𝐏𝐋𝐆𝐔-𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐨'𝐬 "𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬" 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬

 

More or less one-hundred employees from the provincial government of Davao de Oro availed the "Capitours," a two-day free tour to the three (3) tourism loops in the province initiated by the provincial government's tourism office headed by Senior Tourism Office Christine Dompor.

The initiative is part of the province's celebration of Tourism Month 2022, in partnership with various tourism sites in the locality and with the support of Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga. The 2-day tour covered three tourism loops in Davao de Oro: Wellness Loop, Highlands to Valley Loop, and the Coastal Loop.

According to Tourism Head Christine Dompor, the capitours aim to market quality experience and services that travel destinations offer province-wide. The initiative initially marked the launching of Davao de Oro's tourism loops, which resulted in multiple positive outcomes in terms of tourism promotions and the generation of jobs for the locals.

Among the destinations covered by the tour were D' Fortees Nature and Adventure Park, Febrish Cold Spring Resort, J&N Cabunas View Deck and Spring Resort for the Highland to Valley Loop; Bilawa Hot Waterfalls, Lake Leonard, Tambo Cafe, and Tagbibinta Falls for the Wellness Loop; and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, Seaworld Oasis and Waterworld for the Coastal Loop.

According to the tourism office, the tour promotions are an avenue toward more tourism returns to the province. Further, in partnership with the national government agencies, the office will soon hold pieces of training to capacitate locals whose areas have potential tourism spots. (𝐽𝐴, 𝑃𝐴𝑂-𝐼𝑃𝑅𝐷 𝐷𝑑𝑂, 𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝐴. 𝐷𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑚 𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒)

Statement by VP Sara

 

Gretchen Ho lives her dream in ‘Woman in Action’

by Robert Requintina

Gretchen Ho

Sports host and news anchor Gretchen Ho is living her dream in the latest infotainment program “Woman In Action” where she gets to travel and help people.

“Why am I doing this? When I was young, I imagined myself working for an NGO. Yun talaga ang gusto ko. Gusto ko mag Gawad Kalinga, Habitat for Humanity. And I wanted to travel the Philippines and to help people and go to communities, pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko run exactly,” said Gretchen, 32, when asked about her interest in doing this kind of show, during a virtual mediacon last Friday. 

She added: “Gusto ko lang talagang umikot ng Pilipinas. Tapos years later, I realized, I was doing it already. So sabi ko ang galing talaga ni Lord. Pag meron kang pangarap, or calling, and you stay true to that, you eventually would be led to that no matter what the detours are. So this show is in honor of that childhood dream. Hopefully, we get to travel not just in the Philippines, but around the world and connect people together.”

Premiering on Oct. 1, 7:30 pm on Cignal TV’s One News, with a catch-up airing the next day at 8 pm on One PH, Woman In Action celebrates the life and the countless adventures the world has to offer. Gretchen will take viewers on a riveting journey of awesome discoveries, and at the same time, bring to light the situation of each community.

“Mahilig kami sa courageous travel. I think a lot of people can relate to that. There’s a special segment who loves to discover new things, who love the not-so-traditional way. Bukod sa travel show, we also have public service. So tuloy-tuloy po yung pagtulong namin through this show. But we want to do the public service sustainably. Yung tulong na ibibigay namin, nagpakain lang kami, tapos pag-alis namin wala na. So ganun din yung tinuturo namin sa audiences namin na everytime you go to a place, you can actually leave a mark that will last,” Gretchen also said.

From being a star athlete in college to becoming a respected news anchor and sports host, Gretchen has come a long way in charting her own path and making a name for herself. She has been dubbed as a “woman in action” and an empowered one at that, with her projects and advocacies making a big difference in people’s lives.

This October, Gretchen becomes a fearless wanderer in her new travel infotainment show, Woman In Action, where she explores remote places in the country, highlighting not just their beauty, but also the unique stories of the communities that will inspire and move people to action.

“I’ve found that traveling is best done by going off the beaten path. As a runner, I’ve made it a point to run in each destination I go to, and the streets always reveal something that tourist destinations won’t. It’s in connecting with the people that we really understand and learn about a place. What you will find in this show is not just a sense of adventure, but also a desire to create sustainable impact everywhere we go. That impact isn’t a one-way street though, as we, together with the audiences, seek to be moved and changed by what we see, hear and know” said Gretchen, host of Woman In Action.

With Gretchen’s combined passion for travel, adventure, and public service, Woman In Action delves into each escapade, sharing How To’s and challenges, featuring stories about different individuals and communities and addressing social problems with a call to action.

“What I’ve found in my years working in the media is that there are many young, brilliant people all over the country just waiting for an opportunity. My show seeks to be a vehicle for that – to connect those people to local communities and to our audiences, in an effort to create, not just memories, but also, opportunities. I’m excited about this chance to be able to write and document some of the stories and take a more active part as a producer of the show,” added Gretchen.

Gretchen Ho (left) and MJ Marfori

As an all-around and hardworking woman-in-action, Gretchen has been on a blazing path from her college volleyball days up to her illustrious hosting career. Honed by her dedication and passionate work, Gretchen has become an icon among this generation’s empowered women who weather the proverbial storms in pursuit of their life goals.

The success of her recent campaign, #DonateABikeSaveAJob, helped a thousand families, with more than 1,500 bicycles donated to frontliners and workers for easier transportation during the height of the pandemic. Truly a Woman in Action, Gretchen inspires women to stay true to their calling, find their courage and willpower, and forge their own path to success.

‘Changing the world: one story, one action at a time,’ Woman In Action encourages viewers to be socially responsible travelers and, through its featured stories, inspire people to take action and help entire communities.

Join Gretchen Ho in her travels and explorations in Woman In Action, starting this Oct. 1, 7:30 pm on One News via Cignal, available on CH. 8 SD and CH. 250 HD. You can also catch Woman In Action on SatLite CH. 60 and on the Cignal Play app. Re-watch the episodes the following day at 8:00 pm on One PH, CH. 1.

Meet the couple behind one of Davao’s most successful durian and cacao farms

by Yvette Tan, Manila Bulletin

Davao is known for two crops: durian and cacao. At Belviz Farms, both take center stage.

Husband and wife Emmanuel “Nel”and Mary Grace “Eyeth” Belviz is the couple behind Belviza Farms and Rosario’s Delicacies. (Belviz Farms)

Belviz Farm is a family-owned farm in Calinan District, Davao City. It is currently run by husband and wife Emmanuel “Nel”and Mary Grace “Eyeth” Belviz, who met while studying agriculture in University of the Philippines, Los Banos (UPLB). Nel is in charge of farm operations while Eyeth, who hails from Quezon, is in charge of production and processing for Rosario’s Delicacies, the farm’s brand. Aside from their two main crops, they also produce  jackfruit, mangosteen, and lanzones, as well as seasonal crops like sunflowers.

The farm, which currently spans around 30 hectares of both owned and leased land, was originally established by Nel’s father, acclaimed durian farmer Severino Belviz. The couple had been helping the senior Belviz run the farm since they got married in 2000, taking over after Nel’s dad passed away in 2016.

“Our biggest challenge is what in Bisaya is called ‘inato,’ which loosely translates to traditional farming where you produce, you find a middleman, and you sell,” Nel explained in Taglish. “When my wife and I took over, we saw gaps in the marketing, so we looked for ways to  value-add products so that we can get a higher price on our harvest.”

Though the farm had been producing value-added products like frozen durian, durian candy, and durian jam since 2001, they increased their product line, adding unique items like jackfruit jam. They also revived their tablea production, which had halted in the 1980s, and ventured into bean-to-bar artisanal chocolates after Eyeth was accepted as a scholar to a cocoa and chocolate processing workshop in Ghent, Belgium. Their venture into artisanal chocolates coincided with the local bean-to-bar boom in 2015, when Filipinos were becoming more interested in local cacao. 

It was also a dream come true for Nel, whose childhood dream was to make chocolate candy. Growing up, his dad had explained that the cacao they grew for tablea was the main ingredient of the imported chocolate bars he loved so much, but with added ingredients like milk and sugar. When young Nel failed to make a bar, he promised himself that he would learn to produce chocolate candies one day. “At least now we get to fulfill his childhood dream,” Eyeth said in Tagalog.

Some of the fruits cultivated on the farm. (Belviz Farms)

Belviz Farms

Cacao and durian are actually related, both belonging to the family Malvaceae, which also includes cotton and okra. The two used to be intercropped, until the Belvizes realized that they flourish better when planted separately, as the microclimate produced from the intercropping hinders the growth of both plants. “Cacao and durian, when consumed, also give people a happy feeling because they produce serotonin and tryptophan,” Nel added.

The farm grows 11 durian varieties but is planning to focus on Puyat and Duyaya varieties because these are what’s popular internationally. “The international market only knows Thailand durian, and Puyat is comparable to the Thai variety,” Nel said. “Puyat is highly-resistant to pests and diseases.  It has a smaller canopy [than most varieties], [so] you can plant more per hectare. The taste is very good and it has a longer shelf life than other varieties… but you have to care for it or else you won’t have an abundant harvest.”

Though durian can be lucrative, it can also be intensive to cultivate. “You need at least the basic technical know-how,” Nel said. “It’s not a tree you can plant and forget. They need constant care until about three years old.”

The Puyat variety can be planted in 8×8 formation, for a total of about 158 trees a hectare. It is also possible to plant in 10×10 for a less intensive farm. The Belvizes advise planting nurse plants like bananas for the first three to five years as young durian trees flourish in the shade. The harvested bananas will also serve as a source of income while waiting for the durian trees to mature.

The durian trees will start flowering in about four years, though it’s suggested to wait until five or six years to begin harvesting to ensure good harvests. Around the fourth year, the banana trees can slowly be pared away to give the durian trees much-needed sun. “After six years, you can eliminate bananas and you can start harvesting from your durian,” Nel said.

If cared for properly, a healthy durian tree can produce fruits for up to 50 years, though the practice is to keep them up to 35-43 years to maintain a quality harvest. The farm also houses native varieties which are said to be around 135 years old. “As long as you fertilize properly, don’t overfruit your trees, practice fruit thinning, proper drainage, and proper care, I think your durian can last 50 years or more.”

The couple is currently focusing on durian because of the huge local demand and the growing interest in it internationally, with countries like Japan, US, China, and even Thailand looking to import. When asked if the Philippines can meet the global demand for durian, Nel was quick to say, “No, we need to plant more.”

The areas not planted to durian are used to grow cacao. They also source wet beans from nearby farmers and cooperatives, opting to process them themselves. “We ferment them ourselves so we can ensure their quality,” Nel said. “Flavor consistency is an important factor for good chocolate, and it starts in the fermentation process.”

Durian jam, one of the many value-added products from Belviz Farm that is sold under Rosario’s Delicacies. (Belviz Farms)

Rosario’s Delicacies

Working in tandem with Belviz Farms is Rosario’s Delicacies, its value-adding arm, which Eyeth manages. “We didn’t have a background in marketing and trends when we started,” Eyeth shared. “We started developing products because there was a need to use farm surplus. The benchmarking came after.”

Their first customers were folks studying farming in the farm, which is an Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) learning site. “We saw that there was a market, and from there, we created products like frozen durian, durian Jam, and durian candy.”

“We weren’t thinking about profit at first,” Nel added. “Fresh durian has a very short shelf life, so we needed to find a way to extend their selling time. That was why we ventured into processing.”

They were able to expand the availability of their products through the help of several government agencies. “They invited us to trade fairs, local bazaars, even international trade fairs,” Eyeth said, adding that though travel expense was a challenge, the government agencies tried to augment it by giving them free booth space. “The experience exposed us to different kinds of products and marketing. We learned how to deal with buyers and how to develop and improve our products.”

Their clientele began to expand by word of mouth. “Actually, our government is very supportive of SMEs and farmers. We just have to (avail of it).”

The couple stressed the importance of value-added products in adding to a farm’s revenue. They equally stress that value-adding and marketing requires a different approach and mindset, and ideally, a separate team altogether. This is exactly why Nel manages Belviz Farms and Eyeth manages Rosarios’ Delicacies: they’re both managing different businesses. 

Eyeth addressed the unintentionally dismissive response many of the public have towards farmers who complain about having surplus harvests with, “just turn it into something else:” “A lot of people misinterpret value-adding as a way for a farm to make money, when it should be that the farm is already making money before going into value-adding.”

Another thing to consider when going into production is to expand beyond one’s farm by working with supplies from other farmers and processors. “We work with other farmers and processors,” Nel says. “We don’t think of them as competitors but as collaborators. That’s how we increase our market.”

Working with other small farmers allows SMEs like Belviz Farms, Rosarios’ Delicacies, and their collaborators to compete with bigger industry players. “We should work as an industry, from farming to processing to working with suppliers and networking with logistics and government agencies,” eyeth says. “We need to group together to achieve economies of scale.”

An example of this was during the first lock down in 2020, Davao durian farmers had no customers because tourism had been halted. The group coordinated with the DA’s High Value Crops (department), who helped find clients outside Davao. “The cost of logistics were high, so everyone helped each other,” Nel said. “We were able to get a lower price working together than if we had done it alone.”

“We have to be resilient,” Eyeth added. “Resilience is an important characteristic of a farmer.”

Rosario’s Delicacies counts artisanal chocolate as one of its best sellers. (Belviz Farms)

The power of marketing

 The couple credits treating both farm and value-adding as businesses as part of the formula to their success after taking over. “Marketing is important,” Eyeth said. “If you don’t know your target audience, you’ll lose interest in farming… You need proper marketing, networking, and coordination with your target market.”

A recognizable brand and consistently high quality products are important as well, since the brand is the first thing customers see and of course, good products are what will keep them coming back.

It’s also important, especially for SMEs (Small and Mid-sized Enterprises), to constantly be on their toes. This is why it will shock  customers to find out that the Belvizes don’t consider themselves “successful” yet. “For us, success is a journey, not a destination,” Eyeth explained. “It’s how you survive. You consider yourself successful because you’ve weathered a challenge… you’ve innovated, you’ve helped other farmers, and you’ve helped build your industry. For us, it’s… part of being a successful farmer.

Nel and Eyeth Belviz are very happy in their chosen profession. “I love planning. There’s a cycle… If you plan (properly), when the durian flowers bloom, your farm will look like a winter wonderland because even the ground will look white because of all the falling petals. For me, that’s one of the most magical times in durian farming because from there, you can estimate if you’ll have a good harvest that year.”

“Farming is a good investment because farming is life,” Eyeth said. “No matter what happens, you won’t starve if you have a farm.”

Nel added, “There’s a saying that goes, ‘You will need a doctor once, twice, or ten times in your lifetime, but you will need a farmer every day.’”

The couple hope that more people, especially the youth, will consider a career in agriculture. “For those who want to farm or are already farming, please keep doing so because farming is forever,” Eyeth said. “You’ll be able to sustain not just your family, but also your community.”

'Sparkada' ladies face career challenges head on

INSTAGRAM PHOTO/KIRSTENGONZALES_

By Iza Iglesias, Manila Times

The entertainment world can be as exciting with tons of career paths to choose from but it can also be tough to break into. Just like anybody else, one has got to start somewhere. New members of Sparkle, GMA Network's talent arm, know just that.

Collectively called Sparkada, the fresh faces include Raheel Bhyria, Caitlyn Stave, Roxie Smith, Kim Perez, Tanya Ramos, Kirsten Gonzales, Vince Maristela and Sean Lucas who are all handpicked by renowned star-maker Johnny Manahan. All have the looks and the talent, but the journey to stardom takes more than that to succeed.

Among the discoveries Gonzales found about herself is how she was able to push her limits when it comes to doing what she is very passionate about.

"Akala ko madali lang lahat kasi I think I have the talent na, I thought enough na yun. Pero you really have to exceed the expectations of people and because of that, napu-push ako to get out of my comfort zone and to grow," shared Gonzales in an intimate Zoom conference.

As someone who entered showbiz pretty quickly with no background, Stave also took some time to adjust to the culture.

"I had no absolute idea what to expect but because I'm is super outgoing, super energetic, I wasn't so scared or too nervous upon entering. When I was really there, though, knowing what really goes on, it is hard and it is really difficult. It's not easy. At the same time, I'm also passionate about what I do and I'm having so much fun," Stave enthused.

Being open to new challenges is also what made Smith more confident to where she is now. From being a beauty queen who won Miss Philippines Earth 2020 and competed in other major pageants such as Miss Tourism & Culture Universe 2019 (1st Runner-Up) and Face of Tourism Philippines 2019, she was able to do other things that she never thought she will do now that she is in GMA.

"Totoo pala na you could achieve anything you set your mind and your heart to. Kasi noong pumasok ako akala ko ang mabibigay ko lang is acting.But I get really good feedback with my hosting. So, I am now a morning show host in 'Unang Hirit' which is something I never thought I could actually do and didn't think have the confidence to do," Smith happily said.

Pinoys prioritize hygiene over food during emergencies

By Tiziana Celine Piatos, Manila Times

September 27, 2022

FILIPINOS are more likely to buy personal care and hygiene products than food during disasters or emergencies, a study showed.

A research on Filipino shopping habits conducted by Packworks Sari IQ and which it shared with The Manila Times on Monday showed that 18 percent of the sales of sari-sari or small convenience stores is made up of hair care products.

Laundry supplies were the second most popular items, with 16 percent of sales.

Other purchases, which include oral care, body care, beverages and canned goods, came in third with 15 percent.

Breakfast items like tea, coffee and creamer came in fourth with 14 percent.

Cooking necessities followed at 13 percent, oats and cereals at 13 percent, and pasta and noodles at 11 percent.

Packworks Sari IQ said the research covered purchases in sari-sari stores in areas affected by the earthquake in Abra last June, the eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas in March, and Typhoon "Odette" in Leyte in December 2021.

When the Abra earthquake struck, the volume of products in the hair care category spiked by more than 50 percent of sales during normal days.

During the Taal upheavals, sales of hair care products went up by more than 50 percent.

The purchasing priorities were different after Odette devastated Leyte. During that calamity, the sale of noodles and other cooking necessities soared by over 60 percent.

In normal times, hair care products come in last in terms of average consumer spending, second behind pasta and noodles at 15 percent.

"The Philippines is a regular target of natural disasters because of its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Residents at the epicenter opt to buy their immediate necessities from a nearby sari-sari store rather than go to big supermarkets," said Andres Montiel, Packworks' head of Data.

Montiel said it is highly helpful in tracking what items are considered as essential by consumers during natural disasters.

"This can be helpful in demand planning and product seasonality on the brand principal's end," he added.

Oil firms cut pump prices anew

By Ed Paolo Salting, Manila Times

September 27, 2022

Pilipinas Shell, Cleanfuel, PetroGazz and Seaoil announced on Monday that diesel prices will go down by P1.25 per liter and gasoline by P1.65 per liter.

Pilipinas Shell and Cleanfuel said they will reduce the cost of kerosene by P1.35 per liter.

Based on the monitoring of the Department of Energy, as of Sept. 20, 2022, oil companies have implemented a per liter decrease in diesel by P4.15 and P4.45 for kerosene.

These resulted in year-to-date adjustments at a net increase of P30.65/liter for diesel, P25.45/liter for kerosene and P16.50 for gasoline.