue. This, while still drifting in what he perceived to be a sea of uncertainty. This, while still mulling over what he could possibly become of.

But then there is no use in projecting a series of what-might-be’s, especially if the subject is dead.

Stephen is dead, and nature might not be so generous in giving Tabuk another young blood whose idealistic vehemence underscored every carefully worded line he wrote. The Guru community Press of Tabuk might never chance upon another goldmine who decided to dabble awhile in community development efforts. And for these, it suddenly becomes interesting to count achievers who excelled well in an activity done in dalliance.

As for the community of Tabuk – which has this staccato effort in establishing a privately owned press which has recently been given a new lease on life by the visionary Wangdali family (whose Guru Paper took the place of yet another Wangdali-owned paper which ran for a few issues several years back before it eventually folded) – the townspeople may only be now realizing the significance and prestige of having a truly alive print medium in their locale.

As papers from the different parts of the country ran Stephen’s story, Tabukeños got a glimpse into a strong network of journalists as one whole writing family.

Given the observation that the printed word is generally devoured by those in the higher rungs of the IQ ladder, Tabuk’s having a healthy press shows the country that there is, indeed, an intellectual community in this town. It is just sad to think that Guru’s setting the issue on whether or not Tabukeños do read has to be accomplished by way of losing one of its assets.

It is even sadder to think that it was in this asset’s death that some Tabukeños, for fear of being labeled un-informed or not-knowing, sat bolt upright and asked for previous issues of the Guru Press – as if their post-mature traverse through Stephen’s entries in his column would give them the “Eureka” moment that would shed light into the investigation, muddled already as it is by a number of people giving misleading information.

So, suddenly, the number of Stephen-impressed readers rose, belatedly stamping in the realization that there was a very promising writer in their midst (or that there is a good community paper circulated in their midst).

With the Natioanl Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) condemning Stephen’s slay, there is now a growing spiral of noise in this community, and depending on how one Tabukeño may look at it, his views may either land him on the group that insists the incident to be work-related, or on the group that says otherwise.

But then probing deeper into the murder would further amplify this spiral of noise, as the case clearly cuts into other sensitive issues like the stubborn propensity of gays to prowl alone at night; the high incidence of crime in this town which juggles law enforcers from one crime scene to another; police visibility; the ever-fierce guy-snatching drama among gays (which some investigators are zealously looking into, despite honest pronouncements of Stephen’s closest friends that he has never yet been involved romantically with, errr, another male – making him more of a night-prowler); and even the refusal of night spots to close during curfew hours.

Which brings us back all to the most easily arrived-at attempt in explaining Stephen’s death: it might have been work-related, giving heavier weight to the legitimacy of journalists’ complaint that, in the end, the pen is their ultimate snuff machine.

Yet again, for Stephen, this is a conjecture, and a hard one to prove at that because if his published outputs were used as a gauge, he had never yet authored an article that would have possibly irked “the powers-that-be.”

One thing is certain though. Stephen Omaois is the 13th journalist to be killed this year, more than doubling last year’s figure. And as the whole town of Tabuk awaits results from the police force – which, in all fairness, is seriously doing its job to nail the culprits – those of us from the world of writing can only hope that Stephen may not only end up as a number in a list.

For a person with a gift of syntax and semantics, his insertion as a mere entry into this year’s statistics of crime would be an aberration – and that is for lack of a more appropriate word.