You plan to move to the Philippines? Wollen Sie auf den Philippinen leben?

There are REALLY TONS of websites telling us how, why, maybe why not and when you'll be able to move to the Philippines. I only love to tell and explain some things "between the lines". Enjoy reading, be informed, have fun and be entertained too!

Ja, es gibt tonnenweise Webseiten, die Ihnen sagen wie, warum, vielleicht warum nicht und wann Sie am besten auf die Philippinen auswandern könnten. Ich möchte Ihnen in Zukunft "zwischen den Zeilen" einige zusätzlichen Dinge berichten und erzählen. Viel Spass beim Lesen und Gute Unterhaltung!


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Showing posts with label Rice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rice. Show all posts

Thursday, September 22, 2022

𝐇𝐲𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐨


A significant step up in the agriculture sector in Davao de Oro came into light right after the successful harvest of the Community Hybrid Rice Model Farm: a community model of hybrid rice variety established in selected barangays in the municipalities of Compostela and Nabunturan ranging up to 200 hectares of land area.

The model farms are an initiative through the collaboration of the Department of Agriculture Region XI, Provincial Government of Davao de Oro headed by Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga,  Provincial Agriculturist's Office of DdO, Municipal Agriculture Offices of Compostela and Nabuturan, and private seed companies; Syngenta Philippines, Inc., SL Agritech Corporation, and Bayer Crop Science.


The project yields a significant rack-up in the province's rice sector by using four (4) hybrid rice varieties: Bigante Plus, NK5017, SL 20H, and M20. These hybrid rice varieties showed the potential to adapt to climate changes and generate a higher income for the local farmers.

The involved agencies and private partners also pushed for the concept of farm clustering, a method utilizing two cropping seasons, both wet and dry cropping irrigated areas, to fully maximize space, time, and effort. In total, the municipality of Compostela involves Brgy. Gabi, Tamia, Lagab, San, Jose, and Siocon has 100 hectares of rice model farm site with 66 farmer-cooperators, while Brgy. Magading, Libasan (LIPRIMCO), Libasan (PNIA), and Pangutusan comprised Nabunturan with 100 hectares of rice model farm site and 78 farmer-cooperators.

Further, both Compostela and Nabunturan received 25 bags of rice seeds for each hybrid variety of rice for their model farm, including loads of fertilizers (urea, complete, and MOP) per hectare of the model farm.

In partnership with DA and private companies, this initiative of the provincial government is a blueprint for modern, efficient, and effective rice-farming techniques that will soon be adopted by the other farmers province-wide.

PAGRO Head Dr. Jaime Anter, in his message to the farmers during the harvest, conveyed that the government will continue to support them through subsidies, lowering their production costs and increasing their income. 

According to PAGRO-DdO, more or less 400 bags of rice (65 kilograms per bag) were harvested yesterday (September 21, 2022) in two (2) model farms located in Brgy. Magading and Pangutusan. The remaining unharvested hybrid rice model farm sites will follow in the last week of September and the first week of October this year. (J. Abella, PAO-IPRD DdO, photos by J. Cadiz)

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Is eating rice equivalent to eating sugar?

By: Christian Heicks

Quite a lot of answers here, but nobody really answers the question directly: Eating rice is NOT equivalent to eating sugar. Rice will become glucose in the body, while sugar is a 50/50 mixture of glucose and fructose.
Also, everybody's talking about blood sugar levels, but that's not the whole story. Fructose, for example doesn't even raise the blood sugar(glucose) level, but it's still bad - it's significantly worse than glucose, for several reasons:

1. Fructose can't be used by most cells of the body, so most is metabolized in the liver, with effects similar to alcohol (after all, alcohol is made from fructose). Excessive fructose consumption might contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

2. Fructose oxidizes proteins about 7 times faster than glucose. Oxidation of proteins occurs naturally in the body, rendering the proteins unusable. (Search for "advanced glycation end products"). This is also why a high blood sugar level isn’t good.

3. Fructose is converted to fat more "efficiently" than glucose. I don't know the exact number right now, but I think it was about 30 %, while only 10 % of glucose is converted to fat. (Yes, those numbers only apply for the specific amount used in that study, but other amounts shouldn't change that ratio too much.)

There are several other reasons, you can look them up on wikipedia or just google a bit. Or watch this talk:

So, what's with rice? Sure, rice has a higher glycemic index than sugar (that's because half of sugar - the fructose - doesn't contribute to the blood sugar level), but the glycemic index itself doesn't say much.
Rice isn't usually eaten separately. If eaten in a meal with other food, the glycemic index of rice (and with other foods as well) decreases dramatically.
Generally, fat, acid (e. g. vinegar) and fiber are responsible for that. So be careful with "low-fat"-meals.... (I don't think much of the whole "low-fat-movement", anyway).

So: If you eat rice in a meal, the glycemic index is often only half the value found in the tables - for normal amounts of rice, the resulting blood sugar level is no problem. And the body needs glucose, after all.

Friday, April 29, 2022

Can I eat rice if I have high cholesterol?

 

Profile photo for Lucia Garcia
Lucia Garcia
My name is Lucia Garcia, 36 years old. I was graduated from the Pritzker School of Medicine at University of Chicago, my major is clinical medicine. I have been working at Hospitals. I am fully committed to helping people take control of their health and realize their potential as human beings. As a doctor, my motto is “Knowledge not shared is wasted”.

Eating rice is not a healthy choice if you have high cholesterol.

Although rice is cholesterol-free, but rice is a whopping 70% carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are one of the three major nutrients, which can provide heat for the body. 1 gram of carbohydrates provides 4 calories.

For decades, many health experts have recommended that people with high cholesterol should reduce their intake of saturated fat.

However, many new studies prove that people with high cholesterol need to reduce their carbohydrate intake, not saturated fat.

Excess carbohydrates are converted into glucose in the body and absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in high blood sugar, high blood lipids and high cholesterol.

Clinical studies have proven that a more healthy diet is a low-carb diet rather than a low-saturated fat diet.

Therefore, people with high cholesterol need to limit the intake of high carbohydrate foods, such as: rice, wheat, steamed bread, noodles, bread, biscuits, corn, oats, sweet potatoes, potatoes, bananas, etc.

Monday, April 4, 2022

Is rice dangerous for a kidney stone patient?

 

Profile photo for Lucia Garcia
Lucia Garcia
13,906 followers
0 following

My name is Lucia Garcia, 36 years old. I was graduated from the Pritzker School of Medicine at University of Chicago, my major is clinical medicine. I have been working at Hospitals. I am fully committed to helping people take control of their health and realize their potential as human beings. As a doctor, my motto is “Knowledge not shared is wasted”.



Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world's population, including countless people with kidney stones, but they still eat rice every day.

Rice is an extremely nutrient-rich food, and rice has nothing to do with kidney stones.

Kidney stones are preventable and treatable, and the easiest way to prevent and treat kidney stones is to eat the right foods.

Studies have shown that approximately 70% to 80% of stones are calcium oxalate stones.

The accumulation of oxalic acid in the body is the main factor leading to kidney stones.

In addition, excessive intake of high-sugar, high-protein and high-purine foods is also linked to kidney stones.

Kidney stone patients should eat less foods high in oxalic acid, such as spinach, beans, carrots, mushrooms, amaranth, coriander, celery, grapes, oranges, strawberries and so on.

It is recommended that patients with kidney stones often eat some black fungus. Black fungus contains alkaloids and various minerals, which can produce a strong chemical reaction to kidney stones, dissolve the stones, shrink them and excrete them from the body.

Patients with kidney stones also are advised to drink plenty of water. Studies have shown that a 50% increase in urine output can reduce the incidence of kidney stones by 85%.

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Release of Fertilizer and Seed subsidy to Rice farmers in DdO continues


To fully support its local farmers, PLGU Davao de Oro through the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAGRO) rolls out the release of fertilizers and seed subsidy to rice farmers province-wide.

The initiative of the provincial government is armed by the Rice Resiliency Project II (RRPII) and Rice Enhancement Competitive Fund (RECF).

 RRP is one of the component projects under the “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” or the “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat” (ALPAS) Kontra Covid-19 Program of the Department of Agriculture and is also implemented to increase farmer’s productivity and ensure food security amid Covid-19 through the provision of fertilizer subsidy, while RECF aims to improve rice farmers’ competitiveness and increase their income.

RECF will directly help farmers through the provision of certified inbred rice seeds and through integrating crop management to the farmers increasing access, utilization, and adoption to high quality and high-yielding inbred rice seeds.

On May 5, 2021, the release of the subsidy started in the municipality of Nabunturan and continues to other municipalities at a later date. New Bataan, Mawab, Monkayo, Montevista, Compostela, and Laak already received the subsidy and will be followed by Maragusan this Friday.

Overall, 3, 164 rice farmers from eight municipalities of Davao de Oro will benefit from the program. For the RRP II, a total of 11.6 Million Pesos worth of fertilizers were allotted for the farmers while the RECF allotted a total of 18.6 Million Pesos for the certified inbred rice seeds amounting to 21,180 bags.

PLGU-Davao de Oro sees to it that farmers in the province will lessen their production cost and improve the quality of their products leading to a better state in farming. 

(Jasteen Abella, Information Division Davao de Oro, photos by Reynaldo Renoblas)

Saturday, September 26, 2020

To more Rice produce in the Golden province

 



 Davao de Oro Province---With much potential seen on its land area, the United IPs Irrigators Association (UIIA) of Barangay Bahi in Maragusan, Davao de Oro committed more or less 20 hectares of land area to be developed into rice fields.

 The conversion of the 20 hectare-land as an initial production area will also pave a way to interest other land owners in pursuing and replicating rice production initiatives using modern technology as way of adding income generating farm endeavors.

 Bahi has a total of 106 hectares of land feasible to rice field conversion according to survey and for the time being only 20 hectares were utilized.

 Barangay Bahi also has an irrigation facility unutilized to its full potential that compliments the conceptualization and implementation of the project and will greatly add assurance to food security in the province when fully functional.

 “Sa ginagmay nato nga mga resources ug pagtinabangay, ma-achieve nato atung gipangandoy nga nindot nga basakan.” said Minda Agarano, Head of the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office of the province.

 he groundbreaking ceremony was held on the 23rd of September 2020 and attended by partner agencies of PLGU Davao de Oro specifically the Department of Agriculture RFO XI, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Irrigation Administration Davao de Oro, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Davao de Oro, MAGRO Maragusan, BLGU Bahi, United IP Irrigator’s Association of Bahi, 66th Infantry Battalion and Philippine National Police – RPSB.

 The involvement of the AFP and the PNP through ELCAC (End Local Communist Armed Conflict) strategy is relevant to the project as this will precede to attain lasting peace, transformation and alleviate poverty in Barangay Bahi as the place was once deeply infiltrated by communist movement years ago. 

(Jasteen P. Abella, Information Division, Davao de Oro)

 

 

Friday, June 7, 2019

Comval hailed one of the victors for the "Rice Achievers Award"


By Sean Seismundo

Compostela Valley Province—The provincial government of Compostela Valley won yet another award for the "Rice Achievers Award" for 2019, earning the title of being one the top producers of rice in the country.
Awarded by the Department of Agriculture (DA), a ceremony was held last May 30, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Metro Manila.
The National Rice Achievers Awards is an annual event by the Department of Agriculture under the National Rice Program (NRP) by PRRD, for the purpose of promoting and honoring those provinces, municipalities, cities, farmer technicians, and agricultural workers and associations for their contributions for the rice industry of the country. 
Provincial Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy received the award during the ceremony along with Dr. Minda Agarano, PG Department Head of Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO) and Dr. Ronald Sibayan, Asst. PG Department Head of PAGRO from the ceremony’s guest of honor, Senator Cynthia Villar. 
Among the prizes were a certificate and official plaque of the award, as well as 4 million pesos as given by the DA.
Out of all 82 provinces in the country, Compostela Valley won the “Rice Achievers Award” and the Municipality of Compostela was named as the LGU with the most sufficient production of rice in Davao Region.

A total of seven provinces also won the said award throughout the country, which includes Compostela Valley, Lanao del Norte, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Occidental Mindoro, Bukidnon, and Zamboanga del Norte. 
"Our province won the highly-coveted Rice Achievers Award today. We are one of the only seven (7) rice-sufficient provinces in the whole country. As a reward, the Department of Agriculture extended us a four (4) million pesos incentive. We dedicate this award to all hardworking rice farmers in our province, to the Department of Agriculture and our Provincial Agriculturist's Office for assisting our farmers. Indeed, a huge leap for our goal to achieve zero hunger and food security in the province.", said Governor Uy
This is not the first time the province has won the Rice Achievers Award, as they have also won three times before, making it the 4th recognition this year.
"Despite our limited production area of about 13,000 hectares, yet we were able to contribute significantly to the regional and national rice sufficiency. The province attained a 102% rice sufficiency in 2018. This award was achieved due to our concerted efforts, unity and cooperation among our stakeholders,” Agarano said. (Sean Seismundo, ID Comval, Photos by M. Lasaca)

Saturday, August 25, 2018

'Riceless' Zamboanga lifts State of Calamity



By: Roel Pareño (The Philippine Star) 
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The rice crisis in Zamboanga is “officially over” as supply has started to stabilize, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said yesterday.
Piñol issued the statement after his meeting with local government officials of Zamboanga peninsula and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and executives of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Food Authority (NFA) in addressing the rice scarcity problem.
A boat laden with 180,000 bags of rice docked yesterday at Zamboanga port.
The volume of rice allocation was originally 110,000 bags for Zamboanga City and 10,000 bags each for Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and 20,000 bags for Zamboanga Sibugay.
Piñol said local leaders have decided that additional allocation will be given to the three island provinces with 20,000 each for them to have stable rice supply. Zamboanga will have 80,000 bags.
“This means the city will have rice supply from the NFA alone which is good for 13 days that will actually end the rice crisis,” Piñol said.
Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Wilter Palma said the harvest started in the province and the produce is being delivered to Zamboanga City.
“I am happy to report to the President the crisis is over,” Piñol said.
“I never thought that this will end today. Everybody joined hands and came up with this great news that would please not only the people of Zamboanga but the President as well that as of today, the boat laden with rice starts to unload, the rice crisis of Zamboanga is over. That’s the biggest news today,” he added.
However, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the city will still be under a state of calamity for 60 days.
Isabela City in Basilan was also declared under a state of calamity for 60 days since Aug. 8 following the rice scarcity.
Salazar said the declaration was contained in a city council resolution and she will issue an executive order for the price ceiling monitoring in the city.
Piñol explained that rice smuggling was the cause of the rice crisis in the city.
“As we all know, rice smuggling has been a way of life in this part of the country. While we in the government called it smuggling, people in the island considered it as part of their traditional trading practices,” he said.
Piñol said while the rice crisis is over, there are long-term and medium-term programs that the DA will implement.
As part of the long-term program, the DA has committed to develop a demonstration farm of 1,000 hectares in the LGUs involved, including Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. The DA will fund and operate the farms.
The demonstration farm will also serve as rice production center.
Piñol said the DA and the local government officials will also propose to President Duterte the establishment of rice trading centers in the island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi so that there will be stable supply of rice in these areas.
He said the volume of rice supply will be based on the per capita consumption of the population of the two island provinces or about 80 percent sufficiency of local supply with the proper safeguards to be implemented.
The DA chief also committed P100-million loan to Zamboanga Sibugay as he is impressed with Palma’s program of providing zero-interest loan to farmers who will engage in organic farming.
“The allocation will help them boost the production of rice in the region and this is also a token from the DA to Zamboanga Sibugay for helping Zamboanga City,” Piñol said.

NFA chief won’t resign

Meanwhile, NFA chief Jason Aquino has decided to remain in his post despite calls for him to step down following the still unresolved issue of rice supply and high prices of the commodity in the market.
Senators are pressing Aquino to resign over the NFA’s failure to bring down prices of rice and curb shortage in some areas despite the importation.
But Aquino remained firm and called on interested parties “to get out of their comfort zones, go out to the field, and look into the root cause of the current rice and other problems.”
“My position is dependent on the trust and confidence of the President. We have been quietly doing our work. We don’t brag about it. I am not a person endowed with a glib tongue who can regularly and spontaneously dish out empty talk to impress,” he said.
“I go out to the field to mingle with local officials, talk to the local folk, feel their pulse, know their problems, and offer solutions rather than empty promises,” he added.
The NFA chief also slammed lawmakers who continuously blame the grains agency for the dwindling buffer stocks, delay of import arrivals and high prices of commercial rice.
“The NFA can only be effective in stabilizing the rice market if it has the right volume of buffer stocks. Isn’t it ironic that we are now being blamed for a problem of tight supply and high prices of rice that we tried our best to prevent way back last year?” Aquino said.
“We are open for scrutiny anytime. Those who want to verify what we had been doing, can check our records, go around the country and ask the people,” he added.
The NFA administrator emphasized that the current rice problem is a result of the several rejection of NFA’s proposal to either increase its palay buying price or to import as early as last year.
The NFA is intensifying its fight against rice traders who are illegally re-bagging and diverting NFA rice.
Aquino has appointed NFA National Capital Region director Carlito Co as focal person to coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation on the conduct of warehouse inspection nationwide.
“We have to double our effort because it is not enough that we have NFA rice available if it does not go to the market and reach the people. We have to ensure that NFA rice is not diverted or rebagged, and then sold as commercial rice at a much higher price in the market by some unscrupulous individuals,” Aquino said. – With Louise Maureen Simeon, Marvin Sy, Eva Visperas, Rhodina Villanueva

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Comval farmers: Rice and Machineries

ComVal I-Rice bags CSC Pag-asa Awards
 The ComVal I-Rice, a joint project by the Department of Science and Technology-XI, Food and Nutrition Council and the Provincial Government of Compostela Valley won the Pag-asa Awards from the Civil Service Commission. An awarding ceremony was held at Malacanang Palace Rizal Hall last September 20, 2017 where no less than President Rodrigo Duterte extended the award to the ComVal I-Rice Team. Gov. Jayvee Tyron L. Uy received the award along with DOST-XI Regional Director Dr. Anthony Sales and Provincial Director Kenneth Barroga, and DOST-FNRI’s Dr. Imelda Agdeppa.

The project was created by PLGU-Compostela Valley, DOST-FNRI and DOST-XI to address the problem of iron deficiency anemia among the school-children of Compostela Valley. It was in 2013 that then Board Member Tyron Uy sponsored an ordinance in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to institutionalize the use of the iron-fortified rice. Currently, the iron-fortified rice is the official rice used for the Kusina ng Kalinga, a 120-day feeding program among wasted and severely wasted elementary school-children of Compostela Valley. The pilot use of the program showed a 93%  improvement rate in Maco South District in Maco, Compostela Valley.

 “I thank the CSC and the committee members for choosing the I-Rice Project. This is indeed a validation for the years we worked hard”, Gov. Uy said.
The Comval I-Rice Team vowed to further promote the consumption of the rice through strong promotions system, consistent information dissemination and giving of incentives through loan and credit assistance to cooperatives, as promised by the DOST-FNRI.

The governor also said that the success of the project only proves that there is indeed a need to become innovative in approaching problems in the community.
“There is a need for us to leave the traditional and start being creative in how we deal problems in the community. Comval I-Rice addresses both the hunger and the anemia problem among schoolchildren. Its new, innovative and multi-tiered,”  the young governor continues.

The panel of judges who decided the winners of the CSC award include CSC Chair Alicia dela Rosa-Bala, columnist Jarius Bondoc, Presidential Protocol Office Head Robert Eric Borje, Helen O. Orande of the League of Corporate Foundations, SM Foundation’s Executive Director Deborah Sy, CSC Commissioner Robert S. Martinez, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, COA Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, Deputy Executive Secretary Rizalina Justol and Undersecretary Maria Victoria S. Querol.  (allin joy camille, ids comval)




Gov. Uy, Dir. Oñate lead turn-over of 58 farm machineries to Comval farmers

Compostela Valley Province---The provincial government of Compostela Valley under the leadership of Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy together with Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Director Engr. Ricardo Oñate turned-over a total of 58 different types of agricultural machineries to Comval farmers on September 25, 2017 at the Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO), Capitol Compound, Cabidianan, Nabunturan, Comval.


According to Oñate, they are looking for another fund to provide at least one 10- wheeler hauling truck which will be used for the newly completed Rice Processing Centers of the municipalities of the province with large areas of rice production.

Among the agricultural equipment delivered through the Department of Agriculture (DA) were 10 Hand Tractors with Trailer each, 15 Open Surfaced Pumps (OSP), 18 Power Sprayers, 6 Rice Threshers, and 9 units of Corn Sheller-Husker.

 Also gracing the turn-over ceremony were Vice Governor Manuel E. Zamora, PAGRO Head Dr. Rolando Simene, Cooperative Development Division Head Manuel Buladaco, PAGRO employees, and the Barangay Agricultural Extension Workers of the province.  (R. Antibo, IDS Comval)

Photo Caption:

FARM MACHINE

Comval Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy, Vice Governor Manuel E. Zamora, together with Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Director Engr. Ricardo Oñate turned-over a total of 58 different types of agricultural machineries to Comval farmers on September 25, 2017 at the Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO), Capitol Compound, Cabidianan, Nabunturan, Comval. (Photo by: M. Lasaca, PS Comval)

CSC Pag-asa Awards

Gov. Jayvee Tyron L. Uy received the Pag-asa Awards from the Civil Service Commission  along with DOST-XI Regional Director Dr. Anthony Sales and Provincial Director Kenneth Barroga, and DOST-FNRI’s Dr. Imelda Agdeppa at the Malacanang Palace Rizal Hall on September 20, 2017 where no less than President Rodrigo Duterte extended the award to the ComVal I-Rice Team. 

Sunday, August 17, 2014

A Letter to Filipino Farmers


By Karyn Mae F. Azur, SUNSTAR DAVAO

THE so-called backbone of the nation produces the fruits, vegetables, and rice that are served on Filipino tables. They are the farmers. It is because of the farmers’ ceaseless efforts that we have something to eat to fill our stomach and nourish our body.
With that, I am writing this to thank and salute you for all the selfless things you do, and to express how important you are to me.
The sad thing is that most of the people you feed do not appreciate and give importance of your existence and contribution. What’s more heart-breaking is that you work harder, but earn less.
You earn less not just because of the small amount of income you gain, but because of the little value given to you. You earn less because most of Filipinos do not deeply appreciate your important role in the society as food producers.
In our dining table, we never forget to thank God for providing the food we eat. But, we don’t realize you are God’s instruments who make it possible for us to have the fruits, vegetables, and rice served on our tables.
I often reflect about your life.
You wake up before the sun rises, then sip a cup of coffee and eat four to six pieces of pandesal.
I find it heart-rending that you wake up early every morning to take care of the crops that are later cooked and served on our table, while we stay at peace on our bed, wake up late, and eat what you have produced for us.
While we’re lying with our back on a comfortable mattress, you’re working so hard with your sweat dripping and back under the torturing heat of the sun. But, you never complain. You never stop.
We don’t even think of the farmers’ hard work and hardship while we chew our food. What we have in mind is to eat to our heart’s content and start our day in a way that’s far different from theirs.
Rain or shine, you go to the fields to check on the crops, and do everything to have a good harvest to gain bigger income. You spend almost half of your day under various difficult situations, but you do not earn what you deserve.
You put in a big percentage to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and along with the fishery sector, you contribute almost 20 percent of the total GDP.
But, you receive less of government’s assistance. Your income is not enough for your basic needs and can’t even support your family. You don’t deserve to get this in return from your huge contribution in the society and economy.
It upsets me that even if you fulfill your role in the society in the best way you can, together with the fishermen, you are still the ‘poorest sectors’ and ‘most vulnerable to hunger and poverty’ according to a report by Oxfam International Philippines.
As one of the pillars of Philippine economy, you are worthy to be commended. You deserve to live in abundance. You deserve more.
I thank you because you are the reason why my mother is able to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at the market, which she cooks into a delicious and healthy meal for us.
I thank you for if it isn’t because of your undying efforts, my father won’t be able to purchase a sack of rice to sustain us for a month.
I thank you because we’re able to survive everyday, through the staple crops you produce, which we buy, cook, and eat.
You might not know how important you are to me and to my family that’s why I’m writing this and I hope you’ll be able to read this.
I am certain that one day will come when, like the seeds you plant, you will rise from the ground and grow abundantly. Yes, you will. 

-o0o-
Sunday Essays are articles written by Ateneo de Davao University students for their journalism subject.