Readers yearn for the inner transformation of the Filipinos

(Part 2 of a series on Readers’ responses since 2003)

Here are more responses from my readers. This time I have chosen letters on education, agriculture, the environment, and our government.

On Re-Engineering Education

From Fr. Agoes S. Rahardjo, MS, golden [email protected] — "I am a missionary priest working in a school (elementary and high school) in Isabela. I enjoy and am very much edified reading your articles in The Philippine STAR. May I avail of the contents of the Montessori curricula and other related materials you are using at present? I believe that we can do something to better our education program, though I observe that most of our teachers have settled for mediocrity by conforming their lesson plans and activities with what DepEd has prescribed only. I salute you for taking the initiative to provide us in the faraway places of the Philippines with your articles and encouragement. God bless your mission for our pupils’ and students’ education."

(I’m glad that the Montessori curriculum has excited you, but it will be difficult for you to assimilate it without proper training. I will refer you to our OB Montessori College department so they can give you more information on the two-year Proficiency Course on Montessori Education for your teachers. You may also try to reach my good friend Captain Dennis Eclarin, a Scout Ranger, from Santiago, Isabela who put up the Home Town MicroFinance Corporation.)

Fr. Rahardjo replied, "Thanks a lot for your reply. Please continue to write your column so we can keep updating our knowledge and be encouraged to excel in our vocation as teachers."

The Engagement And Marriage Game In High School

From Marizel B. Correos, Plaridel, Bulacan — "I am a mother of an incoming senior student. I have saved enough courage and guts to write you for a favor. I will appreciate very much if you will grant or share with me an article you wrote a couple of years or more ago, about your school exercise — The Engagement and Marriage Game in High School."

"It is about your senior students in OB Montessori undergoing mock-up exercises from courtship to planning the wedding, house rent, pregnancy symbolized by an egg in a basket, miscarriage, and hospital costs. I know it is a good preparation for parents and kids like ours who will graduate from high school and soon will face the challenge of college life and adulthood. Is it possible for you to give me the details of that exercise so I can discuss it with my co-parents and maybe we can work it out with the school administration of Colegio de Sta. Philomena in Pulilan, Bulacan?

"I hope and pray that we can help these children prepare themselves to what God will commission them to do and be a catalyst in their community."

On Duplicating The Montessori Farms

From Lolita Abonitalla, [email protected] — "I take my hats off to you for coming up with the Montessori farms. I am so glad and thankful for someone like you, who in your stature could be expected to just lounge around and be blind against the sufferings of our people. Instead, you are busy with such commendable projects like the high school farms, which contribute to sustainable developments."

"Our country is largely agricultural but due to lack of incentives and support, agricultural production has been set aside in the career choice of Filipinos. Today, many graduates don’t have jobs or are underemployed in clerical, selling, as well as domestic work. It is my fervent wish then that the farm schools will be replicated many times over in various parts of the country and attract as well as encourage students to set their eyes on agricultural production rather than on courses that may not assure them of decent jobs.

"I hope some individuals will solicit financial assistance from corporations and wealthy people for the expansion of the farm schools and scholarships for poor students who could not afford the tuition fees in their schools. I hope the wealthy will realize that their wealth can only be assured and even be amplified if the poor can finally be able to contribute actively to expanding our economy."

The Flying Dutchmen And The Horticulture Fair 2004

From Dempta Baluda, [email protected] — "I read with great interest your article on the above subject. Great nakakainggit sila (the Dutch) on their horticulture business. I wish we have a similar thing here in the Philippines."

"I am a great lover and enthusiast of plants and flowers. Your article was very informative and interesting. I agree with you and it is lamentable that our Department of Agriculture has really focused on cash crops and the farmers do not get much support on horticulture plants. You see, I am from the Province of Benguet.

"Many vegetable farmers are slowly shifting from vegetables to horticulture plants, especially now that Baguio veggies are getting stiff competition from imported ones as a result of the trade liberalization. How I wish the government would give more support on endeavors such as this. How I wish, too, that our local growers would be more united in order that they would become a strong force to reckon with and would then be able to get support from the government. Your question, ‘Can we hope one day for the sun to shine in the Philippine horticulture industry with partnership of private entrepreneurs and local government leaders?’ — echoes my sentiments, too.

"Another thing that caught my attention in your article is the item on dry flowers and colored weeds business in Thailand which has grown to a 30 million bhat export business, encouraged by His Majesty."

On The Environment

From DENR Secretary Elisea Gozun — "We are delighted as we read your column entitled, Let Us Take Care of the Forests, which is actually Part 3 of your series of articles on My Beloved Planet. The article, very informative as it is, will certainly enlighten many people given the wide circulation of your newspaper. We hope that it would also reach those who are abusing our forests and jolt them to realize that they are actually putting at risk the future of their own children."

"We thank you for helping us raise awareness about the need to protect the environment."

From Mayor Rodolfo Guerrero, Anao, Tarlac, [email protected] — "Your column, How Science Excite Children caught my interest. I like the ideas stated and want to share it with our children, but I missed the Part I. I would appreciate it very much if you can send me a copy as soon as possible."

From Felix Garlitos, [email protected] - "Please e-mail me a copy of your article, Learning to Expect the Unexpected. I am looking into the vulnerability of the Ilocos Coast Line, particularly Ilocos Norte from Laoag City to Currimao. Will you help me access available study materials? I also want to know more about the Philippine Mobile Belt, the Eurasia and the Sunda Block."

On Coco Husk And Coco Fiber

From Voltaire V. Guevara, Cagayan de Oro City, [email protected] — "I read your article, Harnessing the Academe’s Initiatives and Linkages for Sustainable Livelihood, regarding the trade opportunities being offered to the Philippines by China. One of the products mentioned, which China is very interested about is the coconut husk. Can you give me further advice as to where and how I can get related information about this particular subject? My friend and I want to know specifically the required volume per year, the manner of transporting and storing, as well as shipping requirements. We are based here in Mindanao and we look at this as an opportunity we would like to consider."

From Omar E. Chio, [email protected] — "I came across your column with the subtitle, A Success Story: Pioneering Activity on Coconut Fiber Manufacturing, and I would like to get in touch with Dr. Justino Arboleda. I hope you can help me get his address, email or telephone number."

(With regards to coconut husk by-product, you may contact Dr. Justino R. Arboleda — CEO of Cocogreen, products of Coco Technologies Corp. His e-mail address is [email protected].)

From Asst. Prof. Reynaldo V. De Vera, Jr., [email protected] — "Our College President of Camarines Norte State College, Daet, Camarines Norte is interested in piña fiber for our future income generating project considering that our province is largely producing Formosa or Queen Pineapple. However, at present the leaves become part of the waste or unproductive portion of the plant due to our lack of information. We want to make use of this, if possible, with the assistance of your friend, Professor Noi Thongtham, who is an expert on piña fiber."

(You may also connect with Engr. Lourdes Orijola, Director of the Technology Application and Planning Institute of DOST. They have extensive studies on local piña fiber.)

On Our Government

From Vincent Celis, Vincent.Celis@southend. nhs.uk — "It is a great joy reading your article, Get Involved: Write to President GMA and World Leaders. I am here in the United Kingdom working as a nurse but I still try to manage and get a chance to have a look on what is going on in our country. What is happening is a little bit depressing for all of us here working away from our families. No matter how hard we try to uplift our images in a different land we do not have the courage to discuss it with them in our everyday conversation. I really find your article today very hopeful and encouraging to everyone. I hope all those politicians have time to read it and reflect so they can have guidance to follow in their everyday lives. More power! I am still proud to be a Filipino as long as there are people like you out there."

From Dr. Virgilia B. Causing, Ed.D., [email protected] — "Congratulations for your very informative column, Belgium Welcomes the World to Share Federal Experiences, regarding the pleasant and successful performance of countries with Federal governments. Many professors of Political Science in our university are suggesting that your group who attended the conference in Belgium should share your extensive knowledge on Federalism by holding at least three echo conferences in Manila, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro. (Similar seminars on Federalism have already been held in Cebu and Davao.) The local universities in these cities will gladly co-sponsor these echo conferences with UNESCO. These conferences are very timely in view of the current movement to revise, change or amend our Constitution through the Constitutional Convention. The time to adopt the Federal System of government has arrived — and nothing can stop it now." >

The Patient’s Wife’s Prayer

Last week, I mentioned the story of Mrs. del Barrio who has been very patient with her husband’s ailment of meningitis and diabetes ever since they got married over 50 years ago. She has been a devotee of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal who has seen her through her husband, her eldest daughter, her son-in-law, and her own catastrophic ailment. Today, she is at peace with herself and continues to fulfill her vow to Mama Mary to pray for cancer patients. Below is a very beautiful prayer she sent me.

From Eugenia D. Del Barrio — "Thank you for the gift of life, and for the blessing to be among those who know that You are the Son of God. Thank you for the Gift of sight that let me see the wondrous things You made and for my soul to help me see beyond my sight. Thank you for all the things and especially my heart in which you placed magnetic seeds of grace that drew me forever to your love. I know you hold me forever in the palm of your hand and shield me with Your Holy Face. Yet as years go by, Lord, I fear the yoke of sickness and pain and worry how my life will end.

"And so, I humbly come to ask You, Lord, that when my time comes to leave here below, do not call me by sudden death, not by accident that tears the body apart, not by illness that leaves the mind confused or the senses impaired, not at the mercy of evil forces, not with a heart filled with hate or a body racked with pain, not abandoned, lonely, without love or care, not by my own hand in a moment of despair.

"Jesus, let death come as a gentle friend to sit and linger with me until You call my name. Then, let me enter Your Heavenly Home to receive Your final gift of grace to be near You forever and look upon the divine countenance of Your Holy Face.

Jesus, grant me the desire to love You more each day. Amen."

(Next week: Part 3 of a series on Readers’ responses since 2003)

(For more information or reaction, please e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected])