In times of crisis and change, journalists play a critical role in society

by Manila Bulletin

WORLD NEWS DAY

Warren Fernandez, editor-in-chief of The Straits Times in Singapore

We live in bewildering times.

War is raging in the heart of Europe, with the senseless fighting expected to make for a long, hard winter.

Food and fuel prices have spiralled as a result, portending hunger and hardship, not least for vulnerable communities far flung from the conflict.

Rising tensions in East Asia, amid the rivalry between the United States and China, make Taiwan a tinderbox that could flare up into a major confrontation that no one wants, nor may be able to control once set off.

Against this backdrop, the welter of reports on extreme weather —  sweeping floods, roaring fires and devastating droughts — across the world, raise alarms that the climate crisis is getting harder to address by the day.

Little wonder that audiences say they are exhausted by the news.  People are anxious about present developments and where they might be heading.

Fake news and misinformation add to the malaise. Some of this is spread deliberately, to sway public opinion, but much is also shared innocently, even  unthinkingly, on social media platforms. Yet, curbs to check the former could  constrain legitimate interaction.

At times like these, World News Day, which we mark today, is of added significance. Today, we reflect on how journalism can make a difference, and why it is so important that it does.

Journalists in professional newsrooms have a vital role to play in safeguarding the well-being of the communities they serve.  Our democracies depend on them doing so, effectively and purposefully.

How best to do so?

To my mind, we need to focus on delivering information, insight and inspiration.

Credible information — fact-based, reliable, and timely — remains vital if we are to have reasoned, and reasonable, debates on how to tackle the challenges we face and figure out the ways forward.  While we might all be entitled to our opinions, we are not entitled to our own facts. Without any agreement on even basic facts, democratic discussions are reduced to a cacophony of assertion, where “the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity,” as Yeats put it.

Fact-based journalism requires painstaking legwork by reporters, relentless cross-checking and quality control by editors, as well as authoritative analysis and interpretation by seasoned commentators.

Not surprisingly, in this age of bewilderment, audiences are seeking out trusted voices, whom they can rely on to deliver reliable reports and insightful commentaries. Multiple studies show that apart from the news, audiences value explainers, backgrounders, analysis — whether online, on video or through newsletters.

Beyond this, faced with relentless waves of doom and gloom, people also want inspiration. They want to hear about possible solutions to the problems at hand, as well as of those who are stepping up to address them. So too content that seeks to shine a light in dark corners, and give voice to communities and subjects that are more often neglected or ignored.

Allow me to cite one example: a video series, titled “Invisible Asia,” in which my colleagues from The Straits Times cast a spotlight on people living in the shadows of their societies, largely unseen and unheard.

These include the ostracized burakumin or “untouchables” in Japan, to the hardships endured by  sewer cleaners in modern-day India and China’s silent army of odd-job migrant laborers, as well as the sense of isolation faced by unsuspecting brides drawn from abroad to marry men in Singapore.

The series was awarded the top prize for investigative/enterprise video journalism at the global Editor & Publisher EPPY Awards 2021. (See:https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2021/03/invisible-asia/index.html?shell)

Many more examples of how journalism has made an impact can be found on the World News Day website. (https://worldnewsday.org)  The old newsroom adage, “show, don’t tell,” applies here.

At a time when Orwellian “War-is-Peace,” “Freedom-is-slavery” doublespeak and state-sponsored misinformation campaigns are rampant, it seems fitting to turn to that  journalistic sage, George Orwell, for inspiration on World News Day.

In his 1946 essay, Why I Write, Orwell argued that all writing, but perhaps especially journalistic endeavors, has a political purpose, as well as a quest for telling a good story well.

His words ring true today. He wrote: “My starting point is always a feeling of partisanship, a sense of injustice.

“When I sit down to write a book, I do not say to myself, ‘I am going to produce a work of art’. I write it because there is some lie that I want to expose, some fact to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing.

“But I could not do the work of writing a book, or even a long magazine article, if it were not also an aesthetic experience…I am not able, and do not want, completely to abandon the world view that I acquired in childhood. So long as I remain alive and well I shall continue to feel strongly about prose style…

“The job is to reconcile my ingrained likes and dislikes with the essentially public, non-individual activities that this age forces on all of us.”

So it was, and so it remains, especially today.

About the author:

Warren Fernandez is president of the World Editors Forum, a network of editors under the World Association of News Publishers, and also editor-in-chief of  The Straits Times in Singapore.

'Idol PH' changes lives

Khimo Gumatay, Ryssi Avila, Kice, Ann Raniel, and Bryan Chong feel blessed to be part of the biggest talent reality show in the country, "Idol Philippines" Season 2 and shared how it changed their lives.

"Idol Philippines' was indeed a humbling experience and also a blessing po, stated "Idol PH Season 2" grand winner Gumatay.

"Actually po, nung una hindi po dapat ako sasali ng 'Idol Philippines' pero sa tulong po ng mga taong nakapaligid po sa'kin na mag-push po talaga na sumali dito. Ngayon po, I'm beyond thankful po na sumali po ako rito sa 'Idol Philippines," he added.

For Avila, the competition allowed her to clean her name and for her talent to outshine the controversies thrown at her.

"Nabago po ng 'Idol' yung buhay ko kasi sila yung nagbigay sa akin ng chance na ipakita yung talent ko sa mga tao at iyon ang tignan nila at hindi yung mga controversy na nagdaan sa buhay ko," she said.

Kice mentioned that the show made him closer to his loved ones. 

"Yung family ko from all over the world, they connected even mga family members ko na hindi ko kilala, naglalabasan lang because they watch me," he shared.

Lea Salonga among 'TIME100 Impact' awardees

Lea Salonga PHOTO FROM LEASALONGA.COM/RAYMUND ISAAC

By Iza Iglesias, Manila Times

(UPDATED) THE Philippines' very own Broadway superstar Lea Salonga was one of Time magazine's TIME100 Impact Awardees for 2022.

The award recognizes "global leaders who have gone above and beyond to move their industries — and the world —forward."

In a feature written by Sanya Mansoor, Salonga was described as the "Voice of Disney Princesses" and "A life-long role model for kids of color."

"In her four-decade award-winning career as an actress and singer, Salonga has emerged as not only a Disney and Broadway icon but a role model for children of color. Salonga prides herself on promoting representation in Hollywood and on Broadway, and showing underrepresented groups that their stories matter," the article read.

Time also recognized some of her notable roles on stage and on screen such as Tuptim in "The King and I," Kim in "Miss Saigon," Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd," Elodie in the HBO MAX series "Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin," Gail in "Yellow Rose," and as the voice of Disney princesses Jasmine and Mulan.

"Her Filipino heritage made playing Mulan especially meaningful. She brings honor to herself and to her family...and she does it with grace. What's more, she's one of the only princesses that doesn't end the movie with a grand wedding," Time mentioned.

"It's not easy breaking down racial barriers in historically white spaces and roles, and Salonga says she relies on her sense of humor, which she describes as sometimes inappropriate and sometimes irreverent to stay sane," it added.

Apart from Salonga, also included in the 2022 TIME100 Impact Awards are fellow musicians Ellie Goulding, Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am, actor and producer Alia Bhatt, former James Webb Space Telescope Program director Gregory L. Robinson, and computational geneticist Dr. Pardis Sabeti. Time will host Salonga and the other award winners at the National Gallery Singapore following the inaugural Time 100 Leadership Forum on October 2.

DA: Karding’s agricultural damage climbs to P1.29B

by Jel Santos, Manila Bulletin

The agricultural damage wrought by super typhoon Karding has reached P1.29 billion, according to the latest data released by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Super Typhoon Karding’s strong gusts caused rice crops to bow in Mayantoc, Tarlac. (Screenshot taken from a video posted on Mayantoc Agriculture FB)

Based on the DA’s Bulletin No. 5 that was issued at 1 p.m., the areas covered in the estimate are Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol Region.

Affected by Karding’s devastation are 82,158 farmers and fisherfolk, it added.

The DA said 141,312 hectares of agricultural areas have been hit by the super typhoon. This translates to 72,231 metric tons of production loss.

“Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries,” the agriculture department said.

As the estimate of agricultural damage went up, the DA has also increased the assistance it will provide to Karding-affected farmers and fishers.

The agriculture department said it will give farmers P27.47 million worth of rice seeds, P13.23 million worth of corn seeds, and P12.64 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds.

They will also receive P2.45 million worth of animal heads, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry, the DA added.

GMA New Media goes to Davao this Sept. 28

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

GMA New Media, Inc. (NMI) showcases its portfolio of bespoke software solutions and platforms at the “GMA New Media Goes to Davao” event at the Sinamay 2 function room in Seda, Abreeza in Davao this Sept. 28.

In partnership with Microsoft Philippines and Westcon Comstor, GMA NMI, as GMA Network’s subsidiary and digital arm, continues its mission to fuel and accelerate the country’s digital transformation by offering its expertise to MSMEs in need of a digital boost.

With more than 20 years of experience in systems integration, software development, and IT solutions, GMA NMI has been providing services to several companies in Mega Manila. The group is now poised to penetrate the VisMin market, starting with the industry hub of Mindanao, Davao City.

For entrepreneurs who are interested in taking their business to the next digital level, register now at https://tinyurl.com/4v9ened4.

World Bank raises PH growth outlook

by Chino S. Leyco, Manila Bulletin

The World Bank raised its economic growth outlook for the Philippines despite the damage from the Typhoon Karding onslaught, which the government said would not take the country off track of its full-year goal.

In the World Bank’s East Asia and Pacific October 2022 Economic Update, the Washington-based multilateral institution raised its gross domestic product (GDP) outlook for the Philippine to 6.5 percent.

The latest growth estimate was well above the 5.7 percent forecast previously released in April.

“A relaxation of border closures and the related recovery in tourism activity is expected to boost growth,” World Bank said in the report on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

“Output in Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels of output in 2022,” the bank added.

World Bank’s new GDP projection, however, is at the lower-end of President Marcos’ full-year target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent, but aligned with the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) downward revised forecast.

On Monday, the IMF cut the Philippine growth projection for this year to 6.5 percent from the previous of 6.7 percent in July.

But despite conservative protections of the World Bank and IMF, the National Economic and Development Authority is confident that the country could weather the impact of the recent typhoon that struck the country.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent economic growth target for 2022 is achievable.

“We are thankful Karding (Noru), which whipped on the belly of the Philippine economy (Luzon’s landmass), was not Ondoy, Ulysses, or Yolanda,” Balisacan twitted on Tuesday.

“Still, damage appeared considerable, though not likely at a level that would make us kiss goodbye to our growth target for this year,” he added.

The economy grew by 7.8 percent in the first half, faster than the target set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee, an inter-agency body that is tasked to set the country’s macroeconomic assumptions.

Based on initial estimates of the Department of Agriculture, damage and losses to the farm sector caused by Typhoon Karding were estimated at P141.38 million.

The initial assessment covers 16,229 hectares of land in the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon, as of 12 noon on Monday, Sept. 26.

This translates to a volume of production loss of 5,866 metric tons of farm produce such as rice, corn, and high value crops, affecting 740 farmers.

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.”