ECO Banana

I am currently working for a banana exporting company that puts its thrust on growing chem.-less bananas. It is quiet ironic for the reason that majority of the large agricultural companies that are into banana export uses a variety of chemicals to boost its production. Our company is the only successful company that produces bananas without any chemicals that touches its fruits. The conventional bud injection and bud spray were replaced by a method that has been proven to eliminate the damages to fruits caused by insects. Also as part of our marketing strategy we have eliminated the use of herbicides to control weeds instead we employ manual weeding. Our Research and Development Department has only devised a way to cut into 50% the use of synthetic fertilizers. We are also strictly adhering to ISO standards and we are planning to upgrade it into IMS which covers 4 management system. Our company vision is for a sustainable business together with social, environment accountabilities. We are currently trying to eliminate the use of fertilizers and concentrate more on organic fertilizers and other nitrogen fixing plants. We are hopeful that our efforts can greatly help our environment without sacrificing our business sustainability.

GMA- Gininto ang Masaganang Ani.

The program of the Arroyo Administration named Gininto ang Masagnang Ani is a fundamentally sound program with the farmers as the beneficiaries. It seems like a very noble project from a government that is rocked by scandals everywhere. The government agency that spearheaded that said project presented a very detailed program that only needed the proper execution. A funding of 700 million was taken out from the treasury of the Philippines to finance the noble program. Its basic goal is to aid the local farmers in increasing their productivity through fertilizers. The recent home coming of the celebrated Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture will shed light to the anomalies surrounding the project. It will open the eyes of the common Filipino and give them the information on how their elected government squandered away the money intended for a noble cause. If the allegations are true it now sends a signal to us that we need to be vigilant these coming 2010 elections. We have the power to change our system to the election of the proper government officials. In the end what are needed are not brilliant guys with a tongue but honest man that works from the mind and the heart.

Money

The current wage for a minimum wage earner for agricultural firms is around 251 pesos per. day. The prices of our basic commodities are very high due to the volatile world markets and other speculations of selfish businessman. Whenever I talk to my subordinates in the field I would normally ask them about their lifestyle. I inquire from them what are their basic priorities in spending their hard earned salaries. I know that deep inside them they cry out for more income but I make them understand that the only way we are going to survive is through "belt tightening". When I started with my current company I was earning around 181 pesos per day as a clerk and I told my mother that I was frustrated about my salary. Her response was "even if you earn 1 million a day if you don't know how to spend your money your are going to lose it". Now I am earning far more better compared before and I still keep in my mind what my mother told me. It is better to save and be ready than to work for something when you only need it most.

Export market

I am currently employed in an exporting company. We are selling bananas and Japan is our major market. The current situation of our exchange rate plus the plunging of the oil prices somewhat makes me feel happy. Our company is selling in Dollars and we spend in Peso this means that nowadays we are very liquid. It is quite ironic that some local firms are now closing due to the high cost of production and our company together with other export firms are expanding. As an employee I feel happy that we can still have our jobs for the next few years but as a Filipino I am sad because our economy and other workers are being laid off. In the end I still feel lucky that our management has strong management fundamentals and they are capable of leading us in the years to come.

Peso depreciation

The current situation of our Philippine Peso is quite alarming from a high of 38 pesos vs the dollar it now stands at 49 pesos to a dollar. The forecast shows that for next month the change rate will be at 52 pesos to a dollar. It means that more Filipinos are going to bad times. Our financial institution tells us that we are safe but the truth is we are not. To describe it better the Philippine Economy is already in an Intensive Care Unit. The current cost of production by producers of basic commodities such as canned goods, noodles and other household products is high as they import raw materials for the production of these goods.The only positive sign nowadays is the plunging of the cost of oil at around $60 per barrel. This positive sign may not reach the normal consumers due to taxes and other production cost such as wage increases and other non monetary benefits for workers that will be covered by employers. The average inflation rate now stand at 12% this means that the worst is yet to come. Our only hope is that our biggest trade partner the United States will slowly recover from its economic woes. For us the common people the show must go on and the only secret that we have is to live by the principles " live life 1 day at a time" .

Motorcycle

Motorcycle is a very useful machine if you are a responsible operator. It is a very handy and cheap way for transportation. A small engine motorcycle has an average efficiency of 1 liter: 50 kilometers. Compared to 4 wheeled vehicles the highest efficiency is around 1 liter: 21 kilometers. The maintenance of the motorcycle is quite cheap compared to a 4 wheeled vehicles. The best thing about the motorcycle is that you can park it anywhere and it needs a very little space. The parts from the engine down to the tires are very cheap and can be sourced out to any motor parts dealer in the country. The negative side of the motorcycle is the rising incidence of motorcycle related accidents in the country. It has brought much death and suffering in our highways that our government needs to review the policies covering this type of vehicles. Motorcycle dealers should be regulated by the government and be punished by stiff penalties for releasing motorcycles even without the proper education to buyers. Our highways must be safe and we need to be vigilant against irresponsible drivers and those selling motorcycles.

Euro Generals

The recent scandal surrounding our PNP is the “Euro Generals” high ranking officers of the police force are allegedly squandering the money of the Filipinos. It is surprising that NIA airport officials did not monitor the said money going out of the country. The VIP treatment of officials leaving the airport is the cause of the problem. It is very shameful that our own local officials did not catch the money going out of the country. The big question is who pays for these official trips abroad? Probably the answer is the common people. The fixed income earners that are being taxed heavily to give pleasure for these corrupt officials to go on leisure trips and squander the money in trusted to them by the Philippines. It is painful to know that our government has been amassing revenues from taxes and other income generating centers with great success and yet our basic services does not show any improvements. When will these scandals end? Will the PNP really change? The PNP as an institution has a noble goal but the people in the seat of power are blinded by greed and self satisfaction. The saying maybe is true that “you will only know the character of a man when you give him power”.

Insurgency

The present regime has been declaring that it will crush the maoist-sytle insurgency in 2010. This promise has been part of the goals of every elected government of our country. Our armed forces has been trained and equipped to fight an internal threat that saw its rise during the dictatorship of the late strong man Ferdinand Marcos. The communist rebellion has been lurking behind the shadows of the present government waiting to strike hard and inflict damage in a guerilla type of warfare. The current situation of our beloved Mindanao Island is now alarming army soldiers waste their lives to fight against fellow Filipinos. A military action is part of the solution but it is not a long term answer to the problem. A long term solution is poverty alleviation of people in the country side and the education of the masses to give them a chance towards a decent livelihood. A government of transparency and decency must be installed to lessen the drift of the people. Ideologies and principle may always vary in a society but what is common is that we are all Filipinos and we are in the same country. Our goal is to be united and march towards progress.

Pick Up

I recently received my new vehicle assignment from my company. It is a well maintained white ford ranger pick up truck. I always wanted an S.U.V. for the reason that I thought it looks good to drive one plus it can carry more people in it without sacrificing their safety and comforts. When I received the vehicle I had some reservation about it because of my biases for the said vehicle type. It carries rather a small number of people plus I did not appreciate the use of the carrier. When I started to use the pick up for long trips out of town I realize that it runs quiet stable and the power is really good. Compared to an S.U.V. on its engine class the pick up responded well to my needs while cruising through zig-zag roads. The pick up also allows me to buy livestock or any other cheap things along the road without being afraid that it might smell bad inside the cabin. The best thing about driving a pick up such as mine is the versatility of the vehicle. It could be use on a rugged outdoor trip and also it can blend into the city. Now I understand the value of pick ups and I would not trade mine for an S.U.V.

Boss

A boss is a person with authority and the trust of the management. It is quiet good to be called a boss but to act like one is different. A boss is a model to his subordinates. He fuels the minds of his people and guides them towards achieving their goals. He must be responsible enough as a person for him to be trusted and followed by his subordinates. A boss that does not show the courage to accept that he failed is not a boss but an actor. He is an actor for the reason that he pretends that he does not commit mistakes. A boss does not accept mediocrity for it does not make anybody productive. His goal is to keep everybody work and his job will be measured through the results of others. He needs to think and working at the same time. It is hard to be a boss but it is easy to be called a boss.

Mothers

In the course of our life from childhood to adulthood our mother’s will always be at our side. She will always guide us and help us undertake every single part of our life whenever we need her. A mother’s love is the best gift for all of us. The pain of giving birth and the sacrifices they made just to give us a chance to see the beauty of the world is the most notable deed amongst humans. Mothers are worthy to be called heroes they are the person who we can trust to be with us during the darkest moments of our lives. We as children must love and care for our mother’s as she has loved and cared for us. We must express to them how important they are and accept them for what they are. We may think that our mother’s are not always right but we must weigh what they will be telling us after all no mother would want their own children get hurt.

Rifle

The rifle is the basic weapon of any armed forces in the world. It is used a source of fire power for the common foot soldiers. If used properly it can create a tactical advantage to opposing units. The rifle evolved from its humble beginning in the 1800 were metal balls were first used as bullets. Its firing range was near and its capability of damage was small thus bows, arrows and swords could evenly match the rifle especially when it is raining. The rifle evolved during World War 1 wherein bolt action rifles were manufactured with increase range and accuracy was achieved compared to early models. It was enhanced by new tactics of the “trench” wars and other maneuvers done by opposing countries. The rifle then became the back bone of the infantry units of the armed forces of western countries. When World War 2 started the rifle then evolved from bolt action to gas operated rifles with clip thus increasing its load and fire power capabilities. The introduction of the US made M1 Garand and the German sub machine guns enhanced the capabilities of the infantry into unprecedented proportions. Today the rifle is still being used as the primary weapon of the infantry. Research and development of countries are now aiming for more powerful rifles that will match the need of the future of peace making and law enforcement requirements.

Organic Farming

The Agriculture sector today employs a lot of people. It also provides a big chunk of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product. The sector also helps lower the cost of living of our country due to the goods it provides for domestic consumption. As of the moment the Philippine Agriculture relies on pesticides and other synthetic materials to increase its productivity. It is mainly anchored on exported chemicals which in turns increase the cost of production of farmers. The latest problem that our community and the world are facing nowadays is Global warming. This phenomenon has hit our Agriculture sector as a whole. Rains and prolonged dry spell affects the productivity of our plants and also increases the population of pest that causes damage to crops. Our government must make a move geared towards organic farming. It‘s principle must be based on how to reduced slowly the use of pesticides and other synthetic fertilizer and still maintain the desired productivity of a farm. Our government should craft a law with a “teeth” that aims to subsidize farmers that goes into organic production. This should entice farmers to try the organic way of farming. We should seriously consider this move today as it would be one of the deciding factors of our nation and the world. It should also review the method of large multinational companies and penalize the excessive use of harmful chemicals that will contaminate our water and soil rendering it useless for the future generations.

Battle Tanks

Battle tanks are the most effective tool for infantry cover during an assault. It is considered to be a vital force that usually changes the tide of battle due to its strong fire power and armor capability. The Philippine problem on insurgency is considered to be the longest internal security threat of the nation. The rugged terrain of the country side where armed confrontations between the government and it enemies takes place needs a type of tanks that is mobile and at least armed with high power weapons such .30 caliber and .50 caliber machine guns. The enemy has only small rifle weapons and limited resources but has mastery of the terrain. The government troops are well equipped compared to its enemies but terrain mastery is a problem. The role of battle tanks in the field is to give a concentrated fire and armor capability for troops to maneuver and set up a position of advantage during combat. It is an advantage that has long been enjoyed by troops of the government against its enemies. The only problem is its maintenance and proper distribution wherein majority of the governments light armored tanks are located in Mindanao. The Armed forces of the Philippines has a variety of battle tanks that serves along side the infantry as support units these are V-300 commandos, V150 commandos, Scorpion tanks, M-113 APC and the newest addition the SIMBA tanks .

Fighter Planes

The “Shock and Awe” operations lead by the United States to topple down the regime of Saddam Hussein the dictator of Iraq is considered to be a well coordinated plan of surgical air strikes. The mission was to inflict much damage on Saddam’s power centers such as his Presidential Palaces and communication centers without sacrificing the human population of central Iraq. It is a tactical offensive that requires overwhelming air power, dominant battlefield awareness, dominant maneuvers, and spectacular displays of force to paralyze an adversary's perception of the battlefield and destroy its will to fight. The strategy was air dominance through the use of the modern warplanes from strategic points around the world. The United States Air force is the most modern and well equipped unit around the world. Its aircraft is capable of crippling enemy defenses with much precision with optimal damage. The components of the American Air force are a variety of planes such as F-14 tomcats, F22 raptors, B2 spirit bombers, F-16 Falcon and F-15 Eagles. The planes are considered to be the back bone of the United States air force.




The F-18 Hornet was first used in the 1970's. The most used US Navy plane is the all-around F-18 which can carry bombs, missiles and fuel tanks. The top speed of the F-18 is Mach 1.8, about 1,000 miles per hour.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the best selling fighter plane in the world. In 1975 the F-16 was the top performing fighter plane, but the F-18 was chosen for use in the navy instead. It is said to be the BMW of planes, because of its agility.

The F-15 Eagle is the most powerful of the USA planes. It was designed in the 1960's and had very good success in the Middle East, with almost 100 kills and no F-15's lost. The F-15 is primarily an air to air fighter with a secondary option for air to ground.

The F-14 Tomcat first went into service in 1972. The F-14 was first upgraded so that it could fire at six targets all at once each over 100 miles away. The most recent upgrade allows it to use laser guided bombs at night.

The F-22 Raptor was built to replace the F-15 Eagle. The F-22 has almost the same engine as the F-15 and is able to go up to Mach 2.5, the same as the F-15. The difference between the F-15 and F-22 is that the wing is moved back on the F-22.

Mindanao

The island of Mindanao is considered to be the back bone of the Philippine Economy. It is for the reason that the island provides at least a total of 60% of the total food requirement of the country. It ‘s agricultural land is suitable for growing everything from rice to bananas and other root crop can serve as food for the ordinary people. The island is also blessed because it is not plagued by typhoons unlike some other parts of the Philippines. The only problem of the island is the volatile Peace and order situation of Central Mindanao that has anchored through generations. The recent attacks of renegade MILF commanders in central Mindanao Island has put the island on the limelight of journalism that delivers negative impact for Mindanao as a whole. We as Mindanawons have a sacred duty to tell the world that war is not equal to Mindanao it just like any other place such as Thailand and Indonesia that has people with different principles and ideology. Mindanao is a magnificent Island with beautiful beaches and mystical wonders that is left undiscovered as of the moment. We should be thankful that Mindanao is a great provider for all of us. In return we must protect and be vigilant in stopping or correcting the views that Mindanao is a dangerous place to live in.

Final Resting place

Yesterday I went to Compostela Valley to join the burial rites of a man that touched mylife. We are not relatives and our only connection is that he was our neighbor when I was young. My father died when I was very young and it came on a time least expected. He suffered a heart attack while watching T.V. after dinner. We were very confused during the moment ,my mother was afraid during the incident and we cried out for help. Upon hearing our cries manong Boy immediately went to our house and offered to bring my father to the hospital. I was praying to God to save my father while looking at him board at the back of his pick up and they sped away towards the hospital. I am happy even though my father did not survive that incident a person whole heartedly helped us in our efforts to save the life of my father. I realized from that moment that if you plant good deeds to your neighbor you will also harvest good fruits from it . When I knew about his death I mourned silently and prayed for his soul. We arrived in Compostela and we directly went to his house and accompanied the march toward the church and his grave. I stood in front of his grave and thanked him for what he did to us 13 years ago and I thank his wife and told him that your husband touched my life during its darkest moment.

I'm joining the MBS2 ..Yohoo!

I have been informed through YM about the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit that will be held in General Santos City this October 25-26,2008. In a way I felt excited to join this activity and be able to mingle with other bloggers from Mindanao. Blogging for me before is just a way of expressing once self but as time goes on it also stimulates my mind and in other ways help me with some of my finances. I am optimistic that even if there are only 100 slots , I would be given a chance to join and be part of this unforgettable activity.

Thank you to the following for making 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit possible:

CO-PRESENTERS:
City Mayor Pedro B. Acharon, Jr.
Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio
NOKIA
Department of Tourism XII
ABS-CBN Regional Network Group
Bariles Republic
Gen. Santos City Tourism Association
SOCCSKSARGEN Blogers



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For more details check this out : Mindanao Blogger Summit

Opportunity

Last Sunday around 9 a.m. a man visited our house unexpectedly. My mother was first to see him as she was doing some chores around our store. He was the former big boss of my father and he is a very known man in the banana industry.My mother was surprised to see the man in front of our house. It has been quite sometime that she saw him. The man asked my mother if I am around and that he needs to talk to me. He was accompanied by one of our neighbor, his former subordinate and a close friend to us. After some talking he told me the real reason why needs to talk to me. He was offering me a juicy job that would immediately double my earnings as of the moment. Honestly, I felt excited and good, I cannot believe that this man trust me even if I am very young in terms of experience. He told me that if I accept his offer he would also get a few people in my present company and he would double their salary. For me I think this is an opportunity to help some of my trusted people to uplift their financial security in life. I am now again experiencing a burden of making a very heavy decision. A decision that will completely change the course of my career and the lives of my trusted men.