Author Archives: rbvillar

Los Baños to hold SyenSaya 2014 in September

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by Delfin Laforteza, Public Information Officer, Municipality of Los Baños

The Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI) steering committee decided to move SyenSaya 2014 from August 6-8 to September 10-12 after assessing the damage of typhoon Glenda last July 15. Moving SyenSaya to a later date will give more time for the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the host institution, to fully repair some facilities and clear the debris within the venue.

Wonderama, an interactive science learning exhibit, will be held at the Copeland Hall of UPLB during the three-day festival. This exhibit will be participated in by most of the members of LBSCFI. A techno forum on the hydrometeorological profile and disaster preparedness of Los Baños is scheduled on September 11 at the UPLB’s CEC (Continuing Education Center) auditorium.

Los Baños to have austere celebration of Bañamos Festival

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by Deflin Laforteza, Public Information Officer, Municipality of Los Baños

Los Baños will celebrate a two-day Bañamos Festival with austere but meaningful activities on September 17 and 20. The Bañamos steering committee headed by Mayor Caesar P. Perez decided to have a very simple celebration due to moral and financial considerations brought about by typhoon Glenda. The celebration will start with a civic parade on the morning of September 17 followed by a program to commemorate the town’s 399th Foundation Day.  The Barangay Night will cap the first day of celebration. Meanwhile, an evening concert will be staged on September 20 which will be followed by a grand revelry.

[PRESS RELEASE] Stakeholders form Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve Advisory Council

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by Delfin Laforteza, Public Information Officer, Municipality of Los Baños

In order to effectively manage, conserve and protect Mt. Makiling, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) spearheaded the organization of the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve Stakeholders Advisory Council (MMFR-SAC) through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The signing ceremony was held at the Nicolas Lansigan Auditorium at the UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources on July 30. It was also highlighted by the unveiling of the 33rd ASEAN Heritage Park Marker.

Mayor Caesar P. Perez (center) signs the MOA together with Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz (left) of UPLB and Mayor Bruno T. Ramos (right) of Bay, Laguna.

The signatories to the agreement include UPLB; provinces of Laguna and Batangas; City of Calamba; municipalities of Los Baños, Bay, and Sto. Tomas; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Region 4A; Department of Tourism (DOT) – Region 4; DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau; Laguna Lake Development Authority; Laguna Water District; Calamba Water District; Philippine National Police – Region 4A; and Alab Makiling-Farmers Association.

Under this agreement, the 24 stakeholders acknowledge their responsibilities and will initiate more collective efforts to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem services and protection of Mt. Makiling.

To assist the council in accomplishing their objectives, different committees were created, namely, biodiversity protection and law enforcement; ecotourism; water resources and sustainable use; communication, education and public awareness; resource generation; legal concerns; and research, development and monitoring.

A technical working group was also formed composed of the heads of the following offices: Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME); the Municipal/City Environment and Natural Resources Offices of Los Baños, Bay, Sto. Tomas and Calamba; DENR Region 4A; and DOT Region 4A.  MCME will serve as the secretariat while the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and GIZ of Germany will serve as advisers.

ASEAN dignitaries and officials present the certificate declaring the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve as an ASEAN Heritage Park to Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz of the University of the Philippines Los Baños as representative of all the stakeholders within the vicinity of the mountain.

The stakeholders council was created after a series of meetings initiated by MCME and ACB with the municipalities of Los Baños and Sto. Tomas following the declaration of Mt. Makiling as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP).

Mount Makiling’s nomination as an AHP was approved in 2013 during the 14th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment held on September 25 in Surabaya, Indonesia. The mountain became the 33rd ASEAN Heritage Park and the 5th for the Philippines which include Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, and Mt. Malindang Natural Park. It is the first for Luzon and the first managed by an academic institution. The approval of Mt. Makiling’s nomination as an ASEAN Heritage Park was due to its use as a natural laboratory for scientists, and a favorite destination for tourists with its peaks and hot springs as attractions.

Manuel Gerochi, Undersecretary for Planning and Policy of the Department of Environment and Natural   Resources (DENR), who represented Secretary Ramon Paje during the opening ceremonies of the 4th ASEAN Heritage Park Conference, announced the declaration. On October 3, 2013, the certification of declaration was presented by the officials of ACB to the officials of UPLB and the surrounding towns and park managers during a ceremony held in Mt. Makiling Botanical Gardens in Los Baños, Laguna. Also present were officials from DENR. In a statement by ACB Executive Director Roberto V. Oliva, he said that the AHPs are a network of national protected areas of high conservation importance that aims to create greater awareness and appreciation for ASEAN’s rich natural heritage.

The declaration of Mt. Makiling as an AHP and the formation of the MMFR-SAC are welcome developments. Although it is not a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System Law but a forest reserve under the management of UPLB, this title together with the MMFR-SAC MOA will open opportunities for more local and international support.

Nalalapit na ang Kasalang Bayan 2014!

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SA MGA NAGNANAIS NA MAKASAL NANG LIBRE AT NAIS MAKIBAHAGI SA OKASYONG ITO, MANGYARI PO LAMANG NA MAKIPAG-UGNAYAN SA OPISINA NG GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE (GAD) sa 2nd floor New Municipal Building, o tumawag sa (049) 530 2818 local 202 o mag-text kina Bb. Nannet 09993936707 at Bb. Arline 09263619271 bago mag Septembre 30, 2014.Ang proyektong ito ay bahagi ng Kautusan Blg. 2013-2140 na nagtatakda ng pagsasagawa ng Kasalang Bayan tuwing buwan ng Disyembre at Pebrero ng kada taon. Ito ay pinagtibay noong Hulyo 29, 2013.

ANONG MGA SERTIPIKO AT SERBISYONG WALANG BABAYARAN?

1) Application fee (P250)
2) Marriage License fee (P150)
3) Solemnization fee (P100)
4) Family planning/counselling fee & certificate (P100)
5) Cenomar (P195)
6) Notarial fee
7) Service fee

ANO ANG MGA KAILANGAN PARA MAKASAMA SA KASALANG BAYAN?
1) Katunayan o sertipiko na walang kakayahang pinansiyal mula sa punong barangay kung saan nakatira at
2) Katunayan o sertipiko na walang kakayahang pinansiyal mula sa namumuno ng Lokal na Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Lanie Malihan: Reyna ng Ultramarathon

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ni Aletheia G. Canubas

“Pangarap ko talagang matakbo ang buong Pilipinas at ang mensahe ko habang tumatakbo ay pangalagaan ang kapaligiran. Ayaw ko kasing mangyari uli ang nangyari noon sa [Bagyong] Yolanda.”

Ipinapakita ng pangarap na ito ang mga bagay na mahalaga kay Melanie A. Malihan – ang pagtakbo at ang kalikasan.

Bagama’t tubong Bay, sa Los Baños na nahubog ang pagmamahal at talento ni Lanie, 30, sa pagtakbo. Nagsimula siyang sumama sa isang kaibigang mananakbo noong 2006. “Patakbo-takbo lang ako noon,” ani Lanie.

“Sumasama sa training namin yan noon, hindi pa tama ang basic running posture at naka-tsinelas pa,” ani Coach Nick Gandeza, ang running coach ni Lanie mula taong 2009 hanggang sa kasalukuyan.

Nagsimula siya ng ‘focused at seryosong’ pagtakbo noong 2009. Ang mga running outfit at gadgets ni Lanie ay kalimitang bigay ng mga kasamahan sa Laguna de Bay Running Team. “Ipinanghiram ko rin siya ng running shoes. Medyo malaki sa kanya yung naipahiram at para siyang penguin pero tumatakbo pa rin siya. Napaka-determinado,” dagdag ni Coach Nick.

Sa ngayon, full-time siyang tumatakbo. Nag-eensayo siya kada makalawa. Sa programang binigay sa kanya ni Coach Nick, dapat makatakbo siya nang may kabuuang 50 oras mula sa 16 na beses na takbo sa isang buwan o humigit-kumulang tatlong oras kada araw.

Minsan ay tumatakbo siya mula alas singko hanggang alas nuwebe ng umaga o simula alas tres hanggang alas siyete sa gabi bukod pa sa pace work at speed training. “Depende sa pakiramdam mo, kailangan kasing makinig sa katawan,” sabi ni Lanie. Ang mga karaniwang ruta ng kanyang ensayo ay mula Bay hanggang Calamba, o Caliraya, o San Pablo at pabalik sa Bay.  Nag-eensayo din siya sa UPLB. “Magandang training ground ang campus, pati pang-high altitude sa may National Arts Center, sa Jamboree, sa Mud Spring, at Mt. Makiling Rainforest Park,” ani Coach Nick Gandeza.

Tuwing Linggo, isinasagawa niya ang Long, Slow Distance training (LSD) na inaabot ng 6-8 oras na takbo na may kasamang walking breaks. Ito ay para sa mga ultramarathon runs niya.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang pinaka-malayong distansya sa karera na natakbo na ni Lanie ay ang 2014 Bataan Death March (BDM 102) Ultramarathon Race na may layong 102 kilometro (km).

Sa nasabing paligsahan, nakuha ni Lanie ang unang pwesto sa mga kababaihan at pangalawa sa lahat ng mahigit 300 na tumakbo. Nagtala siya ng oras na 11:18:24 – ito rin ang bagong record ng mga kababaihan sa BDM Ultramarathon Race para sa 102 km.

Nakuha din niya ang ikalawang pwesto sa mga babae mula sa 405 na nakilahok sa Mayon 360˚ Ultramarathon Race na may distansyang 80 km. Nanalo din siya sa ginanap na Independence Day Ultramarathon noong Hunyo 15, 2014 sa Kawit, Cavite, kung saan siya ay nagtala ng oras na 5:57:59 para sa    54 km na takbuhan.

Pinapayuhan lamang ni Coach Nick si Lanie ng mga dapat niyang sundin upang manatiling malusog at malakas para sa ensayo at mga karera. Si Lanie na mismo ang naghahanda ng masustansyang pagkain, nagsisiguradong walong oras ang kanyang tulog, at umiiwas sa mga bisyo gaya ng pag-inom at paninigarilyo.

Pagkatapos ng mga mahabang takbuhan, may dalawang araw si Lanie na recovery period. “Kailangang ipahinga ang mga muscles at tissues sa katawan,” aniya.

Kung walang karera at kung hindi nag-eensayo, masaya si Lanie sa simpleng buhay sa bukid. “Laking bukid kasi talaga ako – nagtatanim sa palayan, namimingwit sa sapa, ganun.” Mayroong tindahan dati si Lanie pero natigil ito dahil walang nakaka-pag-bantay. “Nag-iipon na uli ako para mabuksan ko yung tindahan,” dagdag ni Lanie.

Ayon sa mga tala ng kanyang pagsali sa mga karera at time trials kasama ang mga teammate, halos 1,600 km na ang kabuuang layo na natatakbo ni Lanie mula 2011 hanggang 2014.  Hindi pa kasama ang halos araw-araw na kanyang tinatakbo para sa ensayo.  Sa 72 karerang kanyang sinalihan, nakuha niya ang unang pwesto sa 32 pagkakataon.

Hindi na malayo sa pangarap niyang matakbo ang buong Pilipinas na ayon sa nationsencyclopedia.com ay may habang 1,851 km mula timog-timog silangan hanggang hilaga-hilagang kanluran. “Pinaplano na namin yan pero sa tingin ko ‘pag 40 years old na si Lanie namin yan magandang ituloy,” ani Coach Nick.

Ayon kay Coach Nick, kailangan ng matinding pagpa-plano, pag-eensayo, at suporta ang ganitong takbuhin.

Sa lahat ng ito, hindi kuntento si Lanie na tumakbo lamang para manalo. “Ayoko ng takbo lang nang takbo, gusto ko iyong pagtakbo nakakatulong din sa community ko,” sabi niya.

Sa nalalapit na hinaharap ay matutupad ni Lanie ang kanyang pangarap na takbuhin ang buong Pilipinas kasama ang kanyang mensahe na pangalagaan ang kapaligiran. Sa ngayon, patuloy siyang nag-eensayo para sa mga ultramarathon races na kanyang sasalihan at ipapanalo.

Upang malaman kung paano masuportahan si Lanie Malihan sa kanyang mga karera, makipag-ugnayan lamang kay Coach Nick Gandeza o bisitahin ang kanilang Facebook Page (Laguna de Bay Running Team).

[The Mulching Matsing] Nu Wave Farmers

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By Jabez Joshua M. Flores

It’s the same old song. The farmers are getting older and the kids are getting smarter. So they flee from the “probinsya” to pursue dead-end jobs in the city. Everywhere in the world it’s the same. Farming, as a profession, has never really gotten any amount of “cool” compared to mainstream professions such as engineering or medicine. Farming has always been known as something that you do when you don’t finish school. Farming is what happens when your teacher angrily tells you to “go home and plant kamote.”

But like everything in this world, change is bound to happen. And people are starting to understand and see life in its entirety rather than in bits and pieces; holistic systems thinking in place of analytic linear thinking; advocacy rather than ambition; and spending time instead of spending money.

However, these changes did not happen overnight. And it’s not going to be a fad either. Mother Earth herself is pushing us to change our ways. The way we farm, the way we eat, and the way we live.

Enter the Nu Wave Farmers—by strict definition, farmers born in the 1980s (hence the Nu Wave label referring to the popular music genre of that decade), but also includes new organic farmers who emerged from the early 2000s to present. Enlightened, inspired, motivated and artfully cash-free, these farmers see a bright new future for farming. And not just any kind of farming but ORGANIC farming.

When Organic Agriculture was first offered as a 16-week non-formal/continuing education course at the UP Open University in 2012, it signaled the beginning of a new era for organic agriculture. An era wherein tech-savvy farmers, young and old, armed with digital cameras, smart phones, and crazy social networking skills would begin to make noise and buzz en masse like a cloud of bumblebees.

The online course itself was a radical step in the first place. While searching for a venue to teach the organic agriculture modules, university researchers Dr. Blesilda Calub and Dr. Edna Matienzo of the Agricultural Systems Cluster in UPLB, made a left turn to UPOU and turned to the Faculty of Management and Development Studies, headed by Dean Dr. Inocencio Buot Jr., for some love and appreciation. The course was accepted and after producing four batches of organic agriculture graduates since 2012, I guess it’s safe to say that things really worked out well and even exceeded the course’s expectations.

Who are the Nu Wave Farmers and what do they do? You’ll find out soon.

Kids who got tired looking for decent-paying jobs in the city;
Kids who got fed up with office work and routine;
Kids who felt that they were meant for so much more;
These are smart kids who long to express themselves and make a difference in this monochromatic world.

#NuWaveFarmers

Jabez Flores is an organic farmer and permaculture designer for Kainos Farm in Calamba, Laguna. He maintains his own garden in Los Baños called Daang Kalabaw Community Garden. He finished BA Sociology at UP Los Baños in 2007; Certificate in Organic Agriculture at UPOU in 2012; Basic Permaculture Design at Cabiokid Foundation, Nueva Ecija in 2014; and is currently taking up his master’s in Environment and Natural Resources Management specializing in Upland Resources Management at UPOU. He also teaches Personal Entrepreneurial Development at UPOU. To know more about what Jabez, visit his blog and The Mulching Matsing Facebook Page.
The Mulching Matsing is a column dedicated to encouraging the community members, especially the youth, to engage in organic farming.