July 31, 2016

“Civilization is a conspiracy....Modern life is the silent compact of comfortable folk to keep up pretenses.” -John Buchan (1875- 1940)

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Kibungan, Benguet - “Please take this as a keepsake from us, to your good health,” Pastor Manuel Gapew said. He is the President of the Napsong-Sacaang –Camiling Coffee Arabica Growers Association, assisted by the CHARMP2 Project to improve the livelihood of its members.

I stand on top of the mountain and watch Bayyo, an old border community between Ifugao and Mountain Province. I wish that I would be contemplating about the same story the generations know about the rice terraces. I wish I can tell myself it is the same story that you will read; a history repeated throughout the generations to this day. Is it? Thus is my compelling desire at the moment realizing that the sameness and the changes that occurred throughout the years are both obvious now, if you ask me.

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Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol has announced the targets of the Department of Agriculture for the first 100 days of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Piñol has identified at least 14 items for the DA’s to-do list for the first 100 days: