TAG holds dental mission in Bay

by Camille Anne Mendizabal, Emmanuelle Dominique Mendoza, and Neil Arwin Mercado

[Bay, Laguna] On November 9, over a hundred residents of Brgy. San Antonio in Bay, Laguna received free dental services from the dental mission MataTAG na Ngipin 7 organized by The Altruist Group (TAG) Los Baños and was conducted in partnership with the Philippine Dental Association-Laguna Chapter and Red Cross Laguna Chapter.

MataTAG 7 volunteers assist the children during the simultaneous brushing of teeth.

The medical mission was organized in coordination with the local government of Bay through a series of community visits. TAG opted to focus on dental mission to ensure that their project will address more specific concerns as well as offer more defined type assistance. Ariel Palermo, TAG president, explained that the need for dental services of people who come to MataTAG na Ngipin are addressed. Pain relievers and antibiotics were also given to the community.

Palermo emphasized that TAG continues to improve the MataTAG program. For the seventh dental mission, TAG incorporated a feeding program, fluoridation, and a lecture on dental hygiene for children. He added that the fee dental services have lasting effects for the community members. The feeding program was organized by the San Antonio barangay council to complement TAG’s dental mission.

As part of the preparations for the dental mission, TAG conducted a survey among the residents of Brgy. San Antonio, and coordinated with the barangay council headed by Brgy. Chariman Efren Quintos. The barangay council, through Quintos, expressed their appreciation for the initiative of TAG and its partners in providing dental services for their constituents.

With the conduct of MataTAG na Ngipin 7 in Brgy. San Antonio, TAG ended 2014 by bringing smiles to more than a hundred Bay residents.

LB FARMC, nagsanay sa pagproseso ng isda

ni Francisco B. Carandang, pangulo ng Los Baños Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council

Nagsagawa ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ng Hands on Training on Bighead Carp Processing noong Oktubre 17 sa BFAR IV-A Regional Office sa Brgy. Bambang sa Los Baños, Laguna.

Nagsanay ang 50 miyembro ng Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) sa paggawa ng fish ball, kikiam, fish nuggets, embutido, fish siomai, at burger patty.

Ang pagsasanay ay nagbunga mula sa pulong ng pangulo ng limang pangulo ng FARMC mula sa mga barangay ng Tadlac, Bambang, Malinta, Mayondon, at Bayog. Layon ng pulong na matulungan ang mga miyembro ng FARMC sa paghahanap ng karagdagang pagkakakitaan upang makatulong na maibsan ang kahirapan at pangangailangan sa pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay. Humingi ng tulong ang FARMC sa BFAR IV-A sa pagsasagawa ng pagsasanay sa pagpoproseso ng isda noong Setyembre 26. Ito ay agad natugunan at ang pagsasanay ay naidaos noong Oktubre 17.

Ang pagsasanay ay naisagawa sa pagtutulungan nina Marilou Mosqueda, ang officer-in-charge ng Postharvest Section ng BFAR IV-A; Fe Banasihan, ang municipal agriculture officer ng Los Baños; at ng mga opisyal ng FARMC ng Los Baños.

Ang mga produkto ng mga nagsanay ay naging bahagi ng 1st Organic Congress na ginanap sa Sta. Cruz nong Oktubre 28-30. Muling nagbigay ng free taste at nagbenta ng fish products ang FARMC noong Nobyembre 28 sa SM Calamba sa lungsod ng Calamba.

TATAK LB: Mang Nestor of Brgy. Maahas

by Johanna Marie Drece, Joie April Lanuzga, and Yunika Ysa Lasic

Every Friday, Nestor Pamulaklakin proudly sells his organically grown vegetables in the front steps of the Los Baños Municipal Office. At 74, Mang Nestor still enjoys farming in his humble little farm in Brgy. Maahas in Los Banos, Laguna.

Mang Nestor is only one of the current organic farmers of Los Baños, Laguna under the Techno-Sakahan Community hosted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development-Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST) in partnership with the Gender and Development Office (GAD). He maintains and prunes the model farm in Brgy. Maahas where he also earns a living.

At one point in his life, Mang Nestor was also a farmer practicing chemical farming. He was accustomed to using commercial products such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides laden with chemicals to increase his harvest. But at the back of his mind, he thought about the safety of his harvest. “Minsan  ‘yung produkto mo, nag-aalala ka habang kumakain, gawa ng may lason,” he said.

Because Mang Nestor knew the ways of chemical farming, he developed a keen eye in examining vegetables. “Kapag bibili ka sa palengke ng ampalayang ang gaganda tapos wala man lamang sira, umasa kang may chemicals ‘yun.” He explained that these fruits are soaked in chemical-filled containers and then harvested right after a day.

“May may lason ka nang nakakain,” he said. Mang Nestor soon realized that the chemical fertilizer he used degraded the natural nutrients of the soil as well the microorganisms in it. His plants were overdosed with chemicals, withering them out eventually. From that experience, he thought of doing ‘regular composting’ wherein he gathered dry grasses and leaves which he deposited into his self-made ground wells. He waited for six months up to a year for the dry grasses and leaves to decay and decompose. He then removed the upper portion and took the soil underneath it and mixed it with humus. Decomposing is a long process, Mang Nestor said, but he was not in a rush for he knew that great things take a long time. He patiently waited until it is ready to be used as a fertilizer.

Mang Nestor’s transition from chemical to organic farming started when he inquired at the Department of Agriculture. He was eager to learn because he knew he still lacked proper knowledge regarding organic farming. It was a lucky coincidence for Mang Nestor because the Department of Agriculture was then looking for co-operators of a new project titled “Enhancing Gender-Sensitive Organic Vegetable Production Livelihood Enterprise for Low-Income Communities of Los Banos Laguna”. So without any hesitation, he joined the orientation. Every Tuesday for six months, he attended trainings and seminars with other farmers until he felt that he was ready to start organic farming. The Department taught them to avoid using toxic chemicals and commercial fertilizers. They regularly visit Mang Nestor’s farm to check if he really is using natural organic methods in his farm.

Mang Nestor and the other farmers also learned how to enhance the soil’s nutrients and to bring back its fertility. One example is Green Manuring – the process of using plants as humus instead of the actual manure of animals.

First, they will prepare the land, wherein they will plough and crush the soil and leave it to be aerated for two weeks. From then, they will scatter mongo seeds in the area.

“Kasi ang mongo, legumes yan. Ang roots nyan, may nodules nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Kaya bago bumunga o bumulaklak ‘yung mongo, inaararo ulit namin yan at hinahalo na sa lupa,” Mang Nestor explained.

According to Mang Nestor, organic farming plays a vital role in the community. Because the farmers supply the food of the community, they should be careful in the production of their vegetables. Consumers are mostly dependent on them in terms of the nutrition that they get in their meals. Farmers should be responsible in the methods they used to produce vegetables, Mang Nestor added.

He also stressed that it is not only the consumers who are affected by the use of harmful chemicals in farming. Even the farmers are negatively affected as well. “Sana, huwag na silang gumamit ng pesticides dahil hindi lang consumers yung apektado. Sila ding farmers. Napakamahal na nga, nakaka-cause pa ng iba’t-ibang sakit sa katawan. Nade-degrade din yung quality ng lupa kasi namamatay yung mga IMO o Indigenous Microorganisms na natural na nagpapataba sa lupa. Kaya ngayon, nalulugi na nga sila, nagkakasakit pa,” he insisted.

If only farmers would choose to farm organically, then they would also experience the peace that comes from knowing fully well that what they cook and what they make their families eat are healthy and free from farming chemicals.

“Unang-una, panatag ang kalooban ko na kahit anong gulay ang ipakain ko sa aking pamilya ay safe sila at malusog. Isa pa ay kahit papaano, kahit kakaunti, may dumarating akong pera at may naitutulong ako sa pamilya ko. Hindi na kasi ako nakapagtatrabaho gawa nang wala nang tumatanggap dahil matanda. Dahil sa organic farming, hindi na rin ako gumagastos masyado sa pesticides kasi mga natural yung ginagamit ko,” said Mang Nestor.

Some of these natural farming technologies are 1) Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) that helps in making the plants bear fruits and vegetables, 2) Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) that aids in making the plants grow healthier and more robust, 3) Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) that assist the soil to provide more nutrients to the plants, and 4) Vermi-Composting, which makes use of African night crawlers in decomposing biodegradable materials which serve as soil fertilizer.

For the FPJ, Mang Nestor says not all plant parts can be used. Only legumes and pod-bearing plants like ipil-ipil, acacia and malunggay can be used because of their high nitrogen content. Mang Nestor mixes two teaspoons of FPJ in a liter of water and he uses this mixture once every week to water the soil. Not surprisingly, it is not just the farmers who benefit from organic farming. The consumers who are the main market of organic produce are also given the chance to eat healthy food and be proud in what they eat.

Panatag ang loob nila na walang chemical yung kinakain nila. Masustanya yung kinakain dahil masustansya rin yung pinanggalingan. At syempre mas sasaya sila kasi nga alam nila na healthy at natural yung gulay,” Mang Nestor encouraged.

Based on his observations, Mang Nestor said that consumers must be careful when buying vegetables in the market. He even made use of the regular eggplant that can be bought from the market as an example.

He said that most people would buy flawless eggplants rather than the ones with holes in them. But according to Mang Nestor, the reason why those shiny eggplants look so perfect is because they were soaked in pesticides.

“Ang i-aadvice ko sa consumers, maging mapagmatyag sa pagbili at piliin ang bibilhin. Itanong kung saan galing ang produkto at kung anong klaseng pagpapatubo yung ginagamit dito. Pamalagiin nila ang pagkain ng organic product kahit sabihin na hindi yun ang ginagawa ng karamihan,” he said.

While he is aware that a lot of farmers are still practicing chemical farming, he also knows that there are a lot of people who want to start anew with organic farming.

Sa mga technology at knowledge na na-acquire ko sa different trainings at seminars sa LGU (Local Government Unit) natin, pwede akong mag-advice at kung maaari ay mag-lecture,” he said. He even encourages his neighbors and friends to plant vegetables in their own small backyards. He said that even in cemented spaces, one can still grow vegetables through container gardening. If the space becomes too small for the growing plants, one can use strings and wires to hang them known as aerial gardening.

“Maraming ways. Kung ayaw mo, maraming dahilan. ‘Pag gusto mo, maraming paraan,” Mang Nestor said. Mang Nestor’s depth of understanding, skill, and experience in organic farming makes him an exceptional farmer in the field. His achievements are seen in the trophies, medallions and certificates displayed in his home. He is also known as a farmer who is generous, kindhearted, and professional.

Mang Nestor also has a strong faith in God.

“Ang pinaka-importante sa lahat bago ka mag-umpisa magtrabaho, ang bunga niyan, hindi akin. Bigay lang sa akin ng Panginoong Diyos yan. Maski anong gawin ko, maski anong training ko, kung hindi kaloob ng Diyos, kung hindi ka hihingi ng awa, ewan. At kung nagtanim ka at hindi mo sinamahan ng malasakit at pag-ibig, hindi ka magkaka-ani. Pagkatanim mo, pabayaan mo, hindi ka makakapagpabunga. Kaya kailangan diyan ay alagaan mo.”

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Brgy. Tuntungin-Putho ipinagdiwang ang Youth Week

Ni Kon. Dory Lagman

Inilunsad ng Brgy. Tuntungin-Putho ang isang linggong pagdiriwang ng Youth Week mula Oktubre 26-31, 2014 sa pangunguna ng Sangguniang barangay at ng Taskforce for Youth.  Nagkaroon ng iba’t-ibang gawain ang barangay sa loob ng isang linggo kung saan nakilahok din ang mga mag-aaral ng Tuntungin-Putho National High School.

Nakilahok ang ilang mag-aaral sa isinagawang slogan at poster making contest noong Oktubre 27.

Ang nasabing selebrasyon na may temang “Laban Kabataan; Droga ay Iwasan” ay pinasimulan ng isang parada na nangampanya laban sa droga.  Sinundan ito ng slogan and poster making contest noong Oktubre 27.  Ginanap naman noong Oktubre 28-29 ang livelihood program para sa mga kabataan partikular sa mga out of school youth. Oktubre 30 naman ginanap ang Amazing Race habang ang trick or treat at Halloween Party ay isinagawa noong Oktubre 31.

Nagbigay ng mensahe si Chief Inspector Ricardo Dalmacia, Los Baños chief of police, sa mga kabataan patungkol sa pag-iwas sa droga.

Parol ng pagkakaisa

ni Jeanette I. Talag, presidente ng LBFPWD

Muling nagpamalas ng kagalingan ang mga miyembro ng Los Baños Federation of Persons’ with Disabilities (LBFPWD) sa kanilang nilikhang parol.  May taas na limang talampakan ang kanilang parol na kanilang isinali sa Parol Contest ng munisipyo ng Los Baños.  Kabilang ang kanilang likha sa 22 parol na naisumite sa munisipyo noong ika-30 ng Nobyembre.

Bagamat hindi pinalad na manalo, masaya ang samahan sa kanilang naipamalas na pagkakaisa sa paggawa ng sariling parol.  Ito ang kanilang unang pagkakataon na sumali sa isang Parol Contest.

International PWD Day ng Laguna Federation, isinagawa

ni Jeanette I. Talag, presidente ng LBFPWD

Nakilahok ang Los Baños Federation of Persons with Disabilities sa selebrasyon ng International PWD Day ng Laguna Federation of Persons with Disabilities noong Nobyembre 20, 2014 na ginanap sa Cultural Center ng Sta. Cruz Laguna.  Kabilang din sa mga nakisaya ay ang iba pang mga samahan ng mga may kapansanan mula sa Region IV-A.

Nagtanghal ang mga miyembo ng iba’t-ibang samahan ng kanilang angking talento.  Hindi nagpahuli ang ilan mula sa grupo ng Persons’ with Intellectual Disability sa pag-awit at pagsayaw.  Mayroon ding mga bingi na sumayaw sa modernong saliw at umawit ng mga medley.  Marami ang nagpakitang gilas sa pag-awit na tila mga propesyonal.

Ipinagdiriwang ang International PWD Day tuwing Disyembre ng bawat taon.