ALMORA,, MADIO, SACLAG AND BAYLE-NG: Do they deserve their awards?

Awards. Everybody loves them. And almost everyone would do everything it would take to get one – even if it means trampling on other people’s shoulders, just so they could be pushed down, while ensuring that the person being held aloft would be noticed and eventually bag the title eyed for.

Indeed, there are awards garnered that way.

However, what if the award was truly deserved? What if the recipient did not only work hard for the honor, but also was not aware that in so doing, he or she has been satisfying the criteria of some award-giving body whose existence the awardee was not even aware of in the first place.

Mother Teresa did not begin doing her charity work just so she could win the Nobel Peace Prize in the 1990’s. Lualhati Bautista did not put his creative energies into paper just so he could win various literary awards.

Awards, for those who are truly detached from the trophy, plaque, or medal, are affirmation of the awardee’s commitment to high standards. Most awardees would say “I did not expect this; I just keep doing what I think is good.”

And, as a result of setting and sticking to these standards, other people notice. And bestow the mark of distinction to the deserving recipients.

Dr. Jaime Almora was recognized for his contribution to the promotion of agricultural technologies, in his capacity as the Magsasaka Siyentista of the Kalinga-Apayao State College; Ms. Regina Madio and Ms. Marie Saclag reaped their rewards for their dedication to high quality craftsmanship via the Sipag at Tiyaga award; and Ms. Thelma Bayle – Ng got the nod of her fellow business people for her remarkable and inspiring success in the field of business.

Dr. Almora was awarded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development of the DOST; Ms. Madio and Ms. Saclag’s distinction was bestowed on them by Sen. Manuel Villar; and Ms. Ng was recognized by the Phil. Center for Entrepreneurship-Go Negosyo.

Oh yes, the awards came from the national and regional levels – assuring us that their being recognized underwent some stringent scrutiny and evaluation. Add to that the fact that Dr. Almora, Ms. Madio and Ms. Saclag and Ms. Ng are practically unknown to those involved in the awards.

Yes, we all love awards. And without doubt, these distinctions would push the recipients to even go further than what they have achieved – to improve on perfection, so to speak.

But the awards would become more meaningful when they truly inspire other people to exert similar efforts. Otherwise, these accolades would simply end up in display shelves to be ogled at by visitors who wait by the living room.

Congratulations, again, to Dr. Almora, Ms. Madio, Ms. Saclag and Ms. Bayle-Ng! As your profits increase, so shall the number of people you inspire!

DZRK, RADYO NATIN AND THE REST

“Mayat gayam ti pagkakadwa-an ti grupo yo.”

Those were the exact words of former Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Diego Ambatali during the press conference held at the TAMPCO training hall. The affair was scheduled for the purpose of informing local media practitioners about the latest developments attained by DENR in the region.

Hazel of DZRK replied “Wen met ah.”

*****

Local media practitioners in Tabuk comprise a very small band. You can count us, or for those who DO read and listen, you can name us.

There are only three pen-pushers at the Philippine Information Agency – Peter, Larry and Gigi – and week after week, we read their output, not only on paper but also the electronic versions of their news releases via the websites of PIA, Sun Star, PBS and some other sites that publish (online) their syndicated postings.

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Household names in the realm of broadcast are Hazel, Fred, Helen, Renzy, Keno, Estrell, and Basil – all with the title “Kasamang” attached before their names. With their partners in “The Other Room” – Rudy, Rene, Nardz, Willy, Boy, Jun, Lando, Marlon. Through the years, they have ridden the airwaves with messages that they have earnestly packaged to whet our thirst for news, entertainment and commentary.

And their Serbisyo Publiko!

My… how many wallets have they returned? How many feuds have they bridged? How many family issues have they resolved (Agawid ka kanun kuna ni Mamam ta…etc., etc.)?

We rarely pay attention to Serbisyo Publiko because they do not concern us – but think of the people whose lives depend on the very words spewed out by, say, Hazel (Umay ka kanu ditoy Tabuk ta kasapulan ni manong mu ti dara…).

Serbisyo Publiko works. Even with the advent of mobile communications, Serbisyo Publiko is a system that has made an impact (and continues to do so) on the lives of the people of this province.

*****

The folksy strains accompanying the poems of Keno, and the reverberating rhythm of the gongs played on air by Fred – some may not be touched by these efforts, but these are impressive contributions to the preservation and promotion of culture and the arts.

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Crossing modulations, we have the enterprising spirit of Carousel who established the first FM station in Tabuk – Radyo Natin, which introduced listeners to the voices of Carousel (of course), Wally, Hazel, Daniel/Cool J, Dalen, Jose, Kenny G., Gary, Venus, Karla, Garry, Gani. Plus Ely B.

Some of them may have long ago ceased to be heard, but RN effectively fills the vacuum in Tabuk’s FM band. Coming from the private sector, RN treats info-dissemination a step further than DZRK – via Dalen’s fearless views. Well, her approach may receive criticism from time to time, but we have to admit that the technique does its share of causing enlightenment for people who are lazy when it comes to the formulation of their own opinions.

Dalen may be tactless at times, but how else would you jostle people who are, in her own words, Natangken ti ulo da?

*****

I have to scurry back and forth between DZRK and Radyo Natin every 7 AM for the simultaneous news cast anchored by Hazel and Dalen, respectively. It’s a good thing that Dalen has a string of sponsors to name before her actual newscast; so that by the time she does begin to give out her news for the day, Hazel shall already be halfway.

*****

Hazel has a more comprehensive take on issues – given her agency’s resources, plus her connections (every time I have to identify a certain official or head of office, I simply have to text her for the name, complete with rank and family background that one may want to know). On the other hand, what Dalen lacks in details, she makes up for her sudden infusion of nerve-racking remarks (at least for those who are natamaan at nagalit).

Textbook journalism dictates that such technique should be frowned upon when delivering straight news… but then air time is expensive, and everyone is highly mobile. So the order of the day is to lump into one hour as many life-changing messages as possible.

*****

And then we have online publication. We have one website which is up-to-date in posting news about Kalinga in its pages: kalingatambayan.com. The electronic medium may not have a strong following yet in Kalinga – but it is a medium nevertheless, and kalingatambayan is constantly being accessed by online readers around the globe – thanks to its administrator/owner Nathaniel Dalanao.

Nathaniel may not exactly fall into the traditionally held idea of a media man – but he is one all right. He has info for transmission, he has a medium, he has readers, and he has lots and lots of feedbacks – some are hostile, if you care to read the postings in his forum (a website’s version of a newspaper’s Letters to the Editor).

*****

Lastly, we have the only newspaper in the city – this paper (I have already devoted the whole month of July talking about the GURU writers. This is actually an afterthought… for fellow media people stationed in other outfits).

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So there. We are a small group. We may not have frequent bonding activities, but we all communicate (thanks to mobile phones and the internet). We “borrow” files (dawat actually), we cross-check details, we exchange juicy info, we filter one another, we edit one another, and believe it or not, we also criticize one another.

You ma not see us talking amiably by the side of the stage as we document a certain program: Gigi with her camera (I wonder what happened to her SLR camera?); Renzy or Hazel or Fred or Keno with their tape recorders (or is that ONE recorder?); Estrell with her pen and paper, transcribing; Ely with her camera; and Jun (Albano) with his pen, paper, tape recorder and camera (he still carries with him his SLR).

Yes, we do not chat by the side stage, but we nod at one another, and utter a brief “see you around” as the day’s occasion is wrapped up and we all hurry back to our computers to do the write up (Hazel sometimes still uses the typewriter at DZRK to type her news for broadcast).

*****

We also have what we call CROSSOVER. Gary is identified with Radyo Natin but he also writes for GURU. The photos taken by Ely B. and Carousel are printed here. Jun – first and foremost a writer – can be heard at Radyo Natin every Monday at 6 PM for updates from the City Government of Tabuk, along with head of the City Information Office (CIO), Oliver Gacuya. I also speak on the air, via DZRK – for the KASC/DevCom Hour every Saturday at 8 AM (the program has been turned over to the practicum students since June).

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And we are all gathered under the umbrella of Kalinga Media Organization (KAMO), the group established in August 2006 by its current president Regie Wacas (who is also with the Information Office of LGU-Balbalan).

Obviously, I have written this entry into my column as my own way of observing the birth of the two-year old KAMO.

Long live KAMO!

3 Female entreps shortlisted for Villar’s Sipag at Tiyaga award

by Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

In celebration of Nacionalista Party’s 100 years of nation building, current party president Sen. Manny Villar came up with the idea of awarding P100, 000.00 to micro and small enterprises that exemplify Sipag at Tiyaga in their business undertaking.

This is to raise public awareness to success stories of ordinary people that were driven by the virtues of perseverance and hard work and went into small business in order to free themselves from poverty. The awardees shall hopefully be role models for others to follow and the cash award shall in a way provide support for the development of their enterprise.

From the city of Tabuk, three female entrepreneurs made the final cut for the regional search: Ms. Nancy Busacay of Baguio entrepreneurial legion is the Bago-Ilokano-Tagalog-Igorot-Cagayano-Kalinga (BITICK) Women’s Organization, Mrs. Marie Chaclag of Ayatu’s Ethnic Crafts , and Mrs. Regina Madio of EY Care and Praj’s Gift Shop.

Last April 10, a validation team arrived to put under scrutiny the three finalists. According to Mr. Jess Battung, representative from the Office of Sen. Villar, “It is quite impressive to note that Tabuk City has a healthy business environment. Tuguegarao City has only one contender for the search, yet your city has three – all women at that.”

Mr. Bonifacio Magalong, the other representative from Sen. Villar’s office, said “For the Tabuk pre-assessment activity, we have pre-identified two prominent figures to help us in the conduct of the face-to-face interview of the three finalists.”

Selected as their partners in the evaluation process were Dr. Maximo Garming, Extension Director of KASC, representing the academe, and Pastor Batac, representing the religious sector.

During the briefing, Mr. Battung instructed their two local partners that “We will interview at least two clients of the entrepreneur, two representatives from the LGU, and finally the entrepreneurs themselves.”

The criteria set composed of the following areas: Employment generation (15%); Sales turnover (10%); Growth in profits (10%); Re-investment of profits (10%); Savings generated (10%); Sipag at Tiyaga record (25%); Impact to community such as enhancement of the quality of life of the citizens/promotion of sustainable development (20%).

Nancy Busacay

Mrs. Nancy Busacay, President of the Bago-Ilokano-Tagalog-Igorot-Cagayano-Kalinga (BITICK) Women’s Organization, is backed by her business organization that was established in 2002. This is a group of women who, according to the BaguioCity.com website, “recognized the need to unite for a mutual aid benefit fund that can assist each other during times of death or sickness. Comprising mostly the population of barangay Dagupan Weste in Tabuk, Kalinga, they were able to accumulate a small amount for loan to its members and eventually a road of opportunity for better income sources. In 2003, they registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and started implementing their livelihood or income-generating projects.”

BITICK started coordinating with the local government unit of Tabuk, Rural Bank of Tabuk and national line agencies for various forms of assistance. Today, they are engaged in food processing, popularizing Tabuk Wine such as rice wine or ‘tapey’ and fruit wine or the ‘bugnay’ wine among local residents and visitors. Berry supplies for the wine are from the Ryan’s Farm in Ipil, Tabuk, owned by Mrs. Corazon Ryan.

Marie Chaclag

Ayatu’s Craft, under the able hands of proprietress Marie Chaclag, has been steadily growing as a force to reckon with in the realm of ethnic products. As a constant fixture in trade fairs, not only within the Cordillera, but outside the region as well (most recently in Metro Manila and in Pampanga), Mrs. Chaclag’s business acumen can be proven by the sustained arrival of orders that underwent stringent quality control by the proprietress herself.

“I have a hands-on involvement in every aspect of production,” Mrs. Chaclag stressed. “And I do generate employment. Think of the women who benefit from the orders of Kalinga native fabrics that we place.”

Mrs. Chaclag is likewise involved in community matters that affect her business directly. She sits as the current secretary of the Kalinga Provincial Tourism Council.

Regina Madio

Mrs. Regina Madio, owner of EY Care and Praj’s Gift Shop, is listed in the online database of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM). This is an export promotions agency of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry. Its thrust is to promote the Philippines as a reliable source of high-quality products and services through trade fairs, special exhibits, in-store promotions, trade missions, and other promotional activities here and abroad.

As a manager of her own business, Mrs. Madio, during the interview, said “I have always believed in the ability of the Filipino people to rise up and overcome obstacles that would normally hinder us from attaining our dreams.”

When asked by Mr. Battung about her fair business practices, she simply said “I always give what is due to other people, because it is dangerous to take advantage of others.”

The evaluating group also interviewed clients and barangay leaders, whose words were used to substantiate the statements of the business-owners. The group convened at the office of Dr. Maximo Garming in KASC last April 11 to collate their findings.

The three Tabuk finalists will compete in the regional search. Three qualifiers from CAR shall vie for the top award all the way to the national level.

KASC Builds-up its Research Database This Year

by Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

With the current upsurge in the success of research undertakings as proven in their performance in various fora last year, KASC is poised to build-up its wealth of knowledge and technologies generated through research.

Management Information System Specialist Perfelia Buen – concurrent to her role as the Secretary to the Board of Trustees – predicts that 2008 will indeed be very fruitful for KASC.

“The school is looking into the viability of many researchable areas – like sericulture,” Mrs. Buen said.

“Benguet is, at present, the leader in the region when it comes to sericulture or the production of silk,” KASC Research Director Jovita Saguibo added. “If everything goes well, KASC might establish the first silk development center in the province.”

For the past year, KASC did well as to the number of completed researches, as well as the conduct of extension activities. As summed up in Mrs. Buen’s report to the Highland Agricultural Resources Research and Development Consortium (HARRDEC), the following are enumerated:

On Engineering: (1) Kalinga-Apayao State College Affiliated Non-Conventional Energy Center KASC-ANEC Program; (2) KASC-ANEC Computer Based Information System; (3) Participatory Rural Appraisal Assessment of the Candidate Sites of the Upland Dwellers – A JICA-Assisted Project in Kalinga; (4) Geographic Information System(GIS) Program of KASC – with three components: a) Development of Kalinga Chico River Watershed Topographic Maps and Slope and Watershed Maps using DEM data from NASA; b) Development of a model in digital survey, mapping and subdividing land areas; c) GIS-Based Farmers Information system for CBFM projects; and lastly, the (5) Biogas Research.

On Food Processing: (1) The Utililization of Taro Flour in the Preparation of By-Products; (2) Product Development Using Yam Flour and Its Utilization; (3) Acceptability of Taro Flour in the Preparation of Byproducts; (4) Comparative Study of Three Kinds of Legumes in the Preparation of Tokwa.

On Agroforestry, Environment and Natural Resources: (1) The Nutritive Value of Basidiomycetes (Kurat, Kudit and Laplapayag) in the Province of Kalinga; (2)Patch Farming Practice in Barangay Magao-gao; (3)The effects of with trellis and without trellis on the growth and yield of UBI cultivars; (4) Integrated Farming-Technology Commercialization Using KASC Agricultural Waste; (5)Mud Cake: A Study on Silt as an Alternative Source of Organic Fertilizer; (6)Weeds Management: Preventive Control Approach in Corn Production; (7) Mulches Effect on the Yield of Yam; (8) Betel Nut- An Alternative Oil.

On Crops: (1) Growth and Yield Performance of Pleurotus ostreatus as affected by different Saccharides (2) Adoption of Hybrid Rice; (3) Yield Performance of Lowland Rice Cultivars as Affected by the Ages of Seedlings on Transplanting; (4) Advantages of Plastic Bag as Handling Material to Reduce Rice Seedling Stress During Transplantating – An Initial Comparative Study with Traditional Bundling Method

On Social Research: (1) Rural Communication Channels as Tools for the Promotion of Hybrid Rice Farming in Tabuk, Kalinga.

BAR PASSERS FROM KALINGA

The results of the 2007 Bar Examinations were released last March 29, Saturday, and as soon as the word got out, the supreme Court webpage got clogged with browsers who were downloading the list of the successful examinees. According to the official press release, 1289 examinees passed the exams – out of 5,626 examinees. That gives 22.91% national passing rate.

The first and third placers are from Ateneo de Manila University, while the second placer is from the University of the Philippines-Diliman – which has two other passers (# 7 and 10) in the Top 10. No school from the Cordillera, Cagayan Valley and the Ilocos Region figured in the Top 10. The topnotcher is a female - Mercedita L. Ona. There are only two males in the Top 10 (# 5 and 8).

From the province of Kalinga, a number of examinees made it to the list of passers: Marian Kristine Ambatali, Maria Florinia Binalay, Julio D. Barcellano Jr., Ceferino Calsiyao Jr., Jinky Fianza, Venus Torbela, Ford Tuazon, Mediatrix Tumbali and Ananias Christian G. Vargas.

KASC Sends Entries to Internat’l Conference

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

Three researchers from the Kalinga-Apayao State College were sent by College President Eduardo Bagtang to Ilo-ilo City for a three-day conference from February 27-29. Simply dubbed as The International Research Conference, the activity highlighted the response of higher education and research institutions to the challenges of globalization through research. Hosted by the Western Visayas State University, it gathered research papers from different higher education institutions, both private and government-run, both from the Philippines and other countries. The activity reviewed the state of the art of researches in seven areas: Science, Math and Technology; Medicine and Health; Agriculture and Allied Fields; Media and Communication; Information Technology and Engineering; Teacher Education; and Humanities and Social Sciences.

KASC submitted a number of research papers and three of them were admitted for oral presentation: “Project Development Through GIS and Developing Based Maps Using DEM Satellite Image, “GIS-Based Agroforestry system of Kalinga” by Forester Emerson Barcellano (admitted under the Agriculture and Allied Fields Cluster), and Rural Communication channels Utilized for the Promotion of Agricultural Technologies in Tabuk” by Marciano Paroy Jr. (under the Media and Communication Cluster).

The KASC team, along with other presenters from Cordillera, was able to give other big universities a feeler of the research atmosphere in this region.

As additional highlight of the activity, plenary sessions were interspersed into the simultaneous oral presentations in the different clusters. Dr. Thao Le, Director of Linguistics University of Tasmania in Australia, discussed the power of language in shaping culture; Dr. Amin Sarkar, Professor of Economics from the Alabama A & M University in USA discussed the changing patterns in world economics; Dr. Jaime Z. Galvez Tan, from University of the Philippines, discussed medicine and health trends; Dr. Mina Ramirez, President of the Asian Social Institute, looked into emerging social problems encountered in the world today; Dr. Roland Buresh, from the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, dissected problems on food scarcity and the role of rice; Dr. Florangel Braid, from the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, ended the sessions with the potent role of communication in advancing development.

The Laga Gala: A Review

THE LAGA GALA: A Review

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

First things first: Laga 2008 was a hit.

But then, it should be. With our very Filipino nature of allowing ourselves to be automatically gripped by any display of spectacle and pageantry, there is no need to find explanation behind the people’s coming in big droves.

As a run-through, Laga was first held in 1995, when Mrs. Natividad Sugguiyao played with the idea of holding a fashion show of clothes with the Kalinga woven fabric as the main material. It was paired off with the search for Ms Kalinga. And since then, the two shows went on to be staged year after year.

Except this year for Ms Kalinga.

Laga outdid Ms. Kalinga as to the continuity of both shows. Ms. Kalinga was shelved, and Laga may have even suffered the same fate had it not been for the enterprising spirit of DTI-Kalinga, which then decided to take on the responsibility of producing the show. DTI Director Grace Baluyan was right in saying during her opening remarks that the province should look into establishing a solid market for the Kalinga native fabric – not only here in the Philippines but in other parts of the globe as well.

Compared to previous versions of the show, Laga 2008 was made highly competitive. Whereas in previous Laga shows, the models were simply required to show off clothes made either entirely or at least displaying some percentage of the Kalinga fabric, this year has a title at stake – complete with a question and answer portion where the participants suddenly transformed from models into contenders in a beauty pageant.

And that is where the Laga Fashion Show went wrong.

A fashion show is an event put on to showcase a line of clothing. A beauty pageant is an event where participants vie for a title. A beauty pageant is a fashion show in itself because the contestants get to wear different attires – but a fashion show should not be touched by elements of a beauty pageant.

When the word “Laga” comes to mind, we immediately think of the dresses that would be paraded before the audience by models. As originally conceptualized by Mrs. Sugguiyao, the clothes (i.e., the Kalinga native fabrics) are supposed to be the real treat during the show, reminding us how the designers went through all the whole process of design, fabric selection, color consideration, cutting, sewing, beading, accessorizing, fitting, and last-minute enhancements.

Models are secondary to the clothes. They are used to show off the merits and good points of the dresses. Otherwise the show should have easily been packaged as a model search. The Laga Show did right in giving out awards such as Best in Casual Wear up to the Best in Formal Attire (Evening gown for ladies and tuxedo for males). The organizers could have then summed up the scores and determined the models who got the most number of awards and bestow on them the titles Ms. Laga and Mr. Laga – which would mean that they were the models who most effectively showed off the given clothes. Had that been the case, we would have left the venue reflecting on how beautiful the clothes were, and how efficiently did the models convey the proper situation in which the apparels should be worn.

But the show took a turn and subjected the models to a Q and A round – with one question running this way: Do you know any Kalinga pattern?

Again: the Laga Show was supposed to have been a showcase of clothes touched by the Kalinga native fabric, with models parading them down the ramp – not the usual search for title-bearers. But as it turned out, the title-bearers became the focal points, and – as is always experienced after a search – uproar of bitterness from the losing camps amplify its way back to the organizers.

Which is not fair. Okay, the show may have turned out differently than what it should have been, but inasmuch as the organizers have decided to bestow titles upon the models, we have to live with it. The question, therefore, is: were the judges right in their choices for Ms. Laga and Mr. Laga 2008?

Answer: Ms. Lorraine Earl and Mr. Dexter Batalao deserve to wear the titles. Ms. Earl managed to win three of the minor awards (School band uniform, bridal gown, and evening gown), while Mr. Batalao consistently performed well on the ramp (he was, in fact, one of the few male models who exuded a confident aura).

So it has become a sort of wonderment why there are people in the community who had the gall to question why – let us be specific here – Ms. Earl was even permitted to participate in the first place.

In the world of fashion, skin color has never been one of the criteria. That is why fashion activities the world over are filled with young men and ladies who hail from diverse backgrounds. Some are imported from as far as the African continent – like Waris Diri, Alek Kwek; the Southeast Asia – like our very own Ana Bayle. The 1990’s saw the very white Cindy Crawford sashaying down the ramp side by side with the very black Naomi Campbell. Models are chosen on the basis of their built and their ability to display the clothes.

The participation of Ms. Earl, who is of Filipino and Australian descent, and her winning performance while garbed in the Kalinga native fabrics, are proofs of the quality of the fabric as a wearable material, regardless of one’s ethnicity. She herself pointed that out in the Q and A round when she talked about the viability of the fabrics in the global market.

The forum and open-chat sections of the Kalinga Tambayan website of Nathaniel Dalanao were filled with differing views on the above-mentioned subject. One chatter said “Kunak man nu pang Kalinga lang ti laga. Apay ngay nga adda simmali nga puraw.” The individual, who was not brave enough to identify himself/herself, may learn a lot by visiting the DTI office and look into the guidelines that the organizers have formulated for the contest. The standing rule was “open entry” – single or married, Kalinga or non-Kalinga, professional model or not.

The administrator of the website, Nathaniel, had to text us to ask for rescue in answering the barrage of messages littering the chat room of Kalinga Tambayan website. This writer logged in and, after answering a few of the negatively tinged messages that border on ethnic discrimination, he logged off and sadly shook his head for the propensity of some people to be closed minded.

This writer, however, maintains that the Laga Fashion Show should have been bare of beauty contest ingredients, particularly the interview portion. If the organizers were really that hell-bent in finding out who among the models would turn out to be the brightest mentally, then they should have proceeded with the search for Ms. Kalinga - but requiring the contested attires to be made of Kalinga native fabrics.

Still, congratulations to DTI Kalinga. We all get better from initial ventures – as they themselves know that in the entrepreneurial training activities that they conduct. Given some lapses in the preparatory stages of the show (like the announcement that sponsors await the prospective models; some early contenders had to withdraw participation upon finding that no sponsors await them), Ms. Benita Mangadap still needs to be lauded for her passion to push through with the show. Along with choreographers Marlon Carbonel and Aquino Gonayon.

Congratulations to the winners again: Lorraine Earl and Dexter Batalao (Ms. And Mr. laga 2008); Mariz Lao-ang and John Paul Balbin (1^st runners-up); Magnolia Duyan and Ryan Gabriel Reyes (2^nd runners-up); Loraville Diocares and Romel Ciano (3^rd runners-up); Clarisse Aowat and Almani Dimmang (4^th runners-up).

Lastly, congratulations to the winning creations of Joon Ascaño who ran away with the Best Designer award for his School band uniform, bridal and evening gown creations for Ms. Earl. Joon received formal training in fashion design at the Cora Doloroso Career Center – the first one to attend that school, and soon followed by Ariston “Chit” Reyes, Marlon Carbonel, and this writer (who did the winning office and casual wears for Ms. Diocares).

Laga, we hope, would learn from the important details that the organizers have overlooked, so that by next year, we will not have chatters quarreling again at the Kalinga Tambayan website - a bad thing for a province itching to join the global community.

SILK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

1. Rationale

Sericulture is a booming industry. It is the major supplier of good quality cocoons. In fact, the Cordilleran region has long been engaged in silk production, with its favorable agro-climatic condition and labor endowment. Sericulture has good potential for raising living standards, among the rural poor, particularly women, through household-based production.

It is because of this vision that this project has been designed as a

pilot operation to facilitate the introduction of improved technology on sericulture. It is anticipated that the project will help to establish Kalinga sericulture into a technically up-to-date, economically and financially viable sector.

It is also envisioned that silk research, training and extension would slowly be handled by autonomous entity controlled by the stakeholders when the project is ready to be packaged and transferred to recipient barangays. The profits from sericulture activities will help to transform the lives of many poor rural families.

Fiber Development Authority (FIDA) reported that 70 percent of the 1,500 kilos of cocoons produced in Regions 1 and Cordillera last year came from Benguet. If a sericulture industry would be established in Kalinga, there is no doubt that the province can duplicate, if not surpass, that of Benguet.

This is the vision towards which the initial project is aimed.

2. Objectives
1. To establish a sericulture research and development in KASC, targeted to be a resource center, while utilizing vermin-compost as major ingredient in the growing of mulberry trees;
2. To package and disseminate the technology to cooperating recipients in the community;
3. To establish an income-generating-project for KASC

3. Expected Output

1. A Kalinga sericulture center located within and maintained by KASC;
2. Technology transfer by way of campaigns to popularize the technology – in the form of training activities and IEC undertakings;
3. A financially viable project for KASC

4. Potential Impact

The industry will have far-reaching impact on KASC as it will establish itself as a sericulture center. Research and development activities related to sericulture help in the build-up of knowledge pertaining to the technology.

As the project will directly open up a new industry for the province, farmer-rearers shall benefit a great deal in economic terms as well as infuse in them the use of organic inputs like vermi-compost.

5. Milestones

Under this proposal, KASC will prepare the plans and programs of the silk processing center and send for training a number of technicians on mulberry propagation and silkworm rearing.

Laborers will be trained to undertake cocoon processing into raw silk, coordinate the distribution of silkworms to farmer-rearers in cooperation with the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) and other institutions undertaking silkworm rearing and egg production, and also push for marketing the raw silk.

Development of KASC Farming Technologies for Poverty Alleviation

Ernesto T. Miguel
Jovita E. Saguibo
Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

Given the rain-fed agricultural situation in the province of Kalinga, farmers have a tendency to resort to means by which they can address their immediate needs – with little regard to environmental issues.

Clearly, there is a need to solve the pressing subsistence needs of the farmers while taking into consideration the practices that would pose no harm to the environment.

This study focuses on the optimized management of natural resources in the dry areas, resulting to sustained productivity while preventing soil degradation. It is targeted to pre-selected agro-ecologies and socio-economic environment in three municipalities in the province of Kalinga – namely, Rizal, Tanudan, and Pinukpuk.

It introduces a rational use of land-based technologies derived from the farming systems conducted at the Kalinga-Apayao State College, with the involvement of farmers.

Prior to the piloting of cropping systems and improved production techniques developed in KASC is a four-way methodology:

(1) Collection, assembly and analysis of data on soil, climate, crops and inputs;

(2) Assessment of major production constraints to sustainable crop production;

(3) The development of a farm model; and

(4) Dissemination of the technologies generated.

This research undertaking was able:

(a) To increase the knowledge of farmers;

(b) To put in place better land preparation methods; and

(c) To transfer to the farmers’ level the better farming methods resulting to higher income.

This study further establishes the willingness of farmers to take risks when they are fully convinced with the viability of technologies – regardless of their simplicity or complexity.

Development of KASC Farming Technologies for Poverty Alleviation

Ernesto T. Miguel

Jovita E. Saguibo
Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

Given the rain-fed agricultural situation in the province of Kalinga, farmers have a tendency to resort to means by which they can address their immediate needs – with little regard to environmental issues.

Clearly, there is a need to solve the pressing subsistence needs of the farmers while taking into consideration the practices that would pose no harm to the environment.

This study focuses on the optimized management of natural resources in the dry areas, resulting to sustained productivity while preventing soil degradation. It is targeted to pre-selected agro-ecologies and socio-economic environment in three municipalities in the province of Kalinga – namely, Rizal, Tanudan, and Pinukpuk.

It introduces a rational use of land-based technologies derived from the farming systems conducted at the Kalinga-Apayao State College, with the involvement of farmers.

Prior to the piloting of cropping systems and improved production techniques developed in KASC is a four-way methodology:

(1) Collection, assembly and analysis of data on soil, climate, crops and inputs;

(2) Assessment of major production constraints to sustainable crop production;

(3) The development of a farm model; and

(4) Dissemination of the technologies generated.

This research undertaking was able:

(a) To increase the knowledge of farmers;

(b) To put in place better land preparation methods; and

(c) To transfer to the farmers’ level the better farming methods resulting to higher income.

This study further establishes the willingness of farmers to take risks when they are fully convinced with the viability of technologies – regardless of their simplicity or complexity.

KASC Boosts its Research Priorities

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

Being the prime research institution in the province of Kalinga, the Kalinga-Apayao State College sets new targets to be accomplished this year. Having made impressive developments in agricultural and Science-and-Technology (S&T) research, the agency has identified a number of priorities to delve on.

“One of the upcoming projects is the Tissue Culture Lab to be established in the Bulanao Campus,” Dr. Jovita Saguibo, Research Director, said. “Of course, the school has an existing tissue culture lab, but it only shares space with the Research and Extension building. For us to really prosper in the field of tissue culture, we really need a separate station devoted solely for the purpose.”

The school’s endeavor on tissue culture has yet to gain its big leap. Currently, the tissue culture undertaking of the school is in the hands of Dr. Hazel Buslig who, along with Ms. Cyrila Bawer, has been trained for the laborious task. Ms. Buslig’s first venture was into the culturing of lacatan.

The lacatan tissue culture apparently gained the attention of Congressman Manuel Agyao, who proposed the construction of a tissue culture laboratory for the province of Kalinga.

“It is with pleasure that we acknowledge the interest of the Congressman to construct his proposed tissue culture lab inside KASC,” College President Eduardo Bagtang said. “Not only will it create income opportunities for the school, but will also establish KASC and the province of Kalinga as one of the tissue culture leaders in the region.”

The Bureau of Plant Industry–CAR then visited KASC last Februray 5-6. According to Jesus Aspuria, Center Chief, “The purpose of our visit is to verify and look into the viability of possible construction of a Tissue Culture for mushroom in the area and eventually for recommendation to the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture.”