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Aktres pinanggigilan ng mga kasamahan sa pagiging late, ‘di nagbago?
LUKANG-LUKA ang co-actors at buong production people ng isang movie outfit sa aktres dahil 6AM ang call time at dumating sa set ng 6PM. Humingi naman daw ng dispensa ang aktres dahil na-overlook niya ang oras bukod pa sa gumimik siya kinagabihan kaya hindi siya nagising at hindi rin siya ginising ng kanyang kasama sa.....»»
EcoWaste Coalition: True Radiance Comes from Within, Not from Skin Lightening Products with Mercury
23 March 2024, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition, which has been tracking mercury in skin-lightening cosmetics in the Philippines since 2011, reiterated its support for the global effort to put an end to the persistent production, trade, and consumption of racist beauty products with mercury content that claim to whiten the skin and deal with other.....»»
Pagasa debunks ‘three days of darkness’ hoax
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) dismissed claims that the Earth will experience three days of darkness due to passing the “Photon Belts” starting April 8 as false. The state weather and astronomy bureau said Friday there is no scientific evidence to support the claim. “DOST-PAGASA would like to.....»»
EcoWaste Coalition: True Radiance Comes from Within, Not from Skin Lightening Products with Mercury
23 March 2024, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition, which has been tracking mercury in skin-lightening cosmetics in the Philippines since 2011, reiterated its support for the global effort to put an end to the persistent production, trade, and consumption of racist beauty products with mercury content that claim to whiten the skin and deal with other.....»»
Davao cacao council eyes projects to up farmers’ income
THE chairperson of the Davao Region Cacao Industry Development Council (DRCIDC) shared that they are preparing projects to increase the farmers’ income with the help of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (Meda)......»»
Filipino entrepreneur-chef Louise Mabulo in BBC 100 Women 2023 list
The Cacao Project founder Louise Mabulo empowers farmers, dismantles destructive food systems and champions a rural-led green economy......»»
Sen. Villar affirms support for cacao industry at National Cacao Congress
Senator Mark Villar expressed his support for the cacao industry and farmers at the National Cacao Congress held in Davao City. The event aimed to boost the country's chocolate industry and establish it as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines. Around 85 exhibitors and thousands of participants from different regions gathered to discuss the latest technological advancements in intercropping coconut and cacao to increase farmers' income. Senator Villar emphasized the need for policies and programs to develop the cacao industry, considering the growing global demand. The congress is part of the Cacao Roadmap (2017-2023) and follows the declaration of the Davao Region as the Cacao capital. The region is recognized for its favorable environment and soil for cacao production. Senator Villar concluded by highlighting the importance of cacao in providing livelihoods for local farmers and its contribution to the country's reputation in the global chocolate market......»»
DTI, partners to innovate cacao industry in MIMAROPA
The Department of Trade and Industry MIMAROPA Region recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, Korea Invention Promotion Association and SAGANA Marinduque Agriculture Cooperative to foster collaboration, innovation and sustainable economic growth through an IP Sharing Project for the cacao-based cooperative. DTI MIMAROPA OIC-Regional Director Rodolfo Mariposque led the MOU signing with DTI Marinduque Provincial Director Roniel Macatol, SAGANA chairwoman Donna Lecaroz and KIPA general manager Joohyun Ryu on 9 August 2023 in Santa Cruz, Marinduque. The IP Sharing Project aims to contribute significantly to the growing cacao industry in the region through research and development and world-class technology. On 10 August 2023, KIPA and KIPO also collaborated with DTI MIMAROPA to hand over an uraro drying technology that improves the shelf life and quality of uraro starch. This starch is the primary raw material used by the Bahi Agricultural Fisheries Association for the production of its arrowroot cookies and other products. In 2021, KIPA granted BAFA an uraro processing equipment to improve the local productivity of the uraro farmers of Gasan in Marinduque. The drying technology serves as an aftercare project of the international project grant. The post DTI, partners to innovate cacao industry in MIMAROPA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
It’s Kadayawan Festival in Davao City
The longest and most colorful festival in the Philippines is indubitably Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival. It formally kicks off on 10 August with revelry of ethnic gongs and music festivities and ends on 20 August with dazzling and radiant floats festooned in an array of fruits and flowers. August is the most abundant period of harvests and, as a tradition, the indigenous tribes in the city celebrate the season with festivities. And we celebrate with them. Davao City is home to 11 ethnic tribes. A large portion of elevated and forested lands in the city are their ancestral domain, while a few of them inhabit the coastal area. Despite the diversity of cultures, they live in peaceful coexistence along with other pioneers from various parts of the country. The tribes are well represented in the City Legislative Department and as Deputy Mayors. Let us refer to the City Tourism Office for the description of the various tribes that live in Davao City. Ata. They are shy and kind but are quick to anger. They are often referred to as people of the mountain as they prefer to live in upland areas. Bagobo Klata. They are forest dwellers and brave and feared warriors. They are known for their elaborate attire and fine artistry. Bagobo Tagabawa. They are the best dressed and said to be the most intelligent among the indigenous peoples. They dwell in the foothills of Mt. Apo which they call Apo Sandawa and is their place of worship and considered sacred. Matigsalug. The riverside dwellers. They are engaged in farming and are famous for the native rice variety. They fish and hunt and gather wild fruits for a living. Obu Manuvu. The oldest tribe in Davao City. They are known for their fine weaponry and jewelry. Planting cacao and vegetables is their source of livelihood. Iranun. Davao City has its share of the Iranun tribe who were originally from Illana Bay, better known today as the Moro Gulf, but they have spread to nearly all of Mindanao. They are descendants of Sultan Kudarat. They are known as the defenders of the nation as they fought against the Spanish colonizers. Kagan. This tribe inhabits the coastal areas of Davao. They are referred to as Davao Moros. They are a peace-loving people and are known to co-exist with other tribes. Maguindanaon. Known to be the first major Muslim converts in Mindanao. Courageous and resourceful, they are known for their bravery against the Spanish conquistadores. They live in many parts of Davao City. Maranao. The best dressed among the ethnic groups. They are famous for their wood and metal craft. They are referred to as “people of the lake.” Sama. A peace-loving tribe that values togetherness. Their forebears were said to have special powers as they could summon spirits called “jin” to do things for them. Taosug. They are from Sulu and are known for their bravery, yet are kind, hospitable, and helpful, and have a word of honor. They engage in trading and fishing, as among their means of livelihood. Davao is home to the world’s most elegant eagle and the habitat of the king of orchids we call Waling Waling, or Vanda Sanderana to orchidists. On its fertile lands are a variety of crops, among these, durian, bananas, and pineapples which are the principal exports of the city. Mangosteen, pomelos, lanzones, dragon fruit and rambutan abound this season. Numbeo ranks Davao as the most livable city in the Philippines. And this is made possible by the man who led the city against criminal and drug syndicates and ISIS and communist terrorists. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is the one. The first President from Mindanao whose trust and approval ratings, and path of destiny the incumbent Vice President Inday Sara Duterte is bound to be heir to. The 38th Kadayawan Festival is a celebration of life, abundance, and thanksgiving. Come join us. The post It’s Kadayawan Festival in Davao City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Viable aggie solution needed
It was a soporific SoNAta from the halls of Congress. But there were sudden drumbeats that perked up his audience. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. surely knows how to spice up his speeches. “The campaign against illegal drugs shall continue,” “bilang na ang araw ng mga smuggler,” amnesty to rebels, national integration of the power grid, digitalization of the government bureaucracy, continuation and expansion of infrastructure projects of the PRRD administration, and the creation of a Department of Water Resource Management, among others. But how can we reconcile the good news about the economic growth PBBM has boasted about against the backdrop of inflation? Dispersing Kadiwa rolling stores all over the country will not provide relief from the high cost of consumer commodities. It is a Band-aid solution at best. It is a consolation, however, that President Marcos cited agriculture as the backbone of the Philippine economy and that increasing agricultural productivity must be addressed. His approach, however, is not too comforting as it looks like it was discussed in an air-conditioned room rather than proven in the field by actual practice. He wants farmers to use biofertilizer which, according to him, is cheaper. The fact is, it is not. Biofertilizer as the name suggests is made up of micro-organisms that increase the supply of essential nutrients in plants. Whether this type of fertilizer is available in the country is a big question and if it is, will the volumes suffice? Biofertilizer collects nutrients around the root system of plants. In the process, which could take long, the basic elements needed by the plant, among these, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium or NPK, are fed to the plants although the levels of each are not ascertained. With chemical fertilizer, NPK levels are set and are immediately available to the plants. Furthermore, in preparing fields for planting, either by direct seeding or transplanting seedlings, farmers actually spray biocides first to eliminate the pesky snails that eat the growing seedlings. Biocides will effectively kill microorganisms as well so there goes your expense on biofertilizer. Furthermore, in the stages of palay growth, various infestations happen, among them, stem borers and black bugs, which prompt farmers to spray insecticide. Admittedly, biofertilizer is an excellent soil conditioner. Moreover, not all biofertilizers are created equal. Some producers cook their raw materials, like chicken dung and animal manure, killing all the microorganisms and still calling it biofertilizer. In Davao City, the Davao Thermo Biotech Corporation, a pioneering firm engaged in the processing of biodegradable garbage waste into fertilizer, is currently producing biofertilizer through a special process by composting hyperthermophilic bacteria that drive the temperature up to over 100 degrees C naturally. The hyperthermophilic microbes heat that high in the second week and fix the basic nutrients, the NPK, on the finished product. The product has proven excellent to apply to cacao trees. It has also given dramatic results in experimental Cavendish banana plantations. But we are in a crucial stage. Rice-producing countries, among them, Vietnam, Thailand, and India, are not in the mode of exporting rice. What we need is an immediate solution to address the impending rice shortage. Marcos should jettison the “Tontos” who told him that biofertilizer was cheaper than chemical fertilizer. He should move fast and strike a government-to-government deal with China, the biggest fertilizer producer in the world. This would bring down the cost of fertilizer by more than 50 percent. Fertilizer should be available by mid-September in time for the next planting season. Toward the end of the year, we will see bumper rice harvests and stave off a rice shortage. In the meantime, let us see smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products going to jail. We are tired of the empty rhetoric. The post Viable aggie solution needed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SM StartUp Market launches 2nd batch of MSMEs in SM City Fairview
Eight micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) were launched as the second batch of the SM Fairview StartUp Market at the mall’s Lower Ground Level, Central Walk last 17 July 2023. The SM StartUp Market features businesses such as Crave Box Patisserie, Earthy Kit, The Stamp Studio, Ambi’s Seaweed Chips, Cacaomistry, The Seasalt Brownie, Wick It Candles, and Gab’s Happy Plant Macrame until 31 January 2024. Comfort food partners Crave Box Patisserie offers freshly baked custom-made pastries for every occasion; Ambi’s Seaweed Chips specializes in homemade crispy seaweed chips; The Seasalt Brownie sells handcrafted artisanal brownies and dolce desserts made from high-quality natural ingredients; while Cacaomistry focuses on handcrafted plant-based cacao mix sourced from local farmers in Batangas and Davao. [caption id="attachment_160463" align="aligncenter" width="408"] Cupcakes from Crave Box Patisserie[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160465" align="aligncenter" width="380"] Sour cream-flavored seaweed chips from Ambi’s Seaweed Chips[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160466" align="aligncenter" width="331"] Brownies from The Seasalt Brownie[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160467" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Cacao mix from Cacaomistry[/caption] Purveyors of home hobbies and at-home experiences Meanwhile, Earthy Kit offers diverse eco-friendly personal and home care products; The Stamp Studio specializes in a wide array of custom-made stamps and stickers, perfect for school and office use; Wick It Candles focuses on candles in retro enamel cups filled with 100% natural vegan soy wax and premium fragrance oils; and Gab’s Happy Plant Macrame sells Macramé (a form of textile produced using knotting techniques) plant hangers to support the livelihood in the Payatas community. [caption id="attachment_160468" align="aligncenter" width="243"] Eco-friendly toothbrushes from the Earthy Kit[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160469" align="aligncenter" width="263"] Custom-made stamps from The Stamp Studio[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160470" align="aligncenter" width="295"] A candle in a retro enamel cup from Wick It Candles[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160471" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Macramé (a form of textile produced using knotting techniques) products from Gab’s Happy Plant Macrame[/caption] The goal of SM is to help online businesses bloom to the next level with the SM StartUp Package. “It is part of SM’s MSME program supporting start-ups who started with an online store and want to transition to a physical shop, and SM is the best place to do this with its high foot traffic and diverse customer base,” said SM Supermalls Regional Operations Manager Lea Sta. Ana. SM StartUp Package Through the SM StartUp Market, online MSMEs are offered the valuable support they need to set up shops at SM malls. By joining the SM StartUp Package, MSMEs are given assistance in opening their first brick-and-mortar shops. Launched last October 2021, the SM StartUp Market tenant package features start-up-friendly rental rates and use of kiosks or carts free of charge; marketing assistance to give the brand free exposure in SM online assets and ad spaces inside malls; financial assistance with BDO Network Bank; and mentorship from SM experts on operations and marketing. SM StartUp Market’s first batch was launched last December 2021 in SM Megamall. Overall, there are malls that have StartUp Markets from Clark and Pampanga in North Luzon to Cagayan De Oro and Davao in the South with new concepts and fresh products under various categories such as Health and Wellness, Home Hobbies and At-Home Experiences, Smart Gadgets for Productivity, Functional Fashion, and Comfort Food. To know more about the SM Startup Market and MSMEs, log on to www.smsupermalls.com, email startup@smsupermalls.com, or follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms. The post SM StartUp Market launches 2nd batch of MSMEs in SM City Fairview appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM reiterates vow for priority MSME assistance
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is reiterating the government’s resolve to prioritize assistance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the country In his speech delivered during the distribution of various government assistance to people in Northern Samar last Friday, Marcos said the government wants to invigorate and revive the MSME sector and assure cooperatives of government aid. “We are here to ensure that those who slumped because there are a lot who were hit hard, their savings were exhausted, their businesses closed, those who find it hard to recover, those are what we are looking for to help because they are the roots of our economy, the small businesses, the MSMEs,” the President said, speaking in the vernacular. Concurrent Agriculture Secretary Serving as concurrent Agriculture Secretary, Marcos led the distribution of assistance from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Labor and Employment. During the event, Marcos presided over the turnover of two four-wheel drive tractors, three multi-cultivators, four pump irrigation systems, a cacao processing facility, various agricultural livelihood projects, four units of hand tractors, four rice thrashers, and four rice cutters to beneficiaries. Some 1,220 farmer-beneficiaries in Northern Samar received some 21,480 bags of certified rice seeds, 300 bags of hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer discount vouchers, and P5,000 each of financial assistance. Supervised distribution of assistance The President likewise supervised the distribution of assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources including the 16 deep sea fish aggregating devices (payao), three high-density polyethylene cages, 150 sets of seaweed farm implement and fingerlings, and feeds for tilapia production in ponds. Some 20 units of 30-foot and five 22-foot fiberglass boats, mangrove crablets, and formulated feeds were also provided to fishermen. The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, meanwhile, donated two hectares of abaca mother block nursery to local government units while four infrastructure projects were handed over to the provincial government. Eight distressed overseas Filipino workers also received financial assistance amounting to P150,000 and scholarship assistance worth P10,000 each to two dependents under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program. The post PBBM reiterates vow for priority MSME assistance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM admin prioritizing help for MSMEs
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated the government’s resolve to prioritize assistance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the country. In his speech during the distribution of various government assistance in Northern Samar last Friday, Marcos said the government wants to invigorate and revive the MSME sector and assured cooperatives of government aid. “We are here to ensure that those who slumped because there are a lot who were hit hard, their savings were exhausted, their businesses closed, those who find it hard to recover, those are what we are looking for to help because they are the roots of our economy, the small businesses, the MSMEs),” the President speaking in vernacular. Serving as the concurrent Agriculture Secretary, Marcos previously led the distribution of assistance from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Labor and Employment. During the event, Marcos graced the turnover of two four-wheel drive tractors, three multi-cultivators, four pump irrigation systems, a cacao processing facility, various agricultural livelihood projects, four units of hand tractors, four rice thrashers, and four rice cutters to beneficiaries. Some 1,220 farmer-beneficiaries in Northern Samar received around 21,480 bags of certified rice seeds, 300 bags of hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer discount vouchers, and PHP5,000 each of financial assistance. Marcos likewise supervised the distribution of assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources including the 16 deep sea fish aggregating devices (payao), three high-density polyethylene cages, 150 sets of seaweed farm implement and fingerlings, and feeds for tilapia production in ponds. Some 20 units of 30-foot and five 22-foot fiberglass boats, mangrove crablets, and formulated feeds were also provided to fishermen. The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, meanwhile, donated two hectares of abaca mother block nursery to local government units while four infrastructure projects were handed over to the provincial government. Eight distressed overseas Filipino workers also received financial assistance amounting to P150,000 and scholarship assistance worth PHP10,000 each to two dependents under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program. Marcos also led the distribution of medical assistance worth P30,000 for two beneficiaries under the Welfare Assistance Program and financial assistance worth P20,000 to a bereaved OFW family. The President also graced the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” in Catarman, held at the provincial capitol-covered court. The event was participated in by 39 sellers from four farmer associations, 15 DTI "Diskwento (Discount) Caravan" exhibitors, DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations, and LGU exhibitors. To date, the government has already launched 7,283 Kadiwa stores nationwide, generating P697.87 million in sales and benefiting 1.84 million households and 3,017 farmers' cooperatives and associations and agri-fishery enterprises. The post PBBM admin prioritizing help for MSMEs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ARBO value-chain strategy offers solid ground for MASAGANA rice program
The value chain strategy for agricultural products, which the Department of Agrarian Reform piloted in 2013, particularly on farm clustering, marketing, and linking smallholders to providers of inputs and credit, would be a solid ground for the four strategies of the Department of Agriculture’s MASAGANA Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP). The DAR’s ARBO (Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization) clustering program, in partnership with Caritas’ Catholic Relief Service, was piloted in 2013 in Bukidnon (in three sites) and Misamis Oriental (two sites). Phase 1 involved linking ARBs with the corporate supply chain, which lasted until 2015, said Assistant Director Lita Rosales of DAR’s Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development. Then Phase 2—from 2015 to 2017—involved linking farmer smallholders to markets with microfinance. The sites involved in this phase expanded to 98. Phase 3 after 2017 (which was disrupted a bit by the pandemic) already covered 150 sites of clustered farms in practically the entire country, she explained. DAR’s mandate was always to work with ARBOs and clusters formed by them, which DAR linked with suppliers of farm inputs, corporate markets, and providers of farm machinery and post-harvest technologies. The DAR’s ARBO program covered farm clusters producing coconut, corn, sugar, cacao, coffee, livestock, poultry and fisheries, and even rice. With the MIRDP set to be fully adopted, the wealth of experience of ARBOs can hasten the learning curve of newly-organized clusters to be formed by the different attached agencies of the DA. These include the irrigators associations (both national and communal irrigation systems) of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the SWISAs (or small water irrigation systems associations) of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), and rice farm cooperatives registered with the Cooperatives Development Authority (CDA). Farmer-members of these groups must be registered with the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) to avail of government interventions. The DA met with DAR and BSWM last 12 July to discuss how the clustering of farmers would be expedited and a follow-up meeting for this purpose has been set for 16 August. Since ARBOs are covered by the Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) jointly implemented by the DA, DAR, and the Land Bank of the Philippines, they can avail of loans under the program and in turn, re-lend to eligible ARBs to finance their agri-production projects and activities. The APCP aims to achieve sustainable crop production and increase the incomes of ARBs and their households through the provision of credit and capacity-building assistance. The other DAR programs for ARBOs that could jibe with the thrusts and strategies of MIRDP are stocks and market liberalization, land reform (including the development of land markets), agro-processing and input supply channels, urban finance, and market institutions. MRIDP's MASAGANA stands for MAtatag (climate change adaptation or resiliency), SAma-sama (clustering and consolidation of farms), GAnado (motivated farmers in the rice value chain), and NApapanahon (digital transformation to improve farming practices and program implementation). "MAtatag" aims to boost farmers' climate change resiliency by adjusting the planting calendar during the wet season, shifting main production to the dry season, and promoting crop diversification and crop-livestock-fisheries integration using balanced fertilization, proper irrigation, and other climate-smart practices. "SAma-sama" seeks to create economies of scale by clustering farmers and consolidating farms at the barangay and municipal levels and converging interventions. They will be linked to millers and the NFA, enabling cooperation between farmers, millers, and government institutions to achieve better prices, better quality rice, and appropriate seed distribution. This, too, is the essence of "GAnado", or the value chain approach. "NApapanahon" supports the first three approaches by providing timely and accurate information for decision-making, making interventions digitally based, location-specific, and efficient. The MIRDP will support rice clusters with seeds, fertilizers, and soil ameliorants; training-related activities; credit programs and loan facilities; crop insurance; market assistance; irrigation projects (NIS, CIS, and Small Water Impounding Projects), production and post-harvest machinery and equipment and facilities. The post ARBO value-chain strategy offers solid ground for MASAGANA rice program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Miss Universe Phl, Auro Chocolate partner for exclusive drink
Miss Universe Philippines, in partnership with Auro Chocolate, unveiled a limited-edition customized drink made for a sound mind and body. “People have this misconception that when they think chocolate, they think only dessert — something sweet, something that you can only have at the end of the meal. But cacao and chocolate are so much more than that. We want to push the boundaries of what cacao and chocolate can be,” said Kelly Go, co-founder of Auro Chocolate, at the opening of the World Chocolate Fair at S’Maison last 5 July. The special blend will be served hot mixed with collagen from the exclusive menu of Auro Chocolate Cafe. “It is good for not only your mind, but also the body. This is something new for us; this is going more into functional chocolates. We already know that cacao is healthy, full of antioxidants and fiber, but we are boosting that with collagen which is, of course, good for your skin, too,” Go said. The Collagen Hot Chocolate will be available for a limited time only. The first, biggest and grandest World Chocolate Fair in the Philippines concluded its fourth staging at the main atrium of S’Maison at Conrad Manila. Held from 5 to 9 July, WCF featured over 12 brands specializing in sweets and pastries, in which some even used Auro’s award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate. The post Miss Universe Phl, Auro Chocolate partner for exclusive drink appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2023 National Food Fair fuses tradition, innovation
The 2023 National Food Fair, themed “Go Discover, Taste, Enjoy!”, opened on Wednesday, 12 July, in simple ceremonies headed by Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual as keynote speaker. Organized by the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion in coordination with the DTI Regional Operations Group, the 2023 National Food Fair runs 12-16 July at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. Over 250 MSMEs from the country’s 17 regions are exhibiting their products onsite at the event venue. Simultaneously, an online national food fair on the Lazada e-commerce platform is also offering the products of participating MSMEs, for a wider market reach nationwide. Showcasing the fusion of tradition and innovation, special settings, pavilions and MSME clusters draw attention to developments that elevate traditional Filipino products to meet stringent food industry standards and be competitive in the global market. These are: · Philippine Coconut Industry Pavilion and Coconut-Based MSME Cluster · Philippine Food Industry Innovations Lounge · Philippine Fruits and Nuts Pavilion · Innovative and Biotech Products Cluster · Rural Agro-Industrial Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project Pavilion · Farm Fresh Produce Pavilion · KAPEtirya or Philippine Coffee Pavilion · Philippine Island Wine, Beer, and Juice Bar For culinary enthusiasts, renowned Filipino chefs are part of the daily program of activities, with live cooking and food preparation demonstrations, among others. The lineup includes: · The Ultimate Filipino Adobo: Stories Through the Ages book launching and cooking demonstrations (Chef Claude Tayag) · Isang Dekada ng Guevarra’s: An Inspiring Story (Chef Laudico Guevarra) · Fiesta Recipes (Chef Boy Logro) · Halal Recipes and lavish feast during social occasions (Chef Yed Dimaporo and Mustapha Ala, Jr.) · SIMPOL Recipes Using Coconut (Chef Tatung Sarthou) · Culinary Kurobuta Masterpieces (Chef Donatello Montrone) · Changing the Food Mindset: Slow Food (Chef Jam Melchor) · Plant-based Desserts (Chef Aileen of Studio Plantmaed) · Benefits of a Plant-based Diet (Chef Mylene Dolonius of Studio Plantmaed) · Healthy Daily Recipes (Chef YLYT Frixiah Manaig) · Magsaysay Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (Chef Eric Gruba) · The Farm at San Benito (Rose Pagcaliwagan) · Philippine Wine Mixology (Bartender Nino Cruz) The culminating highlight of this celebration of the diversity and rich heritage of Filipino food is an interactive cultural presentation of the BARMM Pagana Maguindanao, led by Mustafa Ala and Chef Yed Dimaporo. Pagana is a traditional Maguindanaon celebration that holds great cultural significance in the Maguindanao province of the Philippines. It is a festive event that brings the community together to honor and celebrate important occasions such as weddings, religious holidays or community milestones. The Pagana celebration is characterized by lively music, colorful costumes and traditional dances that showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Maguindanaon people. The rhythmic beats of the kulintang ensemble, a musical ensemble composed of gongs, set the tone for the festivities, while traditional dances like the Singkil and Pangalay mesmerize the audience with their graceful movements. The event also offers a feast of traditional Maguindanaon cuisine, featuring flavorful dishes like Lininggil a Manok (chicken cooked in turmeric and coconut milk) and palapa (a spicy condiment made from chili and scallions). Pagana is not only a time of celebration but also an opportunity to strengthen community bonds, pass down cultural traditions to younger generations and showcase the rich artistic talents of the Maguindanaon people. Also part of the daily program are entrepreneurship talks and learning sessions that can offer food entrepreneurs with resources and ideas about how to strengthen and position their businesses for continued growth. The topics covered by various government agencies and partner-institutions participating in the daily program are: · Coconut-based Coffee and/or Cacao Enterprise Development Project (Department of Agriculture) · Geographical Indications and the Benefits of Registering One’s Trademark or Brand in IPOPHIL (Intellectual Property Office) · Sustainable Planting and Replanting of Local Cultivars; Natural and Healthy Coconut Vinegar; Health Benefits of Coconut (Philippine Coconut Authority) · Halal Culinary Tourism (Department of Tourism) · Bioplastic Derived from Pineapple Waste Packaging Technology; Coco-Based Food Technologies (Department of Science and Technology) · Kitchen Lab and Food Connect Plus (Philippine Trade Training Center) · Dairy and Coconut Farming, A Viable Integrated Farming Enterprise (National Dairy Authority) · Boosting Nutrition to Different MSMEs as Suppliers of Healthy Food Products (National Nutrition Council) · Healthy Food Consumption Trends and Research on Health Benefits of Philippine Herbs (Department of Health) · Franchising: A Way to Make Every Filipino Taste Your Lola’s Recipe (Philippine Franchising Association) · Accelerating Growth Through One Research and Extension in Action (UP Los Baños-Agora) · How MSMEs Can Thrive Online (Lazada) · Unilever’s Healthy and Sustainable Food Program (Unilever Philippines) · Maximizing Your Digital Marketing Potential with Analytics and Business Intelligence (Pamela Padilla) The daily program of activities is open to the public and free of charge. For the benefit of remote viewers, these are also being livestreamed on BDTP social media channels. To stay updated about the 2023 National Food Fair and other programs of the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, please follow the social media accounts on Facebook (DTI.BDTP), Instagram (dti.bdtp), and Twitter (@DTI_BDTP). Or email BDTP Director Marievic M. Bononan at bdtp@dti.gov.ph. The post 2023 National Food Fair fuses tradition, innovation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A provincial breakfast
For health, a doctor-friend advises we should drink more of our native pure chocolate beverage instead of coffee. My doctor-friend says current research shows drinking native pure cacao builds up stem cells, cells that, as I’m often confidentially told, are extending the shelf life of some of our more colorful geriatric politicians. But other than medical counsel for regenerating tired old bodies, his advice had me nostalgic for the laid-back charms of my hometown, Cebu City, in the 1960s and my childhood breakfasts. Back then, the multi-layered aroma of the frothy sikwate, Cebuano for native chocolate drink, wafting in the quiet dawn air was a sheer, inimitable pleasure. Prepared by my mother, the sikwate bubbled in a terracotta Grecian pitcher-shaped, charcoal-bottomed batidor sitting precariously on a single earthen stove, fired up by bakawan or mangrove wood. If I happened to be up at the crack of dawn, I would watch my mother vigorously palm-rolling the wooden long-handled bolonea to dissolve the pure cacao tableya and brown sugar in boiling water, to achieve the sikwate’s velvety smoothness and lip-smacking frothy glory. Once poured into large thick-walled glass tumblers — those working-class glasses often found in Chinese restaurants — the sikwate came served with generous servings of the Cebuano delicacy puto maya and succulent ripe mangoes. Itinerant vendors sold the banana leaf-wrapped, triangle-shaped puto maya, but the sweet mangoes came from the market, likely sourced from the city’s abundant mango groves in the Guadalupe district, now a distant memory. Puto maya is steamed sticky glutinous rice or malagkit. Cooked for an hour with coconut milk or gata, sugar, salt and ginger — fresh ginger juice gives the puto maya an added kick — the delicacy was scooped straight from the steamer and served on a plate when bought from the public market stalls. If puto maya wasn’t available, there was always my Lola Isang’s celebrated budbud. Lola Isang, my late paternal grandmother, had a singular way with heirloom budbud recipes, just as my late mother had with cakes, breads, tarts, pies, ensaimada, napoleons, and exquisite silvanas dusted with cashew bits. Budbud is simply sticky rice mixed with coconut milk, sugar and salt steamed over low heat, then hand-rolled to about five inches long and wrapped in banana leaf. Budbud is the simplest food in the Cebuano rice-cake universe, but if my Lola Isang felt fancy enough when she woke up at 3 a.m. to make them she would roll them together with diagonal violet strips like a barber’s pole, which I later found out wasn’t ube but was still malagkit, only colored. And if Lola Isang had some millet around, which in Cebu came in the form of kabog from Catmon town in Northern Cebu, she would make one of Cebu’s unique delicacies, budbud kabog. Kabog is Cebuano for bat and for the small-seeded cereal plant that grew wildly on Catmon’s mountainous terrain, so named because bats feasted on them. Kabog seeds are coarse and bland. But once pounded and cooked with coconut milk and sugar it amazingly transforms into budbud kabog, eagerly sought after by aficionados, mostly sabungeros. Yet, all these delicacies were merely breakfast starters. In 1960s Cebu City, Cebuanos had two official breakfasts: The light painit in the early morning hours and the much later heavy pamahaw. Pamahaw in other households, of course, would have the more familiar scrambled eggs and Brazilian corned beef, but I definitely remember eating with gusto ma-is for pamahaw. Ma-is is of course corn. But the corn here is not on the cob but well-milled corn grains steamed to the consistency of rice. Unfeasibly as corn now sounds as a staple, but tummy-filling ma-is was definitely pamahaw, especially if paired with dangit or little round bite-size Cebuano chorizos or the rich fishy flavor of ginamos or partially fermented bolinaw (anchovies), of which Jose Rizal once insisted to a Spanish historian that Filipino fermented fish dishes were neither stinky nor rotten. Email: nevqjr@yahoo.com.ph The post A provincial breakfast appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mountain Province eyes cacao production
BAGUIO CITY — Folks of Tadian, Mountain Province will soon supply the main ingredient for making chocolate and other chocolate-based products as they are gearing up to produce and process cacao in the near future. In a two-day community-based training in cacao processing, 20 residents of Barangay Tue in Tadian town, Mountain Province were the first batch of beneficiaries. The provincial government of Mountain Province — in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Mountain Province Office, the Department of Trade and Industry Mountain Province Office and the local government of Tadian — joined forces in conducting the seminar from 7 to 8 June 2023. The activity aims to introduce cacao products to the participants and to generate employment in the municipality through cacao production and processing. The whole duration of the training was facilitated by Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist and local cacao farmer Jones G. Malwagay. Cacao is seen as an important industrial crop with huge potential in terms of domestic and export demands. The post Mountain Province eyes cacao production appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Legarda backs IPOPHL move to boost, safeguard local geographical indications
As defined by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, geographical indications are any indication that identifies a good as originating in a territory, region or locality, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristics of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin and/or human factors. The identified potential GIs in the country include the Cordillera heirloom rice, Guimaras mangoes, Benguet cacao, Batangas kapeng barako, Davao pummelo and the Bagtason loom weave of Antique, among other local products. Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, who is from Antique, lauded the move by the IPOPHL to reinforce rules and regulations safeguarding GIs in the country, which can potentially give Filipino-made products a significant advantage toward economic and social development through responsible use of the intellectual property system. "These new regulations issued by the Intellectual Property Office are a welcome development. While it cannot be expected to resolve past controversies or halt attempts at cultural appropriation, it is a very good step toward this end," Legarda said. "An indication of origin does a great deal more than increase market awareness and ensure sales," according to Legarda. "People developing GIs are demonstrating nature-based solutions, and we must pay attention as they do. When people enhance their local products, like native plants and animals grown there, they enhance the capacity of their communities to address problems within their specific context." The four-term senator also emphasized the importance of ensuring the integration of efforts with those of the government and other communities that will inspire further developments and an upswing of collective pride that benefits traditional and indigenous Filipino products. In 2019, Legarda authored and enacted the Innovation Act, which requires the government to put innovation at the center of its development policies considering regional and global economic opportunities. "Opportunity is a great motivator. And I have no doubt that take together, along with the ingenuity of the Filipino, will usher in a new era of production that takes into consideration our awesome natural gifts and biodiversity," she said. Last May 22, Legarda was the keynote speaker at the 2023 National Geographical Indications Forum. The discussions, according to her, are timely given the country has "done too little for too long" in protecting GIs. In partnership with the IPOPHL and the Design Center of the Philippines, Legarda's office also set up an exhibit at the Senate on the potential geographical indications in the Philippines that runs from 24 to 25 May 2023, featuring distinct and indigenous products from all over the country. The post Legarda backs IPOPHL move to boost, safeguard local geographical indications appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Panganiban lauds FFM
Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban over the weekend underscored the importance of Filipino food champions in the upliftment of Philippine agriculture as the first week of the 2023 Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month celebration ended last week. During the recognition ceremony of the agri-preneurs who participated in the first week of FFM, Panganiban expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders who continue to partner with the government in its food security agenda. In his message, Panganiban committed to fully supporting the yearly celebration which pays tribute to the invaluable contributions of the farmers and fishers in nation-building. “Kami po taon-taon ay nagpapaganap ng ganitong okasyon para malaman ng bansa na layon nating mapalawak ang ating ani at kita at hindi tayo umaasa sa traders na nagbibigay ng presyo sa ating mga produkto,” Senior Usec. Panganiban enthused. During the ceremony, DA, through its National Organic Agriculture Program and Halal Food Industry Development Program, recognized 17 halal and organic agriculture enterprises. The said enterprises, who also participated in the week-long bazaar held at the DA Central Office grounds, were: Muba-Arak Food Products; MS3 Agri-Ventures; Emerald Durian Palace; Ahya Coco Organic Food Manufacturing Corporation; Polangui Organic Kalamay and Muscovado Producers and Farmers Association, Inc.; Batangas Egg Producers Multipurpose Cooperative; Yakap at Halik Multipurpose Cooperative; Quezon Organic Agriculture Cooperative; Great Love Pharmaceutical, Inc.; T.P. Food Processing Corporation; Milis Agri Products; Lisbos Cacao Trading; Radin Food Products; Agripreneur Producers and Farmers Association; Rural Farmers Cooperative; and Bahaghari Global Food, Inc. DA Assistant Secretary for Administration Jane C. Bacayo, who also serves as Vice-Chairperson of the FFM 2023 Steering Committee, expressed his gratitude to the NOAP and the HFIDP for their contributions to the DA’s efforts in ensuring food and nutrition security in the country. By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 33, series of 1989, the FFM is celebrated every May to recognize the role of Filipino farmers, fishers, and agricultural laborers in the country’s agricultural and economic development. The second week of FFM will feature the crops subsector including rice, corn, high-value crops, coconut, sugar, and fiber. Livestock and poultry will take center stage in the third week, while fisheries will be highlighted on the fourth and final week of this year’s FFM celebration. The post Panganiban lauds FFM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»