Interestingly, Inquirer.Opinion has written an editorial about “Championing Nutrition For Kids And Barriers To Productivity.” No, Inquirer does not insinuate that nutrition in the family and productivity of the father are directly related; I am the one saying that if the farmer is not championing nutrition for his children, he is also not championing productivity for his farm.

Are most Filipino farmers come-what-may farmers, and that explains low productivity in the farms? I believe not – they just don’t know how. “Dida ammo ti pammalpalatpatanda gapu’t awan met mangibaga kaniada!” (“They don’t know technical and/or practical ways by which they can overcome their problems of production and profit because nobody is telling them!”) No, not any of those involved in the Department of Agriculture (DA), because the DA is less interested in farmers who are profit-oriented, and more interested in production-oriented farmers. Yields, yields, yields – not gains, gains, gains!

Says the Inquirer further:

“If the government truly wants to attain economic development, it must first help the poorest to overcome barriers to productivity. And breaking generational poverty begins with ensuring that poor Filipino children get the necessary nutritional support to help in their mental and physical development so they can grow to be productive members of society.”

I agree with the Inquirer there, and now I must insist that farming must stop practicing Chemical Agriculture (CA) and start practicing Regenerative Agriculture (RA). With RA, they will gain in their farming much more, as the fertilizers and pesticides in CA are very expensive – there are no chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides involved in RA.

In RA, the simple rule is, as I see it:

Very Low Costs equals Very High Returns: VLC = VHR.

Am I sure about VLC = VHR? Yes, I have been writing about low-cost farming in the last 5; see my article “Appreciating Organic Farming” (Agriculture Magazine, 03 Oct 2019). I say, “RA food is good food!”@517

 

From a Facebook post from Inquirer “Opinion” (Editorial: “Championing Nutrition For Kids”

“If the government truly wants to attain economic development, it must first help the poorest to overcome barriers to productivity. And breaking generational poverty begins with ensuring that poor Filipino children get the necessary nutritional support to help in their mental and physical development so they can grow to be productive members of society.”

Inquirer equates, by insinuation, and I agree, that barriers to productivity among the poor farmer families must be overcome: poverty and poor nutrition.

“Hunger and malnutrition among Filipino children continue to be prevalent, not so much due to a lack of an institutional framework, but more because of inconsistent implementation of programs meant to address the problem.

Above:

“If the government truly wants to attain economic development, it must first help the poorest overcome barriers to productivity. And breaking generational poverty begins with ensuring that poor Filipino children get the necessary nutritional support to help in their mental and physical development so they can grow to be productive members of society.”

 

I Say That Truth Is Relative – Relative To The One Preaching It! And I Preach What I Call THiNK! Journalism

I value Truth, of course, specially in these times when many different claims to the Truth fly faster than an airplane! I thank God we are now living in an Internet-wide world where anyone can speak to the world at anytime. Freedom of speech has never been more valuable than now.

“Truth is not what you want it to be: it is what it is,” Miyamuto Musashi says; “And you must bend to its power or live a lie.”

But first, who is the one speaking?

“Miyamoto Musashi (c 1584 – 13 June 1645), was a Japanese swordsman, strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels.” And as it turns out, he was also a wordsman – a killer with the word!

What do you want the Truth to serve – a few, a majority, or everyone? Truth must always be measured by how many people are served for the good. I prefer for ALL.

Truth should be all there is for the good of all the world. That is why I have embraced “Truth” and now preach & practice what I call “THiNK! Journalism.” (“THINK” image from teacherspayteachers.com)

It goes like this:

Is it
True? If True, is it
Helpful? If Helpful, is it
Inspiring? If Inspiring, is it
Necessary? If Necessary, is it
Kind?
THiNK! Before you speak, or do something important, especially when it involves many people.

That is to say, you don’t stop at True, or stop at Helpful, or stop at Inspiring, or stop at Necessary, or stop at Kind – you have to always THiNK! You must always be THINKing!

We go back to multi-talented Japanese expert. Says Wikipedia of him (en.wikipedia.org):

Miyamoto Musashi (c 1584–13 June 1645),[1] was a Japanese swordsman, strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels. [2] Miyamoto is considered a kensei (sword saint) of Japan. [3] He was the founder of the Niten Ichi-ryū (or Nito Ichi-ryū) style of swordsmanship, and in his final years authored A Book of Five Rings… Go Rin No Sho) and Dokkōdō (The Path of Aloneness).

Thus, I say Miyamoto was a swordsman, not a peace man – he would always try to obtain “peace” with his sword.

And hereby I say, swordsmanship or the sharpness of the sword is not necessary – wordmanship is what is necessary, and we cannot practice wordmanship or the power of the word with the sword.

I go back to my wordmanship and the 5 questions whose combined answers make up the whole as pleasant: true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, kind!

Thus, my THiNK! Journalism:

Is it
True? If True, is it
Helpful? If Helpful, is it
Inspiring? If Inspiring, is it
Necessary? If Necessary, is it
Kind? THiNK!

Now I say, “Whether you are angry or not, before you strike with your sword, or word – think! Especially when you are dealing with the Truth. THiNK Truth!@517

How AI Can Help In Your Writing” – Willy A Renandya, Indonesian. “Not A Good Idea!” – Frank A Hilario, Filipino

This article is all about “how to improve your writing and leave AI alone!” – Frank A Hilario, Filipino blogger.

I’m reading Mr Willy A Renandya’s article 3 April 2025 that appears in his website willyrenandya.com: “Why Writing Is Harder Than Speaking And How AI Can Help.” Mr Renandya is Singapore-based. Based in Manila, as a published writer of 50 years, I Frank A Hilario have never compared writing to speaking and I will say outright that AI is dangerous! As the image from connectjaya.com seems to indicate, AI is actually first Nonhuman and and then tries to relate to Human. From beginning to end of my writing, I want Human!

Nonetheless, I Filipino much appreciate the intellectual efforts of author Mr Renandya in writing about improving one’s writing in his article, above cited. Thankfully, in fact Mr Renandya is saying, “You need to teach yourself to write better!”

Sorry, but personally I reject AI as a tool for writing or rewriting. AI will teach you only to copy, not produce your own copy! If you want to be original, forget AI.

Even as a Filipino, my creative writing journey began with the reading of the American Reader’s Digest in my high school days in my hometown Asingan, Pangasinan, Central Luzon, Philippines. The digest must be the most delightful reading matter if you are after reading pleasure – or teaching yourself how to write with pleasure.

If you want to learn how to write the best way you can – maybe even become a published writer – you have to start from scratch, literally! Your own scratch of a writing. You can only creatively take care of AI’s scratch if you are already an established writer.

I will now give you a simple/not-so-simple formula for improved writing that you yourself will love, whether you are now a good writer or still learning to be one. I’ll call this one

”Think, Trick Or Treat!”

You already have a topic. Or: Think of a crude topic. Write a simple title & then a draft, no matter how small or how crude. The title, no matter how temporary, will help you focus. If you change topic along the way, fine – you may also change title.

Read about what others have written about the subject. (That’s why you need the Internet.) Enjoy while you read and borrow and rewrite.
After at least half a day, read again. Rewrite again.

Sleep on it.

Rewrite again.

Do that rewrite at least 5 times.
Finalize your writing!

Those 66 words above, in red letters, in every rewrite, you would be seeing improvements of your writing. You will begin to like yourself as a writer!

Rewrite! Rewrite! Rewrite! At least 5 times. At best 7 times. Rewrite at different times of the day, at different days of the week if necessary. The more you rewrite, the clearer and better should your piece of writing be – when you rewrite, you are actually teaching yourself to write better!

 

 

 

“Why Exactly Is The Philippines The World’s Top Rice Importer?” IRRI – “Poor Geography.” FAH – “Poor Economics”

Daniel Padilla of Esquire Philippines writes that the reason my country remains Asia’s top rice importer (image from youtube.com) – it lacks what other rice-exporting countries have: “lots of land and river deltas suitable for farming.”

Mr Padilla is quoting from “Why Does the Philippines Import Rice?” an IRRI book published 2004 and edited by David Dawe, Piedad F. Moya, and Cheryll B. Casiwan. (esquiremag.ph) Their answer: “Geography.” What? “The Philippines imports rice because it is a nation of islands without any major river deltas like those in Thailand and Vietnam.”

I’m a pure-blooded Filipino, farmer’s son and UP Los Baños graduate, and I emphatically do not agree with such conclusion. I believe the Philippines imports rice because our farmers are poor farmers – because of technology!

Yes, we Filipinos grow rice almost exactly like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar – following steps more-or-less approved by IRRI – following Chemical Agriculture (CA). The lesson that my country refuses to learn is that the Philippines should change its rice culture from the expensive CA to the inexpensive but even-more-productive Regenerative Agriculture (RA).

Under RA, there are no expensive chemicals or pesticides used – and yet yields are quite high. That’s because the rice and other crops grow as they would in a field naturally enriched by allowing crop refuse and weeds to contribute their natural richness to the soil.

No, the reason why the Filipinos import rice is not because of corruption, incompetence, bad politicians, or laziness. It is because of poor thinking!

I now dare IRRI to disprove the claim, via the results of its own experiments, that any of the following 13 practices of RA is productive and richly-rewarding to the farmer:

(1) Cover Cropping,
(2) Crop Rotation,
(3) Farm Crops + Tree Crops (Agroforestry),
(4) Green Manuring,
(5) Intercropping,
(6) Multiple Cropping,
(7) No-Till Farming,
(8) Organic Fertilization,
(9) Ratooning,
(10) Rotational Grazing,
(11) “Three Sisters” Planting,
(12) Trap Cropping, and
(13) Trash Mulching.

If our farmers practiced RA, they would produce rice more than our domestic needs, even for export. And: as a side-effect of RA, little or no greenhouse gases that gather up there and contribute to Climate Change!

Mr Padilla writes:

“Is there any way to lessen dependence on imports without further raising prices and harming poor consumers?” the book asks. “One possibility is reduced population growth, but this debate centers on issues larger than rice self-sufficiency. The best way to sustainably increase production is to invest in agricultural research and transportation infrastructure, thereby providing farmers with more and better options in both production and marketing.

“However, the fundamental factors behind Philippine rice imports – relatively small amounts of land and a lack of large river deltas – can’t be changed. In trying to achieve self-sufficiency, the Philippines is fighting a battle against nature that its exporting neighbors are spared.”

This Filipino begs to disagree! It’s not lack of large river deltas – it’s poor technology! I dare IRRI and UPLB experts to conduct experiment with RA, and I’m sure they’ll change their minds!@517

While I Was Busy With Climate Change, I Did Not Realize That Maria Ressa Was Busy With Primate Change!

Some 18 years ago, on 31 March 2007 in probably my earliest blog, on WordPress.Com – “The American Frank” (wordpress.com), I said:

Consider this Frank Hilario’s Blogal Warning, a 3-decades-delayed response to Al Gore’s Global Warning: We need to change perspectives about Climate Change. Houston, we have a problem! Today, the Global Village is in fact that the electric impulse connects us all through the Internet, as Marshall McLuhan predicted – yet the Global Village is fiction in that the connection is divisive and not distributive, elitist and not equitable, devoid of commitment to community, without a shared vision – absence of global warming to combat the global enemy. Whose fault is it? THE PRIMATES, THE GREAT THINKING APES – THE US!

And so it makes me extremely glad to read today, “Pope Francis: ‘A Moral Giant In A World Gone Crazy’” by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, a compatriot. It turns out that Ms Ressa is a patriot for the times – Climate Change Times (my term).

Ms Ressa says, "Pope Francis’ foundation, Fratelli Tutti, asked us to convene in 2023, and our private and public discussions gave me great hope that if we keep working together, we could help prevent the worst.”

Ms Ressa had been invited with other Nobel winners to Pope Francis’ residence at the Vatican to discuss what they thought man could do to stop Climate Change – see her article “Pope Francis: ‘A Moral Giant In A World Gone Crazy’” (rappler.com):

Pope Francis taught me that faith is essential to surviving – and thriving – in the creative destruction we are living through.

Yes, Ma’am, you put it brilliantly: What we are going through is “creative destruction.”

Pope Francis’ foundation, Fratelli Tutti, asked us to convene in 2023, and our private and public discussions gave me great hope that if we keep working together, we could help prevent the worst.

Yes Sir, yes Ma’am: “We could help prevent the worst.”

Ms Ressa also says:

The man born Jorge Mario Bergoglio led by example: kind, simple, beatific – a moral giant in a world gone crazy. As the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, God’s representative on earth, he focused on social justice, linking economic inequality to climate change. He spoke against the sexual abuse of children by priests, and changed the tone of the Vatican on homosexuality. He spoke against war – in Ukraine and Gaza repeatedly – and changed the power structure of the Church hierarchy, shifting it away from Europe to Latin America, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.

More on technology:

He took a stand against the dehumanizing impact of technology (FAH’s emphasis) and – although he didn’t say this explicitly – against the electoral manipulation on social media that brought 72% of the world today under authoritarian rule.

Until the Vatican reached out to me, I would call myself a wayward Catholic … But since Pope Francis brought us together, I have now been to the Vatican four times in less than two years.

Go on Ms Ressa! Changing yourself, changing primates!@517

“Pope Francis Dies At 88, The Pontiff Who Tried To Change The Catholic Church From Within”

I still see Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si” as a “Message Of Resurrection.” I believe Pope Francis did not want to die until he had proclaimed to the whole world his dying wish: Resurrection. For the world, soon!

Jennifer Earl reports (“Pope Francis: ‘Climate Change At This Moment Is A Road To Death,’" CBS News, cbsnews.com):

"How worried are you about climate change?" CBS Evening News managing editor Norah O'Donnell asked Francis during a historic interview in Vatican City.

"Unfortunately, we have gotten to a point of no return. … Francis replied. "Climate change at this moment is a road to death."

Don’t look at me! I Filipino blogger have been writing about Climate Change for 25 years. See my 03 March 2007 article, “Primate Change? Or Climate Change?” (The American Frank, theamericanfrank.wordpress.com). Here is me:

In my primate mind’s eye, right in the forefront of country-to-country efforts to mitigate Global Warming, I envision Blogal Warming, a rise by 2 degrees Celsius in the body temperature of primate bloggers all over the world to the level of passion in their advocacy for A Greaner World, greener & cleaner.

Where are the bloggers when you need them most?! Where are our paid columnists?

Joseph Tulloch says (Vatican News, vaticannews.va):

A look at Laudato si’, Pope Francis’ radical encyclical on care for the environment, … has been praised as “the most important piece of intellectual criticism in our time.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the document for its “moral voice,” while the Indian novelist Pankaj Mishra called it “arguably the most important piece of intellectual criticism in our time.”

Joseph Tulloch says, “Laudato si’ combines, on the one hand, striking, and at times poetic, theological reflections on the importance of care for the natural world with, on the other, calls for radical political action.

“The Pope writes, for instance, that “The universe unfolds in God, who fills it completely. Hence, there is a mystical meaning to be found in a leaf, in a mountain trail, in a dewdrop, in a poor person’s face. Standing awestruck before a mountain, we cannot separate this experience from God.”

His meditations led the Pope to condemn “politics concerned with immediate results, supported by consumerist sectors of the population” and “driven to produce short-term growth.” Short-term goals, long-term effects.

What we need, he says, is “a new way of thinking about human beings, life, society and our relationship with nature.”

Tulloch says:

Central to Laudato si’ is the idea of ‘integral ecology’ – the notion that the climate crisis is intrinsically linked to our present day social, political, and economic problems, and cannot be addressed in isolation from them.

I first wrote of it in 2007, or 18 years ago; read my “Primate Change? Or Climate Change?” The American Frank, theamericanfrank.wordpress.com):

Consider this Frank Hilario’s Blogal Warning, a 3-decades-delayed response to Al Gore’s “Global Warning:” We need to change perspective about Climate Change. Houston, we have a problem… Whose fault is it? THE PRIMATES, THE GREAT THINKING APES – THE US.@517

The Physical Library Is Your First, Not Your Best Library – Which Is A Non-Library! This is The Editor In Chief Speaking, But Thanks Anyway Ms Mary Ann!

Here comes honor to Mary Ann Ingua, PhD,

Librarian of UP Los Baños, as she receives the “Satimder Kaur Ramdev Memorial Trust for Advancement of librarianship (SATKAL) 12 March 2025 at the India International Centre in new delhi; MIKAELA Rhinoa A Delos Reyes says:

“The (SATKAL) Woman Librarian Award honors Ingua for her dedication and outstanding contributions to her profession. It also highlights Filipino excellence and the impact of women in librarianship and information science.”

“Under Ingua’s leadership, the University Library continues to cater to each individual student, staff member, and researcher who steps through the campus halls. It thrives and has become a home for intellectual growth through inclusive and culturally diverse library services.”

Thanks, Ms Mary Ann Ingua! But, UPLB, as one of your graduates, I reader & writer am saying, “The physical library is your important library, but not your best library – which is a Library In The Mind! This is The Editor In Chief & alumnus speaking.

Elsewhere, In Asingan, Pangasinan, at the Rizal Junior College (RJC) where I took up my high school, we were lucky, nay blessed, to have a 1-room but excellent library – full of books and magazines, and I never had a full week without bringing home 2 or 3 books (fiction & non-fiction) to read Saturdays and Sundays. I was savoring my Saturdays and Sundays as an RJC Reader. Loner and Learner: I did not know this, but if you want to become a writer, along with that you would have to become a reader! Professional Writing is actually Advanced Reading & Writing.

As a self-proclaimed The Editor In Chief, I am after 3 kinds of library users: Reader, Researcher, Writer. And since the UPLB Library (also known as the “SEARCA Library” as it was SEARCA that donated the building) is not that huge, it must encourage readership by other means except providing individual spaces. (image from r.search.yahoo.com).

I am now encouraging Ms Mary Ann to roll out within UPLB, in each individual college, a Reader’s Delight Program where everyone learns and masters how to tap the vast resources of the iniversal library called the “Internet.” (This calls for a great number of personal computers, PCs, purchase funds for which SEARCA will have to solicit.)

I am hereby advocating “the advancement of librarianship” beyond its “borders” (walls of the library) into the whole, wide world of knowledge that includes the Internet!

Because the Internet is the biggest library of all, and it’s within the intellectual reach of all – sadly, we hardly go there (surf)! That is because we don’t have enough personal computers (PCs) available and affordable for hire.

Yes, we should now be thinking of PCs as libraries of whatever intellectual or personal field one is interested in.

In other words, I am looking at Ms Mary Ann Ingual, beyond the UPLB Library, working tirelessly around the UPLB campus pushing for the internalization of more/better knowledge beyond books & theses!@517

Climate-Focused Agriculture With Farmer-Focused Farming, Thinking About Climate Change And Farmer Adjustments – Where Is Ruben L Villareal Here?

Above reads the title of a paper by much-honored Ruben L Villareal (Facebook sharing by Jovita Movillon) – “Food And Wood Manufacturing: Current Status, Issues, And Recommendations,” 19 April 2025. I knew Dr Villareal as a good scientist limited to Botany in the 1950s, and so I am surprised he talks much good Science-Society Sense today!

The sharing is based on Dr Villareal’s 2013 own paper “Food and Wood Manufacturing: Current Status, Issues, and Recommendations” as a member of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). Here is the abstract:

The food manufacturing industry continues to be among the biggest and most active industries in the country, valued at PhP 977.2 billion in 2012. However, there are issues and concerns (that) the science community may be able to address. This paper aims to examine the food manufacturing sector to develop a technology-explicit road map for processed food products that would guide collaboration among government and private stakeholders...

For the stakeholders, Dr Villareal prescribes a “technology-explicit road map.”

Dr Villareal says, “The three major concerns are supply of raw materials, technology, and food safety.” I add 2 more: “They must all be environment-friendly and investment-attractive.”

Personally, I say that if we pescribed Regenerative Agriculture (RA), it will resolve the five concerns above.

(1) RA offers ready materials in crops for growing.

(2) RA technologies have all been proven workable throughout the ages!

(3) RA rejects chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides – RA produce is safe, safe, safe!

(4) RA is environment-friendly – no poisons here.

(5) RA is investment attractive – costs very little, returns very much!

The RA list I have is this (alphabetical):

(1) Cover Cropping,
(2) Crop Rotation,
(3) Farm Crops + Tree Crops (Agroforestry),
(4) Green Manuring,
(5) Intercropping,
(6) Multiple Cropping,
(7) No-Till Farming,
(8) Organic Fertilization,
(9) Ratooning,
(10) Rotational Grazing,
(11) “Three Sisters” Planting,
(12) Trap Cropping, and
(13) Trash Mulching.

But the outright & strict national practice of RA is not that simple. And so we need a Roadmap to get there.

Stakeholders who participated in the NAST-sponsored round-table discussions on food manufacturing identified … the three major concerns (as) supply of raw materials, technology, and food safety. (I say, RA satisfies all three!)

Again from Prof Villareal’s paper:

The following were recommended to address these concerns: (l) small farm holdings should be consolidated for economy of scale; (2) concerned agencies should strictly enforce food safety regulations; (3) (industry) partners should provide research and scholarship funds to supplement the meager (government) funds for the training (on) new crop, animal and food scientists and extension workers, and (4) use science and technology, and economics in promulgating investment-friendly policies to attract both local and foreign investments.

I’m much interested in small farm holdings being consolidated for economies of scale: Dr Villareal gave that specific advice 12 years ago but we have ignored it – why?

From the ground level, businesses are facilitated and safety & quality standards enforced.

Yes Sir! Dr Villareal – Your wish should be our command!@517

Rediscovering God? Uncovering The Unique Filipino Roman Catholic Faith. Plus Five Filipino Holy Week Traditions You Don’t Want To Miss Next Year!

A Filipino writer, I never paid much attention to any of those Holy Week Filipino traditions that Carl Magadia writes about: “Rediscovering Faith: Five Unique Filipino Holy Week Traditions” (16 April 2025, Weekly Tribune, tribune.net.ph). But now that Mr Magadia has pointed them out as unusual features of an unofficial “Pinoy Passion Week” (my term), I see that next year, and the next and the next, our dear Philippines can attract more Lenten visitors by highlighting Pinoy Passion Week – unique and rich in rituals and invitations for visitors to participate in the rituals, to be enriched spiritually – a unique experience in the whole wide world!

The 5 images combined above (unfortunately not indicated which is which) show:

(1)  “Sayaw ng Pagbati” in Ibaan, Batangas – A joyful Easter dance

(2)  “Puni and Magdarame” – Participant-penance in Pampanga

(3)  Quiapo’s Holy Week – The Black Nazarene devotion

(4)  “Pagtaltal” in Guimaras – A Lenten passion play by the sea. (“Pagtaltal” refers to the removal of the body of Christ from the cross.)

(5)  The Moriones Festival of Marinduque. Elaborate costumes.

Pampanga: “Puni and Magdarame” – “To celebrate the season, in the pabasa (designated reading of the official Catholic text), residents participate in chanting the story of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in a makeshift chapel they call puni.” The Pampango word “magdarame” means “to share in the sorrow” (the Tagalog makiramay).

Batangas – “Sayaw ng Pagbati” (Welcome Dance) is performed in Ibaan, Batangas yearly. It is described as “a joyful Easter dance.” It celebrates the Resurrection. (We Filipinos should always celebrate the Resurrection!)

Mr Magadia writes:

As the Lenten season unfolds each year, the Philippines transforms into a living tableau of faith, sacrifice, and cultural heritage. Holy Week, or Semana Santa, remains one of the most solemn and deeply revered observances in the country – an intersection of Catholic devotion and age-old folk traditions passed down through generations. (Note: “Observances” not simply “observance.”)

I repeat for emphasis: The rituals of Semana Santa in the Philippine islands are “an intersection of (modern) Catholic devotion and age-old folk traditions passed down through generations.”

Considering all of the above, next year’s Philippine slogan for the invitation for foreign visitors during the Lenten Season can be this:

Enrich your faith in God witnessing the Filipinos having enriched theirs!

In any case, those five unique Filipino Holy Week practices should remind you, whoever you are, that Roman Catholicism is a rich religion, not a religion of the rich!

But: Is the Filipino observance of the Passion Week all that, just observance? No Sir, no Ma’am! According to Pew Research reported by Michael Lipka, “Filipinos overwhelmingly view having an abortion as immoral (93%)” (“5 Facts About Catholicism In The Philippines,” 09 Jan 2015, Pew Research, pewresearch.org/short-reads).

Abortion is immoral – The Filipinos will insist! In that spirit, the Filipinos will welcome the foreigners when they make their visit to the islands, Holy Week or not. More importantly, miraculously, the foreigners might rediscover their total faith in God!@517

 

“UP Diliman Leads UP System Universities In Latest EduRank Rankings,” UPD Says. “Why Not In Asia?” The Editor In Chief Asks

In EduRank 2025, UP Diliman Ranks #1 in the Philippines and #368 in Asia – Why not your UP Diliman or my UP Los Baños #1 In Asia?!! The reason – there’s much scholarly work left undone in editing & publishing!

EduRank.org utilizes “the world's largest scholarly papers database with 115,295,786 scientific publications and 2,964,008,315 citations to rank universities.”

Ergo: Any university can EduRank high via its scientific publications and citations. Ergo: Any university has to priorly be Very Good to Excellent in dealing with its technical publications – both in editing and publishing. Ergo: Any university has to produce Excellent Editors – those who are from Very Good to Outstanding in editing and publishing electronically! Ergo: They need to master desktop publishing – (my favorite is Microsoft Word).

But most of all, most if not all technical papers published in the UP universe contain limited technical literature because their authors do not read enough of Internet-available related literature!

Now, one important almost-neglected aspect of the UP System’s technical publications universe is difficulty in transforming manuscripts into the printable document format (pdf). (I can do a pdf with one click!)

All of the above comprise The Editor In Chief’s universe and, unfortunately, there is no constitutent UP Academy of Technical Publications that researchers can turn to handle their research reports on paper and transform each into a printable one along the way.

There is of course the question of the quality of editing of those technical papers on any subject. To improve the quality and speed of editing of UP System journals, I advise the UP System to hire editors with expertise in software.

Why not be inspired by me? I prefer Microsoft Word as it has desktop publishing (DTP) features. I know MS Word like the palm of my hand –working with it since at least 1988!

My most proud achievement as TEIC is as a one-man band bringing the Philippine Journal of Crop Science (PJCS) of the Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP) from obscurity to the prominence of international level referred to as “ISI” (now “Web of Knowledge”)! Thank you, CSSP!

I know most UP System technical publications are non-ISI – why can’t the ISI ones be among the world’s top? Nope, not good enough. Wake up, UP!@517

 

The UP System is nowhere there. This Editor In Chief (TEIC), an alumnus of UPLB, knows that UP people lack expertise in desktop publishing – using MS Word: (1) reading to improve the manuscript in content and grammar repeatedly – this TEIC tells you once is not enough! (2) finalizing & submitting to to TEIC of the journal, (3) up to and including its desktop publishing process via the TEIC. Frequency and more so quality of (painstaking) editing are (unseen) necessary ingredients of science publications.

Any member of The UP System could be #1 in the Philippines and #1 in Asia – but only if the editorial staff have mastered the desktop publishing process. This is The Editor In Chief telling UP best!@517

With Climate Change, We Have To Change The Way We Farm – And Truly Make It Sustainable Farming In Every Which Way!

I am reading Jessica R Alvero’s article “BAFA Farmers Earn PhP 286K Through Sustainable Farming” (Facebook post 4 April 2025). Very encouraging:

“Farmers in the town of Pastrana have long confronted significant hurdles, such as limited access to modern farming tools, unpredictable weather conditions, and fluctuating market prices. For years, they struggled to sustain their livelihoods, as well as provide the needs of their families.”

Not only to Pastrana in Leyte, but anywhere in the Philippines, very, very bad weather will keep coming to us because of our very, very bad way of dealing with Mother Nature; we keep destroying via chemicals those organisms that truly make the soil organic – fertile and healthy.

Whether they like it or not, our farmers have to learn the truth about “sustainable farming.” Here is from Abigail (15 Aug 2023, “Sustainable Farming: The Economic Benefits of Going Green” (timicoin.io). What are these economic benefits?

      (1)   Reduced input costs 
(2)   Lower dependency on chemicals
(3)   Natural pest control
(4)   Increased crop yields
(5)   Healthy soil
(6)   Resilience to climate variability
(7)   Access to premium markets.

      Sustainable farms are better equipped to handle extreme weather conditions, ensuring consistent yields year after year. Practices like mulching and agroforestry help in retaining moisture and protecting crops from harsh weather, ensuring that yield remains consistent.”

Abigail says further:

“Sustainable farming often emphasizes organic practices, reducing the need for expensive synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. This translates to significant savings in the long run. Over time, the soil becomes rich in organic matter, further reducing the need for external inputs. This not only cuts costs but also ensures a healthier crop.”

There is natural pest control, increased crop yields, healthy soil, bountiful harvest, resilience to climate variability, access to premium market via organic certification.

There is also soil conservation:

“Sustainable farming practices prevent soil erosion and degradation, ensuring the land remains productive for future generations. Practices like terracing and contour plowing can significantly reduce soil erosion, preserving the land’s value for future generations.”

And Water & Land Conservation

“Efficient water management techniques not only save on water bills but also ensure the land remains arable for longer. Techniques like rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation ensure that water is used judiciously, preserving this precious resource.”

Don’t forget, says Abigail, you have diversified income streams:
(1) agro-tourism,
(2) value-added products, and
(3) government incentives and grants.

Abigail says further:

“The shift towards sustainable farming is not just an environmental imperative but an economic one. … The benefits range from reduced costs to diversified income streams. In the face of a changing climate and a growing global population, sustainable farming presents a viable solution to ensure food security and economic prosperity. By investing in green practices, farmers are not only safeguarding the environment but also ensuring a brighter financial future.’

Farmers owe it to the members of their families to ensure their brighter futures! Sustainable farming sustains the soils, crops, farmers and families – what more can we people ask for?!@517

Rice Plus Corn – IRRI Reinvigorating Itself For The Farmers Vs Climate Change!?

Based in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was established in 1960. Via painstaking research, it came up with IR8, instantly dubbed “Golden Rice,” as it yielded much to make everyone happy, more so millions of farmers.

I’m looking at the IRRI Annual Report online and it says
“IRRI Annual Report 2023 – Discover the progress of rice research”.

Yes, the title of the AR says “2023” (and not “2024”) – it’s one (1) year late reporting in this revolutionary times of digital writing, editing, and desktop publishing! Too many hands spoil the broth? I can see, somebody needs a much-experienced technical writer, technical editor, and desktop publisher combined in one body! (“At your service!”)

In Rice Today, IRRI’s magazine (ricetoday.irri.org), IRRI is still in “Search for Best-Fitted Varieties” – still worrying about Miracle Rice, and not acknowledging the fact that cultivating IR8 will only exacerbate Climate Change because of the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides!

To redeem itself, IRRI must now disentangle institutionally from CA and engage 100% in Regenerative Agriculture (RA). I know it’s probably almost impossible to transform a 60-year old institution into a new one, but it has to be done! And nobody will do it except IRRI itself!

As of this date, 15 April 2025, the IRRI site says (irri.org):

Our Mission

IRRI is dedicated to abolishing poverty and hunger among people and populations that depend on rice-based agri-food systems. Through our work and partnerships, we aim to improve the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; promote environmental sustainability in a world challenged by climate change; and support the empowerment of women and the youth in the rice industry.

“Abolishing poverty and hunger”? IRRI, not yet!

I roam the Internet every single day and think about it all the time – Climate Change will not go away until Man changes habit and stop applying chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides by which much of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) are generated. Modern farming generates its own worst enemy: Climate Change. By transforming itself, IRRI can help save the world from the devastation of Climate Change!

How? IRRI must begin, immediately, learning and teaching Regenerative Agriculture (RA). There are in my list 13 RA practices, and none of them is generative of GHGs; these are:

(1) Cover Cropping, (2) Crop Rotation, (3) Farm Crops + Tree Crops (Agroforestry), (4) Green Manuring, (5) Intercropping, (6) Multiple Cropping, (7) No-Till Farming, (8) Organic Fertilization, (9) Ratooning, (10) Rotational Grazing, (11) “Three Sisters” Planting, (12) Trap Cropping, and (13) Trash Mulching.

Otherwise – “Nice meeting you. Goodbye, IRRI, we don’t need you anymore!”

Can we learn to grow IR8 adding to the field any combination of the 13 RA practices? Yes! Like: (1) Cover Cropping, we can grow a cover crop on the field before the growing season for rice. We can practice (9) Ratooning on rice. Or (11) “Three Sisters” Planting where we harvest 3 crops. Include corn there. In any case, we save on the cost of (new) land preparation 3 times!@517

 

IRRI At 65 Years Of Age – No One To Turn To For Love & Companionship Anymore?

“65” includes the years with “IR8.” Glory days no more. Forgotten. Nobody talks about the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) any longer. It has outlasted its welcome days following the much-reported success of its “IR8,” the “Miracle Rice” that stood upright no matter the water or weather, that yielded so much one farmer from one harvest could buy a new Honda motorcycle (Vietnam report) – no exaggeration.

And so today, 2025, rice has continued to be the main crop of much of Asia, thanks to IR8 and IRRI.

But: Rice is for the wet season. Now, why did IRRI not enrich the field literally by developing at least one other crop, for the dry season? That would have enriched the farmers tremendously!

But no. Because it was not in the design of IRRI as a research agency – it was dedicated to rice alone, hence the exclusive name of the agency itself. And so IRRI remained a one-crop-minded institution, basking in the sun with the whole world’s admiration for Miracle Rice.

Ah!

“The only good thing about the good, old days is that they’re gone” – Dick Gregory

“And luckily, therefore the good old days return. The traditional art of driving counts again, and it is all about good tactics, skills and reflexes instead of simple power.” – Jacky Ickx

A thought just occurred to me: How about IRRI now slowly turning itself into the International Institute for Multiple Crops (IIMC)?

First, IRRI will have to rethink its role in the Agriculture World by now devoting itself to studies on how farmers’ incomes can be increased. What we need today is to help the farmers of the world change from Poor to Rich, or at least Richer, by their own sweat. Without generating greenhouse gases that bring about Climate Change.

Right now, I can imagine IRRI scientists going about their works as if IR8 had not been invented by them, as if Miracle Rice had not worked wonders like indeed it had.

The life of IRRI scientists must be boring nowadays!

If I may suggest, as the son of an unrich farmer, that IRRI scientists study why the economics of miracle farming has not cultivated many millionaires in Asia?

More importantly, I being a UP Los Baños graduate (BS Ag Edu 1965) am recommending that IRRI become a learning place again! The IRRI scientists can start with what is now known as Regenerative Agriculture (RA), the concept originated by Robert Rodale. Here is my RA list (Mr Rodale does not have any such list):

(1) Cover Cropping,
(2) Crop Rotation,
(3) Farm Crops + Tree Crops (Agroforestry),
(4) Green Manuring,
(5) Intercropping,
(6) Multiple Cropping,
(7) No-Till Farming,
(8) Organic Fertilization,
(9) Ratooning,
(10) Rotational Grazing,
(11) “Three Sisters” Planting,
(12) Trap Cropping, and
(13) Trash Mulching.

Mr Rodale does say, “regenerative organic farming (is) a solution to global warming” (chrome-extension).

Then IRRI can become an exciting place to work in/with again. And the whole world will be excited for IRRI to succeed once more!@517