First in our list of worthy models is a very well-liked and respected yet very humble columnist of The FREEMAN, Mr. Juanito Jabat. Sincere congratulations, Sir, for your recent very well-deserved award!
Who does not know this writer who makes you smile and laugh with his wit? As I only email my articles for my weekly columns, I miss the opportunity to meet many of my colleagues at The FREEMAN, including Sir Jabat!
The few times I had the honor to meet him were during annual gatherings sponsored by this paper for all the hardworking staff and partners of The FREEMAN. It was only during the last Christmas party of this paper that finally, I had the chance not only to meet Sir Jabat but to personally tell him how wonderful he makes us readers feel with his witty columns!
It was also during that occasion that I learned that he was editor-in-chief of BANAT, the sister newspaper of The FREEMAN. Under his very inspiring and well-loved leadership, together with the inspired effort, time and attention of the rest of the staff, BANAT ranked number 1 most widely read newspaper throughout this region!
During that occasion, I also learned that this very unassuming gentle person was instrumental in giving the first career break in writing to a noted media practitioner!
Very highly respected at work and holding a very prominent position, Sir Jabat can well afford to behave like a Lord and take on a very high profile and well deserved at that! However, it is his very quiet, humble disposition that draws you to this worthy model. While his wit and humor start the readers off to a good, happy day, it is his quiet but very calm presence that makes one want to just wholesomely embrace him or just be around him.
Thank you, Sir Jabat, for brightening our day with your humor and wit! Thank you too for showing us through your humility, the real meaning of greatness, and through your quiet but determined leadership, bumabanat ang BANAT sa Visayas at Mindanao!
A second worthy model is the food production program initiated by colleague Leo Lastimosa in their ABS “backyard.” In this time of graver crisis, there is no wiser move than to ensure that steady supply of food — preferably organic, please — is made available to all, especially the most needy.
Like Leo, we believe that doing organic farming and growing healthy food within your background can be taken up by everyone. In times of high unemployment, available food can give renewed energy and hope to the hungry and jobless. Leo’s drive to encourage all to produce their own food where they are now is a timely reminder about what is essential and urgently needed by our people and our nation. If only everyone, especially the politicians, see the real value of self-reliant, healthy food production all throughout all land!
And speaking of healthy food production, we should not miss adding Roberto “Bob” Bajenting of the Department of Agrarian Reform to our list of worthy models! Bob will always find the time if you ask him to help you start an organic farming program wherever you are. He will be very happy as well to show you around the farms and gardens that he helped set up!
Through his passionate campaign for effective resource management (alternative waste management and organic farming, among others), Bob has encouraged farms to grow where there were only idle and even dirty areas before. Bob has also inspired Boys Town personnel to not only decrease their quantity of garbage but to recycle their trash and convert these to treasures in the form of food-producing gardens! Bob is also an expert in biogas production and rain water catchments! For more effective resource management, Bob is the guy you want around!
He does not only train and help construct resource-saving structures. Bob shares his precious time ensuring that the effective distribution and marketing of the healthy produce of the farmers and other resource producers he has assisted! So for those who want to have a steady supply of organic rice, Bob Bajenting is the person you will want to contact! He can also give you tips about how to get fresh huge organic vegetables and when supply is ample, even organic healthy muscovado sugar!
There are certainly more to include in this list of worthy models. Perhaps you may wish to write us about inspiring models who bring the sun to people’s lives?
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Email: cherryb_thefreeman@yahoo.com