Reviving interest in agriculture
THE COUNTRY was a predominantly agriculturebased land some decades ago and until today when we need to revive interest on farming and agriculture.
Our country is definitely suited to planting crops on which we mainly depend for food and nutrition.
The idea of putting up a pr ogram toencouragemore young. Filipinos to engage in farming and help attain the goal of food security in the
countryislaudable.
It is not the Department of Agriculture but the Department of Agrarian Reform which is the main proponent of the program to give three hectares of land for each fresh graduate of agricultural courses which can serve as their farm laboratories where they can apply the theories and practices they learned in schools.
It is not debatable that agriculture has back-stopped our transition to an economy-based on services and manufacturing. The main industries where we focus our resources today are: electronic assembly, aerospace, business process outsourcing, food manufacturing, shipbuilding, chemicals, textiles, garments, metals, petroleum, refining, fishing, steel and to a minimum, rice.
During the time of President Ramon Magsaysay, we have been exporters of rice to other Asian countries and we even taught their scientists the rudiments of rice production.
Nowadays, sorry to say, we are big importers of rice, from Thailand and Vietnam. What happened, George?
Our farmers remain poor and dependent on loan sharks. That's why, more than ever, they urgently need government support to tide them over.
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On another matter, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso is one local chief executive who put the concerns of his constituents first on his priority list.
Lately, he announced that no one among Manilans would endure empty stomachs on Christmas as he found the means to provide every Manilan the food for his table and family. He is also alert and focused in the acquisition of the anti-COVID 19 vaccine.
The event was attended by less than 200 event organizers, government officials and the media. Despite the lack of the usual spectators, there was still the huge police contingent, health and safety personnel who even outnumbered the select few who managed to attend the festival.
The event started with a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by San Fernando Archbishop Florentino Lavarias.
Only seven lanterns participated this year which included Bulaon, Calulut, Santo Nino, Santa Lucia, San Juan, San Nicolas and Telabastagan.
Each lantern still followed the usual showcase display of three minute exhibition and showdown with another giant lantern to the tune of all-original Kapampangan music. This year, however, the festival was not a competition. All lanterns went on a grand light display at the end of the program.
Some 440 views of the livestream of the program in different official social media accounts have been registered as of press time. Viewers include spectators as far as Spain, the middle East, United States and and the Netherlands.
What started as a lantern contest to honor and thank then President Manuel Quezon for converting Mount Arayat into a tourist resort had turned into a yearly spectacle.
The Giant Lantern Festival, popularly known locally as the “Ligligan Parul” has become an annual festival held in December (Saturday before Christmas Eve) in this city.
The popularity of the festival has earned the City of San Fernando and Pampanga the monicker "Christmas Capital of the Philippines".
The GLF is a competition of 10 to 12 feet height lanterns that are made by barangays with standing lantern-making traditions.
It is seen as recognition from atop of the significance of the lantern industry here in helping local tourism and craftsmanship of local craftsmen and artisans.