5 highland farms you can visit to escape the summer heat

 To escape the hot dry season heat, many people flock to beaches and highlands, but there are also farms to try visiting this season.

BY RALPH LAUREN ABAINZA

Mar 27, 2023 11:45 AM

  

---

Last March 21, 2023, the state weather bureau just declared the start of the hot dry season, popularly known as summer, in the Philippines. The season typically spans from March to May and is characterized by generally hot and humid weather across large portions of the country.

To escape the hot dry season heat, many people flock to beaches and highlands, but there are also farms to try visiting this season:

Fresca Farm

Front view of Samgyup sa Farm restaurant. (Nico Buenaventura)

Less than two hours away from Manila, this farm near Tagaytay City offers quick relief from the busy urban life through an immersive farm and dining experience. Visitors can enjoy the greenery amidst the cool weather of Alfonso, Cavite, while having tasty samgyupsal meals. The unique setup of integrating a formerly lettuce farm with samgyup is itself a sustainable innovation to deal with the former's oversupply problem.

Vaikuntha Forest Farm

Vaikuntha Forest Farm is nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains, just a breath away from the Tanay, Rizal, and Quezon Province border. (Vaikuntha Forest Farm)

Named after the celestial abode of Vishnu, the Hindu god responsible for protecting and maintaining life on earth, this remote farm located in the Sierra Madre mountains can be a great go-to site to immerse themselves in nature. The Vaikuntha Forest Farm in Tanay, Rizal, offers visitors naturally-grown herbs, fruits, and vegetables, which they can enjoy while being off grid in the farm's lodges. It is also a good retreat venue where visitors can try learning other activities, such as yoga and first aid training.

Umanika Eco-Cultural Farm

Rose Mary and Datu Makadingding during Umanika Eco-Cultural Farm’s reopening day. (ATI Region X)

This farm located in the cool highlands of Bukidnon is an integrated farm and restaurant offering guests a holistic farming experience. The Umanika Eco-Cultural Farm in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, is an 8,200-square-meter organic farm where visitors can experience hands-on learning experience on organic agriculture, try different recreational activities, and lastly, indulge in a variety of delicious cuisines. Aside from growing crops, the farm also sells plant-based products, such as organic herbs, banana chips, and peanuts.

Dubria Farm

A coffee tree showing plentiful cherries. It is a Catimor Arabica, a variety known for its resistance to pests and diseases. (Daniel Maches)

In the foothills of Mount Apo in Mindanao, a thriving coffee farming community continues producing world-renowned coffee varieties. Though their area in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, is often known as a jumpoff point for a Mount Apo trek, it is also home to several hectares of coffee farms under the Balutakay Coffee Farmers Association (BACOFA), one of which is Dubria Farm. Visitors can have first-hand learning on coffee production in the highlands located around 1,500 meters above sea level. Aside from learning, they can also 

Haight Farm

Blue potatoes from Haight Farm. (Haight Farm)

This century-old farm located in the cold highlands of Atok, Benguet, is a great destination to learn both agriculture and history. Aside from its renowned blue potatoes, the Haight Farm offers highland vegetables, such as carrots, radishes, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and more. Visitors can experience harvesting the crops on their own. Aside from crops, the farm also has a Sakura Park, a flower farm where around thirty sakura (Prunus serrulata) trees grow.

The generally good weather during the hot dry season is a perfect opportunity to pack up and immerse in the beauty of farming while escaping the heat in the urban jungle. In highland farms, let the eyes indulge in the natural colorful sceneries, the skin feel relief from the heat, and feed the stomach with sumptuous healthy cuisines.

David Foster and Friends: One for the books

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

  

---

AT A GLANCE

• Katherine McPhee, Foster’s wife, opened her set with “Over the Rainbow” and then “Terrified” with Emmet. She said she was pleasantly surprised to find out that the greatest number of streams from her hit song came from the Philippines.

---

David Foster (Facebook)

David Foster and Friends is one for the books as it is the first concert residency at the Theater at Solaire in Paranaque City which runs for eight shows from March 21 to 26.

With a career spanning 40 years and almost half a billion records sold worldwide, the 73-year-old Canadian musician, composer, arranger, record producer and music executive is a dream maker. He has helped build the careers of global superstars Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Michael Bubble, Whitney Houston, Andrea Bocelli, to name a few.

“We’re gonna have a lot of fun tonight!” Foster told the crowd on March 25. He said he loves the energy of the Filipinos because we love music, sing, and we know the lyrics to every song.

“Especially you guys up there (pointing at the audience in the balcony) I love that. The rich people down here, they don’t clap so much,” he joked.

He opened the show with a medley of his instrumental compositions from the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988 and St. Elmo’s Fire released in 1984 with Kenny G joining on video.

Foster confessed that he could not get inspired by the movie “St. Elmo’s Fire”, but things turned around when he received something in the mail.

“I got a tape of a wheelchair athlete from Canada named Rick Hanson who was wheeling around the world to raise money for spinal cord research. He wheeled 25 thousand miles around the world. Such an inspiration. That became the inspiration that went number 1 all over the world in 1984,” he told the audience how “Man in Motion” from the movie became a global hit.

“If you ever meet the director of “St Elmo’s Fire” don’t tell him that the movie has nothing to do with this song,” he jested.

Foster introduced Daniel Emmett, who has been touring with him for a year now. He said the former “America’s Got Talent” finalist reminded him so much of Josh Groban, whom he plucked out of high school and made him a big star. “He’s not here. With the kind of money, you paid for these tickets, you don’t get Josh Groban.”'

Emmet performed “You Raise Me Up” which Foster produced for Groban. He also delighted audiences with his performance of “Nessun Dorma” from Giacomo Puccini’s Italian opera “Turandot”.

Also on the Manila leg with Foster is Pia Toscano, an American Idol alumna who is no stranger to the country, as she was in Manila for the American Idol Live Tour in 2010.

“I made a fatal mistake on this girl. I introduced her to Andrea Boccelli, and he stole her. Now he gets to tour around the world with Andrea. When he’s not working, we get her,” he said.

A most welcome treat was the guest appearance of Fil-Am Troy Laureta, arranger, composer, and producer. A former musical director for Ariana Grande and Foster, he produced an album entitled “Kaibigan” which includes Toscano’s version of Regine Velasquez’ “Kailangan Kita”.'

Toscano performed the song with Laureta on piano. It was major goosebumps moment!

“I don’t want to give up my piano to anyone, but tonight I’m going to do it because you’re extra special and extra talented. They should all be proud of you,” Foster told Laureta.

Katherine McPhee (Facebook)

Many fans wondered if Charice Pempengco, now Jake Zyrus, who was once Foster’s protége, was going to make a surprise appearance. He did not. It seems Foster had his eyes set on a new star - Morisette Amon.

“She’s so famous here. She’s so good, she sings so well. She’s quickly becoming your own national treasure. It’s only a matter of time before the entire world knows who she is. So be proud of your own,” he said.

Morisette owned the stage with her rendition of “Never Enough” the love anthem from “The Greatest Showman”. And then followed it with back-to-back Houston hits “I Have Nothing” and “I Will Always Love You”.

Katherine McPhee, Foster’s wife, opened her set with “Over the Rainbow” and then “Terrified” with Emmet. She said she was pleasantly surprised to find out that the greatest number of streams from her hit song came from the Philippines.

McPhee then told the audience how she and her husband met. Foster was then guest mentor for “American Idol” along with Bocelli. She sang “I Have Nothing” which Idol judge Simon Cowell did not enjoy.

“Simon’s a d**k,” Foster joked. “I am actually good friends with him. That time he got it wrong,” he added.

McPhee then went on tour with Foster, they did a Christmas special together and he played the piano on the band at her wedding.

“And then I was invited to one of David’s weddings. And then we ended up at each other’s wedding,” she shared.

What’s a concert without a sing-along? Looking back at some of the greatest hits he created for the pop-rock band Chicago, the audience sang along to samples of Foster’s hits “You’re the Inspiration”, “Will You Still Love Me” and “Hard Habit to Break” – a song which he said the band initially declined to record.

The song was later nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Best Vocal Arrangement, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 1985. It won Best Instrumental Accompanying Vocals for Foster and Jeremy Lubbock.

“There’s always somebody whose parents or family have told them that they’re better than Celine Dion, they’re better than Whitney Houston, they’re better than Bruno Mars and the fact is they’re not! They think they are and that makes it fun,” he said.

Foster asked two members of the audience to volunteer to sing a song of their choice with him and the band for 30 seconds each. It was amusing!

The show reached a new high when concert king Martin Nievera was called in. “It’s a childhood dream. I have waited for 40 years to become a Foster child,” he said.

Nievera sang “Forever” a song Foster co-wrote with Loggins and his very own hit “Be My Lady”.

Despite 16 Grammy Awards tucked on his sleeve, Foster said he has never won an Oscar. He has been nominated thrice for “Glory of Love” from Karate Kid Part 2 in 1986, “I Have Nothing (The Bodyguard, 1992), and “The Prayer” from “Quest for Camelot” (1998).

No worries, Foster and his music will always be a winner for his fans worldwide. - Contributed by Andi Requintina

Rollback in oil prices to continue next week

Hefty rollback in LPG prices seen by April 1

BY MYRNA M. VELASCO

  

AT A GLANCE

The new round of rollback in pump prices has been triggered by continuing slump in global oil prices

Filipino consumers to also benefit from lower LPG prices by April 1

Declaration on non-replenishment of the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) of the US this year contributed to downcast market sentiment

Consumers will continue to save on their fuel expenses next week, as oil companies have declared a fresh round of rollback at the oil pumps by Tuesday, March 28), the 13th week of price adjustments since the start of the year.

According to industry players, gasoline prices will be trimmed by P0.65 to P1.05 per liter, while prices of the typically preferred diesel product for the transport sector will be reduced by P1.10 to P1.40 per liter.

For kerosene, an essential commodity for households and key industries, like the aviation sector, this will be cut by P1.45 to P1.85 per liter, based on the calculation of the oil companies.

Additionally, players of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry are projecting massive downtrend for this commodity by April 1 to the tune of P7.50 to P8.50 per kilogram and that could redound to overall reduction of P82.50 to P93.50 for the standard 11-kilogram cylinder being purchased by households for their cooking needs.

LPG prices are adjusted monthly starting the 1st day of the month and this is benchmarked on Saudi Aramco contract prices, while prices at petroleum pumps move on a weekly basis as referenced on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), the pricing barometer for oil commodities traded in the region.

A monitoring report of the Department of Energy (DOE) has shown that prices since the start of the year still logged overall increase of P5.50 per liter for gasoline products, while it was a reverse for diesel with a net decrease of P2.85 per liter, along with kerosene, which went down by aggregate P3.65 per liter.

As noted by global experts, oil prices continued to nosedive on last week’s trading days because of the latest pronouncement by the Biden administration that the US is not keen on replenishing yet its strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) this year had not lifted market sentiment for a potential demand rebound.

As of Friday, March 24 trading, settlement for international benchmark Brent crude futures was hovering at $74 per barrel, a steady level from the prior week.

Nevertheless, oil industry watchers have been seeing "bright spots" for prospective market ricochet as the banking crisis appeared to have been easing already that is anticipated to usher in a fresh round of rally on prices in the days ahead.

In the past weeks, the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank in the US as well as that of Credit Suisse in Europe had triggered crash in global oil prices because many hedge funds and money managers were prompted into selling their oil futures and option contracts.

Nevertheless, the panic had not lasted long because of the immediate remedial measures enforced to calm market uncertainties ignited by the disintegration of the two banks.