“Masagana 2020” – Learning From Mr Marcos & Masagana 99

Today, Friday, 30 October 2020, some 48 years after Martial Law, someone sent me a Facebook PM on “‘Marcos’ M-99 A Failure’: Perfect Illustration Of The Yellow Mindset[1],” the column of Rigoberto D Tiglao that appears in the 03 June 2020 issue of the Manila Times.net. Now that I have read the whole column:

I am reminded where the farmers failed Masagana 99!
And I don’t want that to happen to the New PH Agriculture under Secretary of Agriculture William Dar.

(1)   Yes, Masagana 99 succeeded for PH rice farmers.

(2)   Yes, (some) PH rice farmers sabotaged Masagana 99!

Mr Tiglao says:

The claim that the dictator Marcos’ Masagana 99 (M-99) program was a total failure is an excellent example of the Yellows’ invented, Manichaean narrative of that era – that it was the country’s Dark Age, that absolutely nothing good came out of it.

Mr Marcos declared a land reform program, whereby all lands of 5 hectares or more owned by a single individual were put under control by the government.

In retaliation against the agrarian reform program launched by Marcos, landlords reduced, and even in some areas totally ceased, extending credit to their tenants. All these factors led to an unprecedented 20 percent fall in palay (unmilled rice) production in 1972.

Mr Marcos had to do something. Mr Tiglao says:

Marcos’ technocrats – principally his much-admired agriculture secretary Arturo Tanco… had to design and implement the M-99 program. It was not formulated out of the blue by academics but was based on Tanco’s experience as President of the World Food Council and (member of the board of trustees) of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Masagana 99 succeeded – I was in and out of UP Los Baños when that happened. Rice yields went up from 1.7 metric tons/ha in 1970 to the current 4 MT/ha.

It was a bold experiment that channeled from 1973 an estimated P4.5 billion (P240 billion in today’s value) in loans at concessional rates to small farmers, for them to adopt new rice varieties and technology. It was the first such massive credit program for small farmers in our country, which even socialists would hail as it meant a transfer of financial assets to the poorest sectors to be used for production.

Aye, and there’s the rub!

I was a member of the Jaycees in Los Baños in those years, and we were hearing true stories of:

educated people taking advantage of Masagana 99 loans, borrowing for 1 farm and not paying back; then borrowing for a 2^nd farm and not paying back that 2^ndloan either, etc.

And that happened all over the Philippines, so Masagana 99 failed after it succeeded.

The banks had so much money that you got the loans you wanted if you captured their hearts.

Today, I recommend Masagana 2020, emphasizing National Renewal. More the Heart.

Already there is so much money waiting for borrowers for agriculture that I want to tell the Du30 Government to Please Be Careful With Your Heart!@

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[1]https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/06/03/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/marcos-m-99-a-failure-perfect-illustration-of-the-yellow-mindset/729063/?fbclid=IwAR3Z6Y0nCzFGSdMRFdUbMs6xAgkwYhh3uQloh6ZN6PpSlRWV0I0Bd55C8hE

Lesson From Rabiya Mateo – If You Know You Are Good, Focus On Winning. Now, Let Losers Focus On Whining!

Some contestants claimed loudly that 
Miss Iloilo Rabiya Mateo did notdeserve 
to be the new Miss Universe Philippines.

Grapes.

I write to prove to you that she
well deserved the title!

The Miss Universe Philippines finals was held 25 October 2020 in Baguio City at the Baguio Country Club (ANN, 27 October 2020, “Rabiya Mateo Addresses Post-Coronation Intrigue: 'I Need To Focus On My Real Goals'[1],” Rappler.com). During the event, there was zero audience, following lockdown protocols. In a TV 5 interview with MJ Marfori aired Monday, 26 October, “Rabiya defended herself and said the controversies were painful, but she decided to take the high road.”

At the end of the day, this is a competition. And being the bigger person in the picture, I need to understand where they are coming from. That’s what a queen should do and (how she) should act.

She understands that when you aim high and fall short, you feel frustrated – and you look for excuses.

And naintinidhan ko naman po (And I understand them), but at the end of the day, I need to focus myself on my real goals – which (are) to win and bring honor to my country.

Hello Universe, here she comes!

The losing candidates – never mind their names and their number – were claiming “that questions were given to her in advance” – insinuating that that’s how she got her answers right and well. Ah, but Rabiya is a cum laude!

Jeline Malasig says (26 October 2020, “Alessandra De Rossi, Pageant Fans Want ‘Tea’ Spilled As Cryptic Posts Fan Controversy In Miss Universe Philippines 2020,” Interaksyon.philstar.com); in an Instagram story on Sunday, Miss Davao City Alaiza Malinao shared:

So deserving!!! Siya lang po nagme-makeup sa sarili niya. (She was alone applying makeup on herself.)

Habang naghihintay kami sa holding area, si Rabiya nasa gilid ‘yan nagpa-practice mag-Q&A! (While we were waiting at the holding area, Rabiya was on the side practicing Q&A!)

Nung prelims, rumarampa ‘yan sa hallway, sa labas ng holding area namin para mag-practice ng swimsuit walk niya. MASIPAG si Dzai. (During the prelims, she was doing the ramp at the hallway, outside the holding area, practicing her swimsuit walk. Dzai is hardworking.)

I have just googled, and found the appellation “Dzai” a revelation. “The… name Dzai stands for power, practicality, ambition, success, inspiration and discipline[2]” – Meaningslike.com). That’s our Miss Universe Philippines.

Rabiya did her best, and her best was good enough!

She worked hard! She’s fair! She did not cheat. She is a deserving winner! Congratulations @rabiyamateo our Miss Universe Philippines 2020! She is our queen!

I can’t say more after Miss Davao City Alaiza Malinao has spoken.

In that TV 5 interview, Rabiya said:

To be honest po, maybe because I wasn’t a frontrunner, so people didn’t expect me to win. But I know that I did everything and anything that I could during that night. And binigay ko talaga.(And I gave everything.)

A real queen gives everything!@517

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[1]https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/miss-universe-philippines-2020-rabiya-mateo-response-accusations?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1CyY3yQNHe5KZuqrQkqifxOuRPWGXFpjL9U-EU3-1Dpmg8gVXq7Yxts6M#Echobox=1603790783
[2]http://www.meaningslike.com/lastnames/name-stands-for/dzai

Rabiya Mateo Is Miss Universe Philippines – High IQ, Pretty Face, Pulchritudinous Body, Perfect Answer! And Heart Of Gold

Now then, I am 100% sure that the 
next Miss Universe proclaimed 
will come from the Philippines: 
Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City.

High IQ – 
She is 24 years old, 5 foot 6, licensed physical therapist, and graduated cum laude (with honors) from the Iloilo Doctors Colleges[1] (Eton B Concepcion, manilastandard.net). She is Miss Iloilo 2020. Her name Rabiya means queen[2]; so she is the rare royalty with the high IQ. (above left image. with face masks[3] from Preview.ph, right image[4] from Rappler.com)

Pretty face –
Rabiya’s father is Indian, mother Ilongga (no names that I saw). Her dad left them many years ago, no reasons I can find, so I guess “Mateo” is actually the mother’s surname, for convenience. From the limited top-down view of a photo that Rabiya has shown, he looks good-looking, hence the beauteous daughter. How does a daughter grow up without a father figure? Well, Rabiya triumphed!

Pulchritudinous Body –
“Pulchritudinous” means “having great physical beauty” or “delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration[5]” – I did not say that! TheFreeDictionary.com did. For Rabiya, a perfect word.

Perfect Answer! –
To the question, “If you could create a new paper currency with the image of any Filipino on it, dead or alive, who would it be, and why?” she gave this perfect response (Bea Cupin, 26 October 2020, “Meet Rabiya Mateo, Miss Universe Philippines 2020[6],” Rapppler.com):

If I were given the chance, I would want to use the face of Miriam Defensor-Santiago. For those who don't know, she was an Ilongga, but what I admire about her is that she used her knowledge, her voice to serve the country, and I want to be somebody like her, somebody who puts her heart, her passion into action, and after all, she is the best President that we never had.

Heart of Gold – 
I can see now that Rabiya is going to acquire more knowledge and will use her Miss Universe voice to serve her country forever and ever – after serving the Universe 1 year, of course! She is going to be like the other distinguished Ilongga, Miriam, and put her knowledge, voice, heart and passion into action. She may even become the best Ilongga President we never had!

In fact, she has already started with the youth. Bea Cupin says (26 October 2020, “Meet Rabiya Mateo, Miss Universe Philippines 2020[7],” Rapppler.com):

During the preliminary interviews, Rabiya said the youth should “invest in (themselves),” particularly because of the noise that’s all too common both online and in real life. When you practice self-love, you get to know the right weapon in order for you to win life. I feel like right now I am ripe enough to win the competition because I've done everything that I could to become the phenomenal woman that I am," she said, without even skipping a beat.

I see Rabiya Mateo, Miss Universe Philippines, 
has 20-20 vision. She sees many things we don’t!@517

 

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[1]https://manilastandard.net/showbitz/celebrity-profiles/337036/standard-s-choice-miss-universe-philippines-fearless-forecast.html

[2]https://manilastandard.net/showbitz/celebrity-profiles/337036/standard-s-choice-miss-universe-philippines-fearless-forecast.html

[3]https://www.preview.ph/culture/10-facts-trivia-rabiya-mateo-miss-universe-philippines-2020?ref=article_feed_1

[4]https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/miss-universe-philippines-2020-top-5-question-answer-transcript?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2wSCiSbWAPilxR_NhTl6RAiWMUZUQdBBk8ytvx8wlPL7jm_e01x6iRzC0

[5]https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Pulchritudinous

[6]https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/things-to-know-rabiya-mateo-miss-universe-philppines-2020-winner

[7]https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/things-to-know-rabiya-mateo-miss-universe-philppines-2020-winner

“brainstarming” – A Creative Approach In Communication For Development In Agriculture

You want to learn creative thinking leading to creative writing? Or you want a different kind of Editor? Try me, original Ilocano aboriginal. This is a guru of 45 years speaking. This is one way I can celebrate my 80 years, plus 1 month, of being me, thank God!

Just read. Here’s the me you probably don’t know who can help you in your Journalism for Agriculture – read on, this is free!

Today, Saturday, 24 October 2020, this brainstorm has been triggered by the Facebook sharing of Bruno Martinuzzi, “Virtual Brainstorming Tips And Tricks[1]” (22 October 2020, MindTools.com). Too bad, in group brainstorming, Mr Martinuzzi differentiates virtual brainstorming from in-person brainstorming – that’s artificial.

I say, in brainstorming, there is a Team of a Group, and a Team of One. Me, I am a Team of One. And there is virtual proof of what I am saying about myself. Since 2005, I have created more than 100 blogs of different fields. If you will visit one of my blogs, Creative Thinkering, https://creativethinkering.blogspot.com, you can count 971 long essays published, with this tagline: “World’s creative genius online, most prolific writer of non-fiction.” And if you visit another blog, A Magazine Called Love, https://amagazinecalledlove.blogspot.com, you can count 2,293 essays published, with the tagline, “Frank H, World’s most highly original, creative writer online.” 3,264 essays in just 2 blogs – unbelievable!

Now, this new logo & expression is an original Frank A Hilario:
brainstarming
(above main image[2] from Wrike.com)

The basic working concept of brainstarming is that from Edward de Bono, Maltese genius, and he actually calls it the principle of “Po” – the explosive Power of exploiting a suggestion, including a ridiculous or out-of-this-world idea. When brainstorming, says De Bono, even a crazy suggestion is welcome – simply think through the suggestion and a light («) may appear to illuminate the beginning of a great idea next to that crazy one! Out of the blue.

Po. During a brainstorming, alone or with a group, virtual or in-person, any think is acceptable, if crazy;  you say “Po!” and it means, “Put on!” I have been using De Bono’s Po in the last 45 years and it has never failed me.

I am now 80 years old, and have blogged at least 4,000 long essays of at least 1,000 words each (totalling about 5,000,000 words) about knowledge in Agriculture and related fields as they may affect lives positively, especially among the poor farmers; and about creative communication for development –

Why have I not run out of things to say?

There is only 1 reason: brainstarming. (Not to mention dedication and stubbornness working for a single idea – emancipation from poverty of Filipino farmers and their families.)

My creative method, which I now refer to as “brainstarming,” I want to share with anyone interested and/or train online communicators for development in Agriculture. To start, email frankahilario@gmail.com an e-copy of your article, paper, presentation, brochure, or book, and my first complete advice will be free! Why? The pleasure will be mine – and that’s priceless!@517

 

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[1]www.mindtools.com/blog/virtual-brainstorming-tips-and-tricks/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mtpage&fbclid=IwAR2YMcn6IYx86gs3UdQJQtzhW4Edh4LTuXw6WI8oCp3_pt-8muasplRiMhY

[2]https://www.wrike.com/blog/techniques-effective-brainstorming/

DepEd, You Can Teach Better Modular Teaching – If You Listen To My Distance Teaching!

Modular Learning is Out Of This World!

My professional concerns, the
State Colleges & Universities,
are not alarmed – and they should be.
This is a teacher speaking, UP ’65.
(“Out Of This World[1]” image from Amazon.com)

Most of all, the Department of Education,
DepEd, hell-bent on Modular Learning,
should now wake up to the Truth Dragons
stalking students, male & female!

“Now that school and home are the same place” – to change that perspective, we have to change the way we teach.

Modular learning assumes that the home is just another classroom, if individual. So, modular requires that students react as in a normal class, and that is insane!

Modular is crazy! See the images above that I have composed. If you don’t see it at once, it works like this:

On her own, the first girl, the one in the image I superimposed with the title “Out Of This World,” enjoys chasing dragons & butterflies: Girl Blissful.

The second girl is intensely looking into the monitor of her laptop: Girl Bothered. She is Sophia Azcona, the author of the essay “A 17-Year-Old's Thoughts On Happiness During The Pandemic” (20 October 2020, Rappler.com). Lost in thoughts. Thinking these:

I'm the type of person that feels more comfortable
at school than at home.... But now that school
and home are in the same place, my mind,
heart, and soul are confused.

Confused! And I can tell from her whole essay that she is an extraordinary girl. She would be a great writer, but not a great learner – what with the counter-productive Modular Education she is going through.

My personal philosophy helps me get through the hard times, but the lack of physical affection, spontaneity, and connection with teachers and friends does take a big toll.

At home (school), you are alone even if you are not; you are connected even if you are not!

School (is) now taking up most, if not all of a student's time.

If I were a student, I would not mind being preoccupied with school even while at home, provided what I’m doing is not mechanical. And so I believe:

DepEd teachers should be Teaching Thinking
in any and all subjects.

Here’s a surprising thinking example from Agriculture – Planting rice for higher yield using a simple technique: Growing more tillers.

Tillers produce the panicles that produce the palays that produce the harvest – the more tillers your rice seedlings have all over the field, the higher your cavans per hectare.

Do: Transplant single seedlings equidistant from each other, allowing each to grow more tillers.

The Tiller Lesson embedded in those 43 words above, agriculturists know! But they have yet to teach it. The text is from the book in my head – I doubt you can find it in any other teacher’s head. Like student Sophia’s, this teacher’s mind works in freedom.

Thinking freedom is beautiful!

Yes: Think!

The Beauty of Thinking is what should
be taught in any subject in school,
especially when your school is your home!@517

 

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[1]https://www.amazon.com/Out-This-World-Surreal-Carrington/dp/0062441094

National Development – Instead Of The Gender Agenda, Inclusive Approach

The Gender Agenda: 
Is Mexico another (developing) story?

My country PH is a matriarchal society; the voice of the eldest matriarch is especially heard. But not in agriculture, because this one is more science than spirit or soul. The above photograph, from Mariana Gallardo’s article “Rural Development Must Be Feminist Or It Cannot Be ” (04 October 2020, PRiME Training), displaying Mexican women harvesting rice, with someone backpacking a baby – I say shows only paid labor, not inequality.

Miss Mariana says, “To ensure sustainable rural development, it is essential that all rural development policies and programs (be) based on a gender approach.” I say, “Gender is a much limited view.” Following PH Secretary William Dar’s “The New Thinking for Agriculture,” it must be an inclusive approach. I say, “To ensure inclusive development, it is essential that all policies and programs be technically feasible, economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable.” Gender notwithstanding. (development image  from ecdpm.org)

Note that Miss Mariana is talking only of rural development, that is, artificially separating it from urban development – these are yours and these are ours. Mr Dar’s thinking is on inclusive development, where the poor are also actual actors for and accumulators of prosperity as society goes up the rungs fulfilling Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. 

Miss Mariana argues that Mexican women are responsible for almost half of rural production – this only means that many more women than men are employed in production. It is not sex that development is concerned with; I say it is the family, the smallest unit of society. That women contribute much to social progress needs only to be acknowledged, not rewarded in political power over or equal to men.

Miss Mariana says, “This (gender approach) would have a significant impact not only on the rights and quality of life of women but also on the fight against poverty and the reduction of hunger.”

I say, “The dichotomy between urban and rural is artificial, man-made.” Urban society is connected with, indeed, depends upon rural society – the urbanites get their food from the ruralites. Personally, I emphasize family rights, not men’s or women’s rights. The so-called Gender Gap is woman-made! – what is equal is not the same as equitable.

“In addition, 97% of rural women formally employed in agricultural and fishing activities carry out unpaid activities, mainly domestic chores, care work and community work.” Miss Mariana wants household activities, nursing and child care, even volunteer community work paid for one way or the other. But family responsibility cannot be measured – you do it for love of family, not money!

Miss Mariana says:

An equally alarming fact is that according to data from CONEVAL and INMUJERES approximately 90% of women living in rural localities suffer from some form of poverty or are vulnerable due to social deficiencies.

That's the problem with “sociologically” separating women from families – you do say “90% of women… suffer from poverty” but not say “90% of rural families suffer from poverty.” Yours is the imperfect picture of society: Discrimination for females and against families!@517

Saka Gandahan – PH Youth Aggie Entrepreneurship Learning From Danish Folk High School

My coinage: Saka Gandahan has 3 meanings. (1) Farming made beautiful. (2) Then, make it beautiful. (3) In its beauty…

In 2 words, Saka Gandahan is a summary of what I’m thinking of how to teach Filipino youth aggie entrepreneurship, one of the small/big dreams of PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar following his “The New Thinking for Agriculture.” I explain below.

The main image above is that of a long-forgotten Danish folk high school (photograph[1] from Projects Exeter), vintage 1916. I myself had forgotten that I wrote about this type of school already 9 years ago (see my essay, “Reductionist, Long Education. The UP College Of Agriculture, 1909[2],” 05 September 2011, A Magazine Called Love). Today, I’m going to use it as a lesson for an aggie entrepreneurship course that can be offered via the State Colleges & Universities,SCUs, in the Philippines, numbering at least 100[3] (Wikipedia).

In my 2011 essay, I mention that at the University of Wisconsin, there was this holistic, non-reductionist short course of 2 years. The #6 objective of that short course sums it all for me:

To uplift the farming interests of the state, to make better farmers, and more intelligent, useful citizens.

Beautiful!

Now, what is the lesson for Saka Gandahan there? In class and field, a presentation can come out like this, comparing equivalent techniques currently used in agriculture:

1.     Trash farming vs conventional

2.     Direct seeding vs transplanting

3.     1-month vs 4-month transplants

4.     Single seedling vs bunch transplanting

5.     Organic vs inorganic fertilizer

6.     Natural vs chemical disease control

7.     Natural vs chemical weed control.

Isn’t that a short but beautiful list of what farming is all about?!

Remember: My list is simple, not exhaustive for entrepreneurship training. I cannot make a list of topics for complete entrepreneurship training because I am not familiar with the matter. Besides, I’m just discussing the How, not the What, When & Why.

And now, you may ask:

Can I be more specific with Saka Gandahan?

One example. Comparing trash farming with conventional – In trash farming, you use the rotavator, while in conventional farming, you use the disc plow (hand tractor). Note that the rotavator blades, shaped L & J at the end, cut differently from the tractor disc blades – the rotavator cuts soil and weeds and mixes them all in one rotary motion, while the disc plow digs into the earth and throws the chunks to the side. With the tractor blades, the soil below is brought to the top and exposed. Not with the rotavator.

There is a profound difference there! The rotavator builds a mulch all over the field with the soil and weeds & crop refuse mixed – your organic matter waiting for your crops! Thus, the rotavator controls the weeds and fertilizes your field at the same time. While the tractor blades expose the soil to the sun, drying it up.

Rotavating your soil enriches it with plant nutrients and maintains the soil moisture if you truly understand the technology!@517

 

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[1]https://projects.exeter.ac.uk/RDavies/folkhighschool.html

[2]https://amagazinecalledlove.blogspot.com/2011/09/reductionist-long-education-up-college.html

[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Association_of_State_Universities_and_Colleges

World Food Day 2020 – We Must Hunger Together, Or We Will Hunger Separately!

Above, in Manila PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar speaks at the “World Food Day Culminating Program” held Friday 16 October 2020 in the Bureau of Soils & Water Management building adjoining the main headquarters of the Department of Agriculture, DA, in Quezon City.

Also seen above is the theme of World Food Day 2020: “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together. Our Actions Are Our Future.”

About food from plants, the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, says[1] (FAO.org):

Today only nine plant species account for 66% of total crop production, despite the fact that there are at least 30 000 edible plants. We need to grow a variety of food to nourish people and sustain the planet.

The world needs to grow more food – more in volume, more in variety; nourish better more people; sustain more meaningful lives. Together, from better actions come common, fuller, sustainable futures.

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, who happens to be the Deputy Country Director of the UN World Food Program Philippines, Mats Persson, was of course in attendance. To me, Mr Persson’s presence signifies that:

Our world actions on the matter of food, since
they are our future, must be done in peace.

And to me, PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar’s presence signifies something of value that is BIG. You see, Mr Dar is not a political appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte – Mr Dar is an all-around guy as national teacher, extensionist, scientist, research manager in the Philippines; and global leader of an august body, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, ICRISAT, based in India, that he served for 15 years, 3 terms, from 2000 to 2014. It was he as Servant Leader who brought ICRISAT from dead last to #1 in achievements (publicly measured in awards) among the 15 international agriculture centers under the CGIAR based in France. It was wonderful observing even from afar. I know all that because I was an  international consulting writer for ICRISAT 2007-2014, WFH, based in Manila.

“Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together.” Together. Yes, today on his second year as PH Secretary of Agriculture, Mr Dar is emphasizing group efforts in different formats, such as: farm consolidation, farm clusters, cooperatives, DA-initiated food markets in urban areas (“Kadiwa Ni Ani At Kita”), private sector and local government unit direct assistances in food distribution…

In his long culmination speech, after all is said and done, this is Mr Dar’s emphasis:

Foremost, before ensuring food production, we strongly believe our respective governments must first address the growing number of people being pushed into poverty.

The poor we have always had with us. He says rural poverty in the Philippines is at its highest: 30%. “We expect this level to further increase as a result of this (lockdown).” He recommends “to create employment once again, and crank up livelihood activities and stimulate consumption.”

In other words, end the lockdown of any kind: Now!
I say, we must be free to make this country great.
Our Common Actions Today Are Our Common Future!@

 

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[1]http://www.fao.org/world-food-day/home/en/

DevCom Is Passé! For PH Agriculture To Revive And Thrive, iComDev Is The Call Of The Times

Almost 50 years old, the discipline called Development Communication, DevCom, NCQ’s brainchild, has not caught up with the digital swirl of the world’s knowledge in science and technology. And that is why I offer my new brainchild: iComDev. (Images: above, the pile of words comes from Indev Jobs; “CDC” image[1] from UPLB DevCom webpage)

Think Internet. In iComDev, the i puts digital intelligence into communication for development, so now you can disseminate it anywhere instantly.

A little history. I was physically on the campus of the University of the Philippines’ College of Agriculture, UPCA, now UP Los Baños, from 1959 to 1966 – I taught in Xavier University College of Agriculture in Cagayan De Oro City in 1968-1969. I was out of (touch of) UP Los Baños up to 1974; so I did not know Nora C Quebral, NCQ, gave birth to DevCom[2] in 1971 (Wikipedia).

In April 1975, I became the Chief Information Officer (not the title) of the Forest Research Institute, FORI, where from 1975 to 1981, I was the founder and Editor In Chief of 3 regular FORI publications: monthly newsletter Canopy, quarterly technical journal Sylvatrop, and quarterly popular color magazine Habitat. Being a wide reader, I had read about DevCom and reacted by writing a technical paper that I published in Sylvatrop about Communication for Development, ComDev. The name and acronym were intentionally the opposites of NCQ’s Development Communication and DevCom. At that time, I already had accumulated too much communication experience not to know which is which and what is what for. So now I am resurrecting ComDev in the personality of iComDev.

For the record, here are some Guidelines for iComDev I have generated:

Communication: Communication is passing on any message in any form & medium from person to person either physically or digitally, directly or indirectly, on paper or onscreen.

Development: Whatever happens to help whole villages ascend Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Knowledge Base: In iComDev, it is by design that there is a database of knowledge, expressed in scientific terms or technical jargon. This is for those who understand the Science of Agriculture.

Popular Knowledge: This is the iKnow, which is in fact a popularization of the whole technical knowledge base. For knowledge seekers who are not familiar with scientific terms.

Options for Decision: The components of which are the raw materials for communication. The iKnow is composed of options for action such as inbred vs hybrid, organic vs inorganic fertilizer, direct seeding vs transplanting, and individual farming vs cooperative. It must be emphasized that iKnow is all digital and accessible via the Internet.

Mother Language: Initially, the language used is American English, for the technical terms as well as the equivalent and/or translated non-technical terms. Later, the knowledge base in popular English will be translated into several Filipino languages such as Tagalog, Ilocano, Bicolano, and Waray.

With or without the pandemic lockdown, we should not lockdown knowledge – in agriculture, the best way to share it today is digital. iComDev!@517

 

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[1]https://devcom.edu.ph/

[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nora_C._Quebral

DevCom, The Undiscovered Country

This is the story of DevCom so far.

DevCom is understood by DevCom people who underplay it;
DevCom is understood by Senator Imee who undercuts it.
I blame the DevCom people!
(upper double image[1] from Reddit.com).

As World’s #1 Blogger, I am saying DevCom Island in the last 49 years has been largely unexplored even by UPLB people who created it!

The Rappler report says (Bonz Magsambol, 14 October 2020, “Senator Imee Marcos Schooled About DevCom After 'Cute,' 'Archaic' Remark[2],” Rappler.com):

"It is politicians like Imee Marcos and her family, especially her corrupt parents, who have made DevCom relevant then and now," says the UPLB College of Development Communication Student Council. ¶ Senator Imee Marcos is under fire over her remark that Development Communication (DevCom) is "cute," "archaic," and "old-fashioned."

In the first sentence I quote above, the DevCom Student Council has a fallacious argument – that is argumentumad hominem, attacking persons: “corrupt parents.” Also non-sequitur, does not follow.

The second sentence I quote where DevCom is described as "cute," "archaic," and "old-fashioned" is perfect– I agree with Miss Imee 100%!

Nora Quebral invented the concept of Development Communication, DevCom, in 1971[3] (Wikipedia) – half a century ago, making it archaic! The sound DevCom is cute, yes, but the concept is old-fashioned because when DevCom people do practice it, their language is 50 years old. There is no distinct DevCom vocabulary.DevCom people have not come up with a certain style of writing or treatment that tells you immediately, “That’s definitely DevCom.”

Wikipedia has a list of 6 DevCom educators, all of whom I happen to know personally – they do not write in any distinct essence that may be called DevCom.

In 5 words, DevCom is “communication in support of development.” With that, I am sadly reminded that the DevCom people have neither defined nor explained what is it they mean when they say “development.”

Let me put it this way:

Development means progress towards prosperity of people in a social context.

But that is always happening every single day. What the DevCom people want but have been unable to articulate is that:

Development means progress towards prosperity of people in a social context – including & especially the poor.

DevComers are intelligent people; unfortunately, they never talk about the poor in society being necessarily included as targets of development.

Suggestion: Let the UP Los Baños people explore Secretary of Agriculture William Dar’s “The New Thinking for Agriculture” with those “8 Paradigms” that feed it. By the way, Mr Dar is an alumnus of UP Los Baños, with a PhD in Horticulture obtained in 1980. (Likewise, I am an alumnus, BSA Ag Education '65.)

Another suggestion:In writing the concept of Development into actual vocabulary and volumes of Communication of DevCom people, consider that:

DevCom must proVIDE – promote Village Development.

Thus, Development becomes a real, big new world for DevCom, not simply a vague word in the phrase communication for development. Repeat:

DevCom must proVIDE – promote Village Development.

That way, DevCom remains cute but no longer old-fashioned and no longer archaic!@517

 

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[1]https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/jbd11w/the_uplb_college_of_development_communication/

[2]https://www.rappler.com/nation/imee-marcos-schooled-development-communication-remark?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1nXYz0U8eVYHhl_wlS2OJI21lW0EtXixdzjHnKmXUgb68Q9nFElEveZc0

[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nora_C._Quebral

The Education Of Miss Briones. Otherwise, How DepEd Could Have More Wisely Spent P100 Billion Pursuing Learning Goals For The Country’s Students

As I write this, I’m thinking of the millions of farmers who need
e-learning themselves in modern productive and prosperity-leading materials and methods in their farming. 

Perhaps the DA can learn from the DepEd?

Above, you are looking at the cover of a printout of educational materials conceived for and published by the Department of Education, DepEd, under Secretary of Education Leonor Briones. (images: modules[1] from Philippine Basic Education; E-Learning[2] from Deccan Herald)

The “For Teachers” book looks good, doesn’t it?
Looks good, yes.
But looks deceive!

DepEd calls them Self-Learning Modules, SLMs – now, no matter how good the SLMs are, the almost-P100 Billion budget could have been spent 100 times more wisely!

This is a teacher speaking, BSA major in Ag Education, UP Los Baños 1965 graduate, Civil Service Professional Level, passing the exam at 80.6%.

And the grade I am now going to give the above Self-Learning Modules book is 4. Yes, 4. On my alma mater’s University of the Philippines’ grading scale[3], 4 is Conditional.

That is not saying the Secretary of Education is unintelligent – it is just saying that her advisers on e-learning are not that smart digitally!

DepEd’s Self-Learning Modules are the most
maximally expensive educational materials
I have ever seen – and only minimally useful.

Instead of being printed, the SLMs should have instead been uploaded in their digital forms for both teachers and students – and worked onscreen, not on paper. In such a way, the first attempt at learning could be graded; after which, with the original e-copies, any number of repeated readings and workings on same materials are free, to be counted as self-learning without charge against the students themselves.

More than 24.7 million students – 22.5 million in public schools – enrolled for 2020-2021[4] (ANN, 09 October 2020, “DepEd: Self-Learning Modules Are 'Quality Assured' Despite Errors,” ABS-CBN.com). As of the date ANN reports, 667 million SLMs had been printed. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto had the low estimate of a total of P93.6 Billion needed to print all the pages of the modules, at a printing cost of P1/page (Doña Magsino, 17 August 2020, “DepEd Needs P30B More For Printing Of Self-Learning Modules – Recto[5],” GMAnetwork.com).

Option: With that gargantuan P93.6 Billion budget, in a 1-ha area purchased in each of the 1,488 towns in the country, DepEd can construct an Internet zone-schoolshop (the cities can take care of their own) – that gives P62.9 Million for each Internet zone-schoolshop and should be more than enough for area, buildings, facilities, equipment, Internet connections, supplies and salaries.

With Miss Briones’ Self-Learning Modules that expand expenses and limit learning rewards, as a teacher, I want to cry. As a self-taught digital writer, editor & desktop publisher, I want to cry my heart out.

Reading and thinking of the P93.6 Billion the Department of Education, DepEd, will have spent by the end of this year 2020 for those self-limiting SLMs, I want to cry a river!@517

 

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[1]https://www.philippinesbasiceducation.us/2013/05/deped-k-to-12-modules-for-sale-in-2013.html

[2]https://www.deccanherald.com/content/639382/how-make-digital-education-more.html

[3]https://www.ac.upd.edu.ph/images/stories/forms/UniversityGuidelines.pdf

[4]https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/09/20/deped-self-learning-Modules-are-quality-assured-despite-errors

[5]https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/751678/deped-needs-p30b-more-for-printing-of-self-learning-Modules-recto/story/