Nu Wave Farmer: Timi James Manching

Posted on August 16, 2014 by rbvillar

by Jabez Flores

Don’t let your degree define what you have to do in life. Defying all odds and going against conventional wisdom, traditional learning, and standard collegiate expectations; Timi James Manching “transplanted” his introverted computer science skills to the liberating fields of the organic farm – where the birds sing joyfully and the smell of sweet basil becomes one with the wind.

I met Timi in 2011 during the height of Cafe Antonio Sessions. At that time, we were both involved in this tight-knit community of indie musicians based in Los Banos. He was playing violin and singing back-up vocals for the band, Pathway.

A BS Computer Science student at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, 23-year-old Timi revealed to me his interest in organic agriculture while I was enrolled in the first offering of the Organic Agriculture course at the UP Open University. Prior to that conversation, I had no idea that he was interested in growing vegetables and living a sustainable and simple life.

At times we would sit in my porch, have lemongrass tea and talk about his dreams of becoming an urban gardener. In response, I would share my learnings from organic agriculture and permaculture. His eagerness to learn gave me hope for the younger generation. I could sense that he would be a good example to his peers in the campus.

“It’s about systems thinking. That’s what attracted me to farming, specifically permaculture design. Because that’s what we study in computer science, it’s all about systems,” Timi told me while we were making seedling flats out of used pallets and listening to music at Kainos Farm.

At present, Timi actively participates in farming chores with Tara Farms in Bay on Tuesdays; a couple of organic gardens in Los Baños on Wednesdays; and in Kainos Farm on Thursdays and Fridays. He also joined me last June for a Bamboo Training Workshop conducted by Cabiokid Foundation in Laur, Nueva Ecija together with our friends from Transition Community Initiative Philippines and Good Food Community. After that, our group of Nu Wave Farmers, also called The Mulching Matsing, was invited for the Luntiang Lunes segment of Oras na Pilipinas at 702 DZAS.

“Though I’m delayed [in college], at least I discovered during my long stay here what I really want to do with my life. When I graduate, I will work in the farm.”

Now that’s a dream worth pursuing!

#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 masters degree 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.

Los Baños to have austere celebration of Bañamos Festival

Posted on August 14, 2014 by rbvillar

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 399^th 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

Posted on August 14, 2014 by rbvillar

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 33^rd 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 14^th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment held on September 25 in Surabaya, Indonesia. The mountain became the 33^rd ASEAN Heritage Park and the 5^th 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 4^th 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!

Posted on August 13, 2014 by rbvillar

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

Posted on July 23, 2014 by rbvillar

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).

Los Baños Times

Serving Los Baños and Nearby Communities since 1983