Regin “Ar-ar” Bolasoc

Published: June 9, 2019 08:33am | Metro Manila

Eating rice and catsup for a meal to save up for books did not deter Ar-ar from striving in life. Watch how a determined student and a diligent worker rise from abject poverty to become an area manager of Yamang Bukid Healthy Products Inc. for Bulacan.

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Mimaropa farm learning sites boost cooperation

  • Farm schools in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) have banded together to further boost cooperation and exchange of ideas in an effort to strengthen the government’s partner in promoting agriculture, electing a set of officials who will steer the organization in the interim.

    The formation of an organization of farm schools and learning in the region was among the highlights of the 2020 Regional Learning Sites in Agriculture and Schools for Practical Agriculture (RLSA-SPA) Summit at Yamang Bukid Farm in Barangay Bacungan, Puerto Princesa City last Feb. 24-28.

    Br. George Maria, Yamang Bukid Farm vice president for community affairs, was chosen as president of the 40-plus member alliance.

    “Our mission is to help others, especially the youth to learn and love farming. This is a huge responsibility for me,” said Bro. Maria, 23.

    “As a young farmer entrusted by LSAs in Mimaropa, it is with all humility for me to work with the inspiration founded by the farming schools ahead of us. It is my joy to cooperate with the leadership of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) under the mandate of the Department of Agriculture in its various programs aimed at attaining food security and uplifting the lives of our farmers,” the former seminarian-turned-farmer added.

    Maria said farm schools should not be seen as a diploma mill for young people who want to get a national competency certification even without learning anything.

    The association was widely supported by farm owners in the region.

    Randy Eusebio, a 57-year old owner of a 21-hectare farm in Oriental Mindanao hoped the group would help empower small farm owners and upstart farm schools.

    “I expect to see sharing of ideas, knowledge and technology between the member-farms and unity among us in our resolve to strengthen the agriculture sector,” Eusebio said.

    Elected as vice president was Derwin Evangelista of Longfield ALC in Oriental Mindoro.

    Rosario Clemente, of Oriental Mindoro’s Lasquety Farms was chosen as secretary.

    Other elected officials were Roger Rada of Rada Eco-Farm (Oriental Mindoro) as treasurer and Rafael Constantino Seno of Agrea Farm in Oriental Mindoro as auditor.

    The public information officers (PIOs) were Randy Balderas of Mamburao Integrated Farms for Oriental Mindoro, Heidi Guverra of Guevara’s Farm for Marinduque and Porfirio Diaz for Palawan.

    For DA-ATI in Mimaropa, farming schools and agri-learning sites are in demand because the government is setting aside over P700 million yearly for scholarships and other assistance to those who want to study agriculture through farm schools and learning sites.

    Pat Andrew Barrientos, DA-ATI Mimaropa center director, said the agency is eyeing to accredit at least three farming schools or learning sites per municipality throughout the country. Currently though, there are just about 30 of such institutions nationwide, well below the actual need.

    Among the latest to get the ATI nod as learning site is Maria’s Yamang Bukid Farm, a 20-plus hectare farm known for its sunflowers, organically-grown vegetables and herbal plants and an employer to nearly 300 people. 90 percent of whom are former illegal loggers and wildlife poachers in Barangay Bacungan.

    A huge incentive to farmer whose farm will become a learning site is a monthly revenue of upwards to P140,000 per batch of at least 25 scholars.

    In spite of this windfall, Brother Maria urged his fellow farm school advocates to not lose sight of their bigger role to help the farmers.

    “I challenge myself to encourage all farming schools to live as one team with a mission of becoming factories of dignified farmers who can develop into agripreneurs,” he said.

    (Juan Lim)
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Baby Ali, 11-month old with heart disease pleads for help, prayers

  • He just turned a month shy of his first birthday last Aug. 16. But there are no celebratory cakes and candles just as yet.
    For infants his age, it might have been a happy celebration, with friends and relatives coming over to give him and his delighted family well wishes. But Baby Zayn Maquiel Pagcaliwangan is not your normal child. He hasn’t been like that since being born nearly a year ago.

    You see, the infant has practically lived all his life inside the confines of a hospital. The infant, whose family hails from Barangay Poblacion, Aborlan town in Palawan, was born with congenital heart defects.
    Baby Zayn has DORV (double outlet right ventricle) in which the arteries that connect the heart to the lungs are reversed from their normal position, VSD (ventricular septal defect) or hole in the heart and PDA (patent ductus arteriosus), or an opening in the heart of a human fetus that did not close even after the baby was born.

    The infant’s dire condition has sent him to the hospitals several times and in long durations each. According to his mother, 20-year old Pollyn, Baby Ali—as Zayn Maquiel is dotingly called by those who love him——was so gravely ill that his vital signs monitor went to a flat line several times.

    His medical condition has cost the family so much, with hospital bills running to over P2 million. The infant’s medical emergency has drained his family’s finances, prompting relatives and friends to shell out money and help.

    In between, Baby Ali’s condition swung from bad to alright then back to bad again. He underwent a series of delicate operations. The latest of which came two months ago when he was rushed to the Philippine Heart Center (PHC).

    Now, his frail body is fighting as his stay at the PHC is nearing to end. But the bills are mounting as his family is racing against time to find doctors who can save him. The financial burden is only part of the family’s predicament. Many relatives and friends have remained steadfast to help. Among them is Rea Rodriguez and her coworkers at Yamang Bukid Healthy Products Inc. (YBHPI), maker of wellness product Yamang Bukid Turmeric 10-in-1 Tea.

    During an impromptu lunchtime fund raiser, Rodriguez and her colleagues had raised about P35,000 which they gave to the baby’s mother, Pollyn.
    But the amount is still paltry compared to the expected costs as Baby Ali again goes under the knife. The family and all those who love Baby Ali are knocking hearts for help and prayers.

    They are not giving up on Baby Ali. Ever.

    For those who want to help, you may contact Ms. Pollyn Pagcaliwangan on Facebook.

    Cash deposits may be made to this account:

    POLICARPIO M. PAGCALIWANGAN Landbank of the Philippines Account number: SA 3636-0115-75
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(Not a) Warning: Ginger is gingerously good to your health

  • Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant that is widely used as a spice. Believed to be cultivated by Southeast Asians and Oceania islanders over 7,000 years ago, the plant was introduced to the West through contacts with the Greek and later on, Roman civilizations.

    The plant then reached to India and South Asia during the peak of the Spice Trade and its medicinal uses also began to take shape then.
    In the Philippines, the plant called luya is widely used as a condiment or spice due to its tangy taste. Its rhizomes, called hands, are either consumed fresh, dehydrated, pickled or powdered. The rhizomes are also either ground or served as whole or in cuts and mixed with hot water and drank as tea.

    In a paper by Mamaril published by the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), ginger acts as a medicinal plant by stimulating gastric juice in the stomach. It also relieves cough and flu and is used to treat migraine, travel sickness and rheumatoid arthritis.

    The paper asserts that ginger is known to improve blood circulation and reduce fat deposits in the arteries.
    Rahman, et. al, in a paper published 2014 on the US National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) pointed out ginger’s active ingredients that may help prevent diseases.

    They said numerous clinical studies have been conducted which showed ginger’s positive role in the health management and disease prevention through “modulation of genetic and metabolic activities.”

    They said ginger has essential oil and a compound called oleoresin that exhibited significant antioxidant and anti-microbial activities. Ginger also has phenolic substance which possesses strong anti-inflammatory and anti oxidative properties “and considerable anti carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic activities.”

    The same study also posited ginger’s supposed anti-microbial activity. Rahman, et al asserted that ginger has antimicrobial activity against Escherechia coli, Salmonella typhi and other bacteria in human gastro-intestinal tract, making it a good preventive method against gastrointestinal problems and has gastroprotective effect against peptic ulcer. The same study also noted ginger’s main component gingerol, as good in helping enhance the effects against nausea and vomiting.

    A separate study by Mashhadi et. al and published 2013 on NCBI noted ginger’s anti-oxidative stress effects and anti-inflammatory potentials.
    An experiment by Weidner and Sigwart which was cited by Mashhadi et. al alleged ginger’s positive effects in reducing blood sugar, thus helping people suffering from diabetes. The experiment’s results was that gingerol significantly lowered blood glucose, serum total cholesterol and the so-called bad cholesterol or LDL.

    Yamang Bukid Healthy Products Inc. has Yamang Bukid Turmeric 10-in-1 Tea which ginger, turmeric and eight other powerful herbs that helps enhance health. Yamang Bukid’s flagship beverage is gaining popularity as a morning hot drink and substitute for coffee due to its delectably spicy taste, health and wellness benefits and affordability. You may also opt for a purely ginger experience with Yamang Bukid’s 100% Pure Powdered GINGER.
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