Photo Courtesy || Dreena Daw-as & BSU Nursing Community
Cordillera - The suffering and pain of those who are sick with the coronavirus is unfathomable.
This is what Mrs. Dreena Daw-as, a Cordilleran nurse working in the United Kingdom felt when she tended to the needs of patients suffering from the dreaded coronavirus that has killed thousands of people worldwide.
As she personally witnessed many deaths in her career as a nurse, Daw- as was not able to hold back her tears when she thinks of Covid-19 patients who are going through a physically painful death alone with no loved ones around.
By this, she was inspired to write a message of hope for those who are suffering from this pandemic, that despite their condition, nurses around the world are there to tend to their needs and make them feel better.
And most of all, they are there to be their friends giving them hope.
Here is the full message of Mrs. Dreena Daw-as
Photo Courtesy || Benguet State University Nursing Community
Cordillera - The very first Igorot Youth Mayor of Frankston, Australia has donated cash to the province of Benguet to help in the fight against Covid-19.
The office of the Benguet Governor has thanked Mr. Gerard Felipe for donating an amount of AUD 1,655 or 49,427.67 in its peso equivalent which was received by the office through remittance.
"The very first Mayor to become mayor of Frankston, Australia and a proud Igorot never forget where he came from by donating AUD 1,655 to the province of Benguet in support for the province's fight against Covid-19," the office said.
Mr. Felipe was a proud Igorot and Cordilleran from Tublay, Benguet.
Felipe has served for 12 months in the local government of Frankston and has worked together with the local community in helping the youth council in addressing youth disengagement, bullying and mental health.
In his term as youth mayor, Felipe had never forgotten where he came from and took pride in sharing the rich culture of the Igorots in Australia.
He has also helped in encouraging the youth within the community to reach their highest potential.
Cordillera - Some thirty-five (35) honest individuals in Barangay Gambang, Bakun, Benguet who are recipients of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the government have voluntarily waived their slots to the more needy families in the town.
"We would like to thank and express our appreciation to those individuals in Barangay Gambang who voluntarily and honestly waived their slots on Social Amelioration Program (SAP) because they possessed any of the qualification set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) guidelines so that other qualified families will be accommodated on the said program," Bakun-MDRRMC says.
"This act of kindness shows that we-iBakun unite as one to survive this kind of pandemic.. May the Lord show his Blessing upon us and give us knowledge and wisdom," it added.
Cordillera - Former secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Manny Piñol has admired the Igorot vegetable farmers for the fantastic 100 percent repayment of loans under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program.
Piñol said that during his term as DA Secretary, he was amazed with the commitment of the Igorot farmers for the repayment of their loans well ahead of the maturity period.
"In every opportunity, even now as Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), I share the story of the Igorot farmers' 100% repayment of loans to serve as an inspiration to other," Piñol said.
As a result, according to Piñol, some farmers in many other parts of the country has posted high repayment rate for the PLEA loans.
"If all of our farmers would have the industry, tenacity, honesty and reliability of the Igorot farmers, there is hope that we could achieve security in this country," Piñol added.
For this reason, Piñol said that he loves the Igorot farmers for being hardworking and industrious.
Indeed, the Cordilleran farmers are truly amazing, hardworking and reliable Filipino food producers. They are the pride of our beloved country.
Cordillera - The generosity and kindness of the farmers in Cordillera had been demonstrated during this time of crisis.
Social media has been flooded with remarkable stories and acts of kindness from farmers and other kindhearted individuals who generously offered their resources to people in need.
On Saturday (April 25, 2020), a farmer who doesn't want to be identified has offered truckloads of fresh carrots to everyone for free, according to the post from Sheila Banagui.
Banagui said, the generous farmer whom he called 'COVID carrot man' has unloaded truck loads of high quality carrots in front of Epiphany Church in Km 6, La Trinidad and later to the Cathedral of the Resurrection parking lot.
"This morning other farmers followed him. They too are struggling to survive this pandemic but they happily came with truck loads of carrots and other vegetables... For FREE," Banagui said.
Some farmers in the Cordillera region have been struggling to sell their produce specially during this enhanced community quarantine.
Local government units and organizations had came to the rescue by buying tons and tons of produce from the farmers.
Last week, The Philippine Air Force purchased around 13 tons of vegetables from Benguet farmers to be donated to folks in Manila.
Also the government of Bocaue, Bulacan has bought 13,200 kilos of assorted vegetables from farmers of Bauko in Mountain Province.
The Pasig local government also bought fresh vegetables from Benguet to be cooked and given to front liners in the city.
Cordillera - Member Consumer Owners (MCOs) of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) will receive discounts to their bill for April and May according to the latest advisory from the BENECO management.
"We wish to inform our Member Consumer Owners (MCOs) that BENECO will implement its "Pantawid Liwanag Program" for April and May 2020 as a means to help our MCOs cope with the adverse impact of the enhanced community quarantine," it says.
BENECO will provide the following:
April 2020
Free electricity for Lifeline residential consumers who consumed 30kWhrs and below
Php100 discount on the bills of residential consumer who used 31-100kWhrs
May 2020
Php100 discount on the bill of residential consumers who used 31-100kWhrs
The electric bills for April and May 2020 will be based on actual meter readings. Those who consumed 30kWhrs and below need not pay their bill for April. Those who consumed 31kWhrs to 100kWhrs will have a discount of Php100 on April. Those who consumed 101 to 200kWhrs will also have a discount in May.
For those who have already paid their bills before the release of the advisory, the amount of subsidy will be credited to their accounts as advance/partial payment for 30kWhrs and below and advance/partial payment for 31kWhrs and above.
Cordillera - A fire officer from the Baguio City Fire Department has donated his one month salary to the needy who were affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon.
Fire Officer (FO1) Brian Mader-an has initially donated his one month salary worth P32,000 to buy basic needs to the Person With Disability (PWDs) in Taidangan, Tuba, Benguet.
They also give food packs like rice, can goods and food for the children.
FO1 Mader-an is asking his fellow Fire Officers of the Baguio Fire Department and other individuals who have enough food and money to donate to the less fortunate during this crisis brought by covid-19 pandemic.
Photo Courtesy || La Trinidad Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
Cordillera - Not only Baguio City residents are showing discipline during community quarantine.
Residents of La Trinidad, Benguet are also strictly following the quarantine laws and regulations set forth by the local government.
Knowing how serious the impact of Covid-19, residents of La Trinidad religiously follow the ECQ guidelines.
As shown by the La Trinidad Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Sunday (Apri19, 2020) on its Facebook page, major thoroughfares in the town were completely free of people.
Cordillera - Philippine's top Mixed Martial Arts stable Team Lakay has joined the hundreds of good Samaritan in the country who stepped up to extend help to many of their kailyans who are in need of assistance amid the global pandemic.
On Wednesday, the team headed by multi-awarded coach Mark Sangiao and joined by former ONE Championship Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang and ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio unloaded relief packs and distributed them to the residents of Tuba, Benguet.
Parts of the relief packs that were distributed are sacks of rice and fresh Benguet vegetables.
After Tuba, the team is going to Itogon, Benguet to provide the same assistance to the residents there.
Team Lakay's 'Mobile Tulong' is being implemented in partnership with ACT-CIS Partylist Congressman Eric Go Yap and the Charen family.
Cordillera - Another generous Cordilleran has donated cash from his own pockets to buy cavans or rice to be distributed to his townmates in Kabayan Bario, Kabayan, Benguet.
Jemmer Tasing Tagure, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) working as a seaman posted photos on his Facebook account his cash donations and truck containing sacks of rice.
Tagure knew how more than one month Community Quarantine has affected his townmates in terms of livelihood and he wants to share the blessing that he has.
Tagure believes that helping others in whatever we can in time of crisis is a responsibility whether we are wealthy or not.
He said, "I'm not rich and don't have so much things in life. I'm only a sailor and a farmer too. We are all affected by the crisis, share whatever little things we have,"
"This is only small amount but I hope it would bring big smiles for those in needs, Tagure added.
Thank your sir Jemmer Tasing Tagure for your cash donations. Truly a Cordilleran who knew how to give back to his community in times of need.
May the Lord in heaven bless you a thousand fold. God Bless and Take Care.
Photo Courtesy || Marlon Palangdan & Ed Galuten Macthok
Cordillera - In order to encourage its citizens to cooperate with the government's mandate of Enhance Community Quarantine, a barangay in Itogon, Benguet has came up with a unique way to show the seriousness of obeying the rules.
By using a coffin with a note, "Stay Home or Stay Here", front liners in the said barangay hope to instill to the people the importance of staying home to protect themselves from the coronavirus otherwise they'll get infected and end up inside a coffin.
The corona virus is never a joke, and the personnel manned at the checkpoint are serious in their duty to informed the people of the worse result of not obeying the ECQ.
Netizens were quick to respond to the front liners' creativity by appreciating their efforts and sacrifice to prevent the spread of the deadly virus to the barangay.
"I appreciate much the way the checkpoint personnel... our obedience is very important... otherwise stay here...," one netizen said.
"Please cooperate in order not to add problems to the frontliners. Take care brothers... protect your selves. Let's help each other to end this pandemic," another netizen reacted.
The Philippine government has been stepping up measures how to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Since March 16, 2020, President Duterte has placed the entire Luzon under an "Enhanced Community Quarantine which all cities, municipality down to the barangay level should strictly enforced.
Cordillera - The municipality of Mankayan just unveiled the largest gong in the Philippines during the celebration of the town's 107th Founding Anniversary on 12, March 2020.
The gong which is expected to become a new tourism attraction of the municipality of Mankayan measures around 7 feet (2.133 meters) in diameter and weighs 175 kilograms.
Last year the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) put up a Gong Fabrication Facility and Equipment in the said barangay to make it easier for the locals to make gongs.
Demand for gongs over the past years had been increasing mainly from token collectors with one gong priced at P8,000 to P27,000.
Watch this video from 'Kulas' who went to Bedbed and documented what he learnt from one of the local manufacturer of gongs in the barangay.
Cordillera - A young Igorot inventor has found a way to generate electricity with his new invention that has win top award during the recently concluded 2020 National Science and Technology Fair (NSTF) held on March 2 to 6 in Quezon City.
12th grader Jan Lymar A. Becte, a STEM student of Tublay School of Home Industries located in Acop, Caponga, Tublay, Benguet was a one of the top awardees in the Science Innovation Expo Category.
His invention is called "Innovative Portable Electricity Generator" is among the top 3 winners of the said category.
Prior to winning the NSTF award, Becte's invention has been a recipient of the One Meralco Foundation's Energy Innovation Award for his exemplary works in utilizing energy and technology products to help address social challenges.
Meanwhile, Williann Angelo Pangilinan, a student of Angeles City Science High School was awarded as the Best Presenter in the Robotics and Intelligent Machines Category.
Winners of the 2020 NSTF will have a chance to represent the Philippines at the 2020 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Anaheim, California.
The NSTF 2020 is organized by the Department of Education in cooperation with the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, One Meralco, International Labor Organization, American Spaces Philippines, and the Embassy of the United States of America
Cordillera - Fresh vegetables from Benguet were on display at the Fresh Market at Quezon Memorial Circle today (March 7, 2020) and tomorrow (March 8, 2020).
Vegetables came directly from farmers in Cordillera, so the price is much lower compared to vegetables sold in Supermarkets.
Starting at 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, buyers can buy fresh vegetables from Cordilleran farmers.
Around 16 tons of vegetables were available at the Fresh Market with prices currently at P80 for a kilo of broccoli, P150 for kale, and P80 for spinach, according to a post by The Veggie Drop Off, which is a group of volunteers who organized the two day event.
Photo Courtesy ||Jim Meer Libiran
On Saturday, thousands of buyers came out at the Fresh Market to buy cheap vegetables from the Cordilleran farmers.
Some buyers have become volunteers to help the farmers and organizers in conducting the smooth flow of selling vegetables.
Cordillera - The Alapang flower garden in the town of La Trinidad, Benguet is the newest attraction in the province with over 20,000 roses ready to provide Instragram-worthy photos for visitors and tourists.
This astounding flower garden is found in Ettong, Alapang, La Trinidad just eight kilometers away from Baguio city.
You don't need to fly to Bali, Indonesia to have this luxurious experience.
Be the first to visit the place on its soft opening today, March 7, 2020. There is a 60 pesos entrance fee per head but it's free for your children if they are 0-7 years old.
Going for an adventure or photo shoot at the Rose Garden is easy to find.
If you are driving, take the Alapang route. But if you are commuting, take the Camp Dangwa or Upper Tomay jeepney to Alapang Junction. Here is a short video instruction on how to get there. Courtesy to justmedonna YT channel.
Do a race with your buddies going down the path ahead to add more fun in your adventure. Enjoy the walking exercise, appreciate the nature and benefit from the fresh air.
If you want to reach the place right away, take a taxi and you'll get there in no time.
Cordillera - Four provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) passed the good financial housekeeping (GFH) standards for the year 2019 as announced by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
In the official list released on January 31, 2020, Abra, Apayao, Benguet and Mountain Province in CAR were among the passers of the GFH standards.
In the city Category, Baguio city made it to the list and for the municipal category, 22 municipalities of Abra were included.
All of the local government unit and the provincial government passed the qualification based on COA's audit and compliant to the full disclosure policy (FDP) by posting requirements in three conspicuous places for the last two preceding quarters and compliance with the FDP on the FDP portal for the last two preceding quarters.
Passing the GFH standard will have a bearing in the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) awards. It it the number one criteria in selecting the winner for the SGLG award.
According to PNA only 89 percent of the total LGUs in the country have passed the GFH. There were total of 1,706 LGUs throughout the country that were assessed, of which only 1,522 have passed.
Cordillera - The success story of Joel Paquito, an electrical engineer turned farmer has been featured in Erwin Tulfo TV program 'Tatak Erwin Tulfo Weekend Edition.
Joel Paquito is one of the few farmers who become successful in farming and proved that one doesn't need to go abroad and leave your family to earn a decent income.
Watch his story below. Our hope is that his story will inspire Filipino farmers not to abandon farming.
Cordillera - An Igorot boxing promoter, Mr Brico Langbay Santig, is set to receive an award as the 2019 'South East Asia Promoter of the Year' from the Asian Boxing Council on March 14-16 in Bangkok, Thailand.
"WBC Asian Boxing Council is most pleased to inform you that you have been selected to receive the 2019 'South East Asia Promoter of the Year' award. The awards presentation will be held during the Gala Dinner night, on March 14 - 17, 7pm - 10pm, at the Athenee Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand," said in the letter sent to Santig.
According to WBC, Santig was chosen to receive the award because of his big contribution in the promotion of boxing and Muay Thai in the region.
Santig is the owner of the Higland Boxing Promotions located in La Trinidad, Benguet where most talented boxing champions come to train.
He also put up his own boxing gym in Manila and also in Bangkok, Thailand, where his family currently resides.
In 2019, he was awarded as the Boxing Promoter of the Year from the Kafagway/Kordillera International Sport Luminary Awards Podium.
His boxing promotion also recognized as being the Best Boxing Promotion in the Philippines.
Cordillera - The Philippines was hailed as the second most “Instagrammable” place in the world for 2021 following Tokyo, Japan when it comes picturesque destinations according to travel website Big 7 Travel.
Big 7 Travel based the result on a scoring system that analyzed the amount of hashtags per destinations, survey results from social media and input from it editorial team.
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Are you looking for a massive, magical sunflower fields for your next Instagram post?
This sunflower farms located in Shilan, Benguet, a 12 kilometer ride from Baguio City offers you a garden of fully bloom 10,000 sunflowers.
Photo Courtesy || Cordillera's Pride
You can have plenty of Instagram-worthy photos in different angles. We believe these fields will bloom until next month.
The location is not very far from Baguio. You can take jeepney ride from Magsaysay Avenue to Shilan. Look for the jeepney with Acop-Tublay route.
Cordillera - While young people of this generation abandon farming and go to the city, get a college degree and work as an employee of a company, this engineer from Benguet chose the opposite.
Joel Paquito, abandoned pursuing his career being a full time engineer after finishing his degree on electrical engineering and went back to farming instead.
Paquito, now a full time vegetable farmer in his local town in Bugiuas, Benguet said in an interview with Agribusiness that his heart was in to farming.
"May puso kasi ako sa farming. Yung namulatan kung trabaho ng magulang ko, lalo na yung tatay ko... Talagang yung puso ko bumalik sa farm," Paquito said.
Unlike from being an employee in a company where you have a boss, Joel said that in farming you are the boss and no one is pressuring and controlling you in whatever you want to do.
He said that what he learned from his degree in electrical engineering, he can also apply them in his work being a farmer.
Asked about the common problem of farmers who suffer from bankruptcy due to pest and oversupply of vegetables in the market, Joel admitted that he too suffered from not getting returns from his capital due to a disease that affected the soil.
However, Joel didn't easily give up otherwise, he will be the loser in the end. He gave an advice to his fellow farmers what to do when they face challenges and are affected with problems.
"Bilang farmer, kailangan mo ring maintindihan na ang lugi ay hindi ibig sabihin na yun na ang huli. Pag ang nasa isip natin ay tapos na baka hindi mo na mabawi [ang puhunan mo].
Joel said that you have to plant again even if your first plant was unsuccessful.
He also pointed out the importance of having some savings.
"Kailangang mag-ipon ka. Kung may pera kailang hindi mo dapat iwaldas lahat, darating ang panahon na yung tanim mo rin malulugi, meron tayong back-up," Joel shared.
"Karamihan talaga sa mga farmers pag may pera hindi iniisip ang kalugihan... Dapat sa mga farmers alam ang [pinagkaiba] ng 'needs at wants'... Alam natin ang kailangan natin sa farm at sa buhay, hindi lang puro 'wants'," he added.
Joel shared some tips to his fellow farmers in managing their finances when starting to farm. Since farming takes a month or two for soil preparation up to harvest, he advised that farmers should have an emergency fund allocated for the two months that they don't have an income. They can also take some extra work to get income while waiting for the harvest.
Joel proved that you don't need to go abroad or get a job from the city to make a good life. Because of his good principle in farming, he was able to buy his own car and build his own house.
Watch the whole interview of Joel below from Agribusiness
