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Alfonso Lista, Ifugao—More than 1,300 farmers of this town will

soon enjoy year-round irrigation for their rice and corn fields as the construction of the Alfonso Lista

Pump Irrigation Project has already started.

The pump project, being implemented by the Department of Agriculture’s National Irrigation Administration, has a total budget allocation of P360 million and is expected to be completed in 2014. For this year, the project has an initial budget of P50 million. Engr. John Socalo, NIA-CAR regional manager, said that about 1,030 hectares of currently rain-fed agricultural lands in Barangays Sto. Domingo, Namillangan and Calupaan are expected to be irrigated by the

PUMP IRRIGATION PROJECT to benefit 1,300 farmers in Ifugao

project. Out of the programmed area of 1,030 ha, 540 hectares will be utilized for rice production while the remaining 490 ha will be for diversified crops during the dry season. During the wet season, the total 1,030 ha will be devoted to rice production. When completed, the irrigation project will increase production of paddy rice at an increment of 7.443 tons annually which is expected to be a big boost to the stability of domestic grain supply. The pump to be installed will draw irrigation water from the Magat Dam and water will be diverted to the service area through construction of pump sumps and irrigation canals at strategic areas. Alongside the canals are access roads for the operation and maintenance of the project upon completion.

Flora, Apayao—The National Irrigation Administration Apayao Irrigation Management Office has recently completed a communal irrigation system (CIS) in this town which benefits 40 agrarian reform beneficiaries. The P6-million irrigation system called Sta. Maria-Allig CIS (Lagac area) has rehabilitated a total area of 65 hectares of rain-fed riceland in Barangay Sta. Maria. According to NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo, the project involved the repair and concreting of the previously non-functional canals of the irrigation system. The area rehabilitated was covered by the former Lagac CIS

NIA completes agrarian reform irrigation project for Apayao town

which was built in the 1980s but was not operational for years due to the deterioration and damages in the canal system. With the completion of the project funded by the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III (ARISP-III), farmers who used to plant once a year can now plant twice annually following the prescribed cropping calendar. The Sta. Maria Allig CIS is the second completed project in the region under the ARISP-III, the first being the Daguioman CIS in Daguioman, Abra. Meanwhile, Engr. Ronilio

The service road of the Alfonso Lista PIP is already taking shape

as the project commences this year. Areas on both sides of the road will for part of the service area.

Photo courtesy of Engr. John Esnara

Photo courtesy of Engr. Roni Cervantes

2

Cervantes, NIA-CAR ARISP Coordinator, reported that there are eight other irrigation projects in CAR under the ARISP-III which are ongoing. These are the Anao CIS and Umalbong CIS, both in Hingyon Ifugao, Haliap-Panubtuban in Asipulo, Ifugao, Monamon Norte CIS in Bauko, Mt. Province, Sadanga Upland CIP in Sadanga, Mt. Province, Bunog Matoc CIP in Tinglayan, Kalinga, Balenciagao CIP in Pasil, Kalinga, and Amgam CIS in Bakun, Benguet.

NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo joins the Irrigators’ Association during the turnover and inauguration of the Naybaliw-Labilab CIS in Brgy. Labilab, Itogon, Benguet on July 18, 2012. Photo courtesy of Mithus Galao

CY 2012 PROJECTSAs of September 30, 2012

No. ABSOROF PTIVE JOB

PROJ PHY FIN CAP. GENSUMMARY PER FUND:

a. REGULAR:1 SIP 77 203,342.00 483 302 117 902 64 65 100 1,190 1,5832 RREIS 117 137,945.00 15 902 672 1,589 75 76 100 2,647 1,2753 CIS EXTN PROJ 58 85,239.00 234 541 134 909 68 69 100 1,618 7064 REGPIP 32 12,520.00 220 10 10 240 100 100 100 268 156

Sub-total 284 439,046.00 952 1,755 933 3,641 69 70 100 5,724 3,720

b. OTHER FUNDS:1 CALAMITY(40.5M) 22 40,500.00 0 204 5 209 74 73 100 403 3582 CALAMITY(228.5M) 96 228,500.00 0 14,586 189 14,775 89 89 100 10,924 2,4483 ARISP III 9 128,741.03 0 155 15 170 61 60 100 170 9434 CRENIS 17 22,000.00 0 189 0 189 50 50 100 112 131

Sub-total 144 419,741.03 0 15,133 209 15,342 77 77 100 11,609 3,880

c. LINE PROJECTS:1 WAAIS Extension 1 20,000.00 0 0 0 0 14 14 100 0 342 Marimay SRIP 1 80,000.00 0 0 0 0 3 3 100 0 283 Alfonso PIP 1 50,000.00 0 0 0 0 15 15 100 0 904 UCRIS Extension 1 98,000.00 0 100 0 100 10 15 100 105 1795 Upper Butigue SRIP 1 100,000.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0

Sub-total 5 348,000.00 0 100 0 100 7 8 100 105 331

433 1,206,787.03 952 16,989 1,142 19,083 54 54 100 17,437 7,931

NAMETOTAL

ALLOCATION (P'000)

ACTUAL ACCOMPLISHMENT TO DATE

ACCOMP.AREA, HA.

NEW REST'DPROJECTSTATUS OF

FBTOTALREHAB

Note: 317 out of 433 projects were already completed to date and 116 projects are on going.

OF

TOTAL FOR CAR

news

NIA-CAR completes 317 irrigation projects

La Trinidad, Benguet - The National Irrigation Administration-Cordillera Administrative Region has already completed 317 irrigation projects including some projects under the calamity funds. The completed projects were able to generate new area of 952 hectares, rehabilitate 16,989 ha and restored 1,142 ha. To date, more than 17,000 farmers are already benefitting from these projects while 7,931 jobs were generated during construction. As of September 30, NIA-CAR has registered an overall accomplishment of 54%. NIA-CAR top management officials are positive that targets will be attained by the end of the year. They have already designed catch up plans to speed up project completion. For 2012, NIA-CAR has a total of 433 projects with a total allocation of 1.2 billion pesos. Of these, five are line projects, namely Marimay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP), Upper Butigue SRIP, WAAIS and UCRIS Extension under the World Bank-funded PIDP, and Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project. Meanwhile, programs of work for 2013 projects are also being prepared because the NIA aims to start construction of 2013 projects as early as January next year.

Tebteb ni Cordillera

Tug of War. Farmers pull their strength together as they install the cabled pipeline of Lubot Kinawalan Communal Irrigation System in Beleng-Belis, Kapangan, Benguet. Photo courtesy of Engr. Sammy Kimbungan

Completed Diversion Weir of Fichud-Taliwe Communal Irrigation System in Kadaclan, Barlig, Mt. Province. Photo courtesy of KIMP-IMO

NIA completes...from page 1...

Laugh and Live!

The Official Newsletter of the NIACordillera Administrative Region

Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet

Editorial AdviserJOHN L. SOCALO

Tebteb ni Cordillera are Ibaloi words meaning

Spring of the Cordillera. With the region dubbed as the “Watershed

Cradle of Northern Philippines”, this paper hopes to see the headwaters of rivers in the

North eternally and lavishly flow.

Tebteb is also called Eb-eb, Obob, Bubon or Ub-bog in

other parts of the Cordillera.

EDITORIAL STAFF

Tebteb ni Cordillera welcomes contributory articles, feaures and pictures.

Contributors for this issuePURIFICACION CUARESMAWINSTON DAOASLEAN TABIGNE

Associate EditorsRITA L. AFIDCHAOHELEN T. LAOYAN

Editorial ConsultantsGRACE A. FANGEDBENITO T. ESPIQUE, JR.

Editor-in-Chief/Lay-outMYLENE I. MALECDAN

OPINION 3July-September 2012

Have you ever wondered why our country is full of poor but happy people as well as smiling carabaos? Well, not a day goes by that you don’t hear of a hilarious story here and there. As a matter of fact, in all systems and areas of life, from politics and bureaucracy to schools and family, we, Filipinos, have the ability to make things light if just to provide some relief to serious situations.

From the halls of Malacañang to the farthest flung areas of the land, people confront changes or various scenarios by making jokes out of the situation. Who would not laugh at us, anyway, when looking from outside the country borders? Here live a bunch of people calling themselves conservatives but allowing annulment of marriages and keep on arguing on how to control their mounting population, poor people who can afford to own the latest gadget that comes out, and some leaders who do not trust anybody and so worry to death how the Philippines will fare when they are gone. The list of funny things goes a long way, only in the Philippines. Why should I follow my friends abroad when they cannot find relief to tension brought by their work? I would rather stay here and be happy, though poor I may remain until the day I die. Now you know the answer to the opening question.

I know of a couple who had their marriage annulled, then married each other again. Now, that’s really an inspiring love story, though admittedly funny too. It means that we may commit mistakes in our decision making sometimes but can make up when we come back to our senses, or when our senses come back to us. But how many couples have the courage to do the same? The sorry thing is that in life, when we make mistakes, there are consequences whose brunt we must bear, sometimes, for life. However, we can make things easier to bear if we carry with us a bagful of humor.

The funnier thing is, we, in the government, hope to elicit trust from the public, but we do not trust ourselves completely. Politicians say never trust a politician. That must be a joke. Why would they run for public office if they themselves profess that they are not trustworthy? When I was new in the service, I thought it was just another source of living, a job. Now I know better. It is a coin with two sides, and one must be discerning to survive. A discerning individual, for instance, would ask questions like “Who fixes the fixer?”

by Helen Laoyan

Climate change is affecting us in more challenging ways. In September, PAG-ASA predicted the occurrence of a dry spell that starts this last quarter and may last until April next year. While our hands are kept busy by all the restoration and rehabilitation works, the El Niño phenomenon comes like a dark cloud threatening that quest. When we look back to the El Niño phenomenon in 2010, river streamflows in CAR dropped far below the normal level. Hectares of service areas were totally affected which caused huge production losses in rice, corn and other food staples. The effects are agonizing to the agricultural sector. Now that a dry spell incident is again looming in the background when all sectors are in full blast to reach our dream of a food self-sufficient Philippines, we have to be one step ahead of our opponent. Though we hope that the event will be less destructive to crop development and output, we cannot let our FSSP at stake. To mitigate the debilitating effects of this predicted environmental difficulty, the irrigation sector has prepared strategic action plans from November 2012 to April 2013. Included in the plans is the programming of small farm reservoirs and shallow tube wells along strategic areas. Water wastages and seepages shall also be minimized through repair of control gates, dredging of silted riverbeds, and desilting of canals. Farmers are also enjoined to adopt water management practices such as the alternate wetting and drying or controlled irrigation and other water savings techniques. NIA-IA agreement of water delivery schedules as well as cropping calendars will be continuously enforced. Early maturing varieties of rice and diversified crops that require less water can also be planted. Together with all the other mitigating actions of other agencies, these will help us get over this phenomenon. Still, our quest for food self-sufficiency continues. Obstacles may come, but may we always find ways to jump over those obstacles. Our unity and commitment will see us through.

Our quest continues!

JOHN L. SOCALO Regional Manager

from the RIM's table

news4

Some 37 staff of the National Irrigation Administration have

enhanced their writing skills and are now ready to contribute articles for NIA publications after attending the News, Feature, Editorial Writing

and Photojournalism Seminar-Workshop held at the Hotel Supreme Convention Plaza in Baguio City on

July 16-20, 2012.

The participants were composed of selected staffs from CAR, Region 1 and the Public Affairs and Information Staff (PAIS) of NIA-Central Office.

“Write to express, not to impress,” said Robert Baldago, Director of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Region 3 and the main resource speaker of the five-day activity. Director Baldago advised the participants to think and plan beforehand before writing because “clear writing is the result of clear thinking”.

Other speakers of the activity were Mr. Carlo Lorenzo Datu of the PIA-Region 3 and Ms. Portia Palma of PIA-Central Office.

In his message, Engr. John L. Socalo, Regional Manager of NIA-CAR, challenged the participants to use the power of information to help attain NIA’s objectives, generate cooperation from its clients and facilitate the implementation of the Food Staple Self Sufficiency Program (FSSP) of the government.

NIAns train on news, feature, editorial writing and photojournalism

Meanwhile, PAIS Manager Pilipina Bermudez said that NIA’s projects and accomplishments should be made known to the public and that all NIAns must always aim to “bring out the best image of the agency”. As such, similar seminar-workshops will also be held in other regions all over the country in the coming months.

During the week-long activity, NIAns were able to demonstrate their craft in writing and shared their up and down experiences as employees of the NIA.

Ms. Leticia Dacawe, an IDO of Kalinga-Ifugao-Mt. Province IMO whose work was dubbed Best Feature, shared that she can now give in to the urge of writing which she has not given much attention lately. She claimed the activity allowed her to gain more knowledge and confidence.

To complete the training, Manager Baldago required the participants to make at least five news, feature and editorial articles as well as photographs with proper captions applying the principles they learned during the training. They are to submit these outputs until December of this year before they will receive their certificate of training completion.

Three IAs undergo training on Organic

Fertilizer

Pudtol, Apayao-The National Irrigation Administration-West

Apayao Abulug Irrigation System (NIA-WAAIS) through the support

of the Provincial Agricultural Office of Apayao and the Local

Government Unit of Pudtol trained 45 officers and potential members

of three Irrigators Associations, the Capannikian, Saranay Ti Pudtol

and Mighty, on organic fertilizer production on August 29, 2012 held

at Brgy. Swan. The training aimed to reduce farmer’s dependency on inorganic fertilizers and advocate the use of organic fertilizers as one of the methods to minimize ground water pollution, restore soil fertility, reduce vulnerability of marginal farmers on the high cost of chemical fertilizer, and promote the gradual adoption of organic-based agriculture nationwide. Because of the continuous application of inorganic fertilizers in the farms, soil fertility declines, crop production becomes unstable and crop yields likely become lower. Thus, the ill-effect of chemical fertilizers on growing crops is bad for human consumption. For these reasons, the farmers are trained on how to make their own organic fertilizers using indigenous materials available in the surroundings. Provincial Agriculturist Norma Viernes lectured on Republic Act 10068 of Organic Agriculture Act 2012 which aims to promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines. “We have to cultivate firstour mind before adopting organic fertilizers. No nagaget ka nga agmula, sika ket maysan nga agriculturist,” Engr. Viernes said. Perlita C. Antonio, Apayao focal person on Organic Agriculture, discussed on Organic Agriculture. According to her, vermi culture and composting, one of the strategies in adopting organic agriculture, is a low cost and low-technology but

By Lean Tabigne

Tebteb ni Cordillera

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FEATUREJuly-September 2012 5

About 29 NIA-CAR employees who are involved in the conduct of trainings participated in the Training of Trainers on Training Design and Management conducted at the NIA Training Hall on September 10-14, 2012.

The five-day training aimed to equip the Institutional Development Officers, senior water resources facilities technician (SWRFT) and other NIA personnel with the needed skills, knowledge and attitude in designing and managing trainings. It also geared towards the creation of core group or task force within the Irrigation Management Offices and regional office that will oversee the training programs for the Irrigators’ Associations (IA). Resource speakers were

NIA-CAR holds TOT on training design, management

Community Development Officers from the Institutional Development Division (IDD) of the NIA-Central Office, Heartie Navarro, Elisa Jeciel, Ricardo Lopez, and Olivia de Dios. They discussed topics as training cycle, training program design, methodologies and techniques, adult learning principles and facilitation skills. According to the speakers, trainers can employ several training methods, among which are lecturette, case study, role play, and small group task. The TOT also involved simulations where participants were able to demonstrate their learning through the application of the principles in mini-trainings on Basic Leadership Development, Financial Management and System Management designed for Irrigators’ Associations. Evaristo Aquino, chief of the ID Section of NIA-CAR, is hopeful that the conduct of the TOT will provide for task improvement of IDOs and other trainers so that IA training targets are met especially that projects for CY 2012 and 2013 has increased as compared to the projects in the previous years. He said that one of the strategies to strengthen IAs capability to manage their resources is the provision of timely and effective trainings, seminar-workshops and conferences.

Isem, isem (smile, smile). NIA-CAR Division Managers Benito Espique Jr. and Grace Fanged enjoy simulation activites with the training participants. The experiential learning cycle suggests climate setting as first step where an effective facilitator stimulates interest and puts participants at ease and ready for learning.

WAAIS Irrigators’ Association members look on as Municipal Agricultural Technician Albert Llantada demonstrates the procedures in vermi-composting using the decomposed leaves, animal manures and corn stalks during the training on Organic Fertilizer Production held at Brgy. Swan, Pudtol. Photo courtesy of Engr. Lean Tabigne

Three IAs...from page 4

scientifically-based technology. It islow-cost because materials used are abundant and available all over such as grass, rice straw, corn stalks, cane tops, madre de cacao leaves, ipil, ipil leaves and other nitrogenous materials. It is also low-tech becausethe procedure is simple. The steps are gathering, mixing, shredding, composting, vermi composting and harvesting,sheexplained. It isalsoscientifically based because manyscientists all over the world have attested to the efficacy of vermi-compost. A study conducted by Ms. Lina Villegas of Bureau of Plant Industry funded by Dr. Guerrero ofPCARMDshowsitsbenefits. Agricultural Technician Albert Llantada also taught the farmers on carbonized rice hull as a very good source of organic fertilizers because it contains all nutrients needed by rice plants. As a challenge to the participants, 1 kilogram of vermi-worms was given to the IAs with prepared substrate(decomposed materials), shredder and rice hull carbonizer free of charge. He stressed that a ton of rice straws (1,000 kilograms) can produce 1-2 bags urea, 2-3 bags potassium, ½ bag sulphur. The participants were also trained about Fish Amino Acid, Calcium Phosphate, Fermented Plant Juice, Fermented Fruit Juice andFermentedGarlicJuice. Productions of vermi-culture/compost and ornamental herbal nutrients were demonstrated by Mr. Llantada, Engr. Viernes and Ms. Antonio.

Tebteb ni Cordillera6

This story is about the experience of a very close friend, who tried to hide his anguish by keeping it within himself until... In 2000, at the age of 22, he entered the NIA as an idealistic engineer, as most young engineers are. He was assigned at the Planning and Design Section where he was tasked to validate proposed projects, assist survey teams, prepare Programs-of-Work, among others. In the last quarter of 2002, several projects were due for implementation so he was assigned to be the project-in-charge of a multimillion foreign-assisted project in Besao, Mountain Province. Having no experience in project supervision, he had reservations if he could be up to the task. How could he manage to implement a multimillion project, covering five barangays, if he had not even supervised the construction of even one irrigation canal? Despite his uncertainties, he accepted the task and viewed it as a challenge. If he could somehow finish the project, succeeding less complicated projects to be assigned to him in the future would be easier. Prior to project construction, as it was NIA’s policy, the Participatory Approach Program, where the farmer-beneficiaries are NIA’s partners in implementation, my friend and his assigned Institutional Development Officers (IDOs) had to reach out to the farmer-beneficiaries and explain to them how the project was to be undertaken. Several meetings were conducted in each of the five barangays, usually at night since it was the most available time of the farmers. The start of project construction had somehow given my fried some relief, most especially when the form lumbers were removed from the first concrete-lined canal. His project had really started. However, his sigh of relief was short-lived. Months after the project started, the accomplishment was less than what is expected, partly because it is part of NIAs policy to prioritize the farmer-beneficiaries in the selection of the labor force. The farmers are only available when they are not tending their farms. Farming activities, coupled with some cultural traditions, slowed down the progress of construction activities. To remedy the slow progress, my friend and his IDOs conducted follow-up

meetings with the farmer-

beneficiaries. Together, they agreed to hire additional laborers from outside the community, among them a group of workers from another town, Bauko. They were led by their foreman Coby. Coby may be soft-spoken but his instructions were being followed by the members of his group. At the construction site, his group was like ants, each doing the job he was previously tasked to do. One cold early morning, news reports told of an incoming storm so my friend decided to proceed to the NIA Provincial Irrigation Office in Bontoc since construction works were usually at a standstill during heavy rains. Instead of taking the usual way of just riding a jeep, which parked near the field office, going to Bontoc, he decided to take another way. He would first walk one kilometer to the construction site of the Bauko group, hike up two kilometers of mountain trail until he intersects the road and pray that a vehicle would pass by. Reaching the construction site, the Bauko laborers were already working. My friend supervised what they were doing and had some light-hearted talk with some of them including their foreman, Coby. It was then that he noticed a baby bird perched on one of the hats left by one of the laborers. The laborers

said they picked it on the ground as they were going to the construction site. The birdie may have fallen from its nest since it could barely fly. Tiny drops of drizzle began to fall. My friend said he had to go on his way. He had just taken a few steps when he felt something snap from beneath his slippers. He looked down and to his surprise the birdie was lying helpless beside his feet. The birdie managed to move away from the hat and stumbled down to the top of the canal along the path of my friend. He picked it up with trembling hands hoping that he had not stepped on the birdie. The birdie was alive but one of its fragile wings were broken. Negative thoughts quickly raced through his mind as it seemed the event was

an omen of something that was about to happen. Would he continue on his way to Bontoc? What if he meets an accident along his way? What about his close relatives, were all of them all right? Coby noticed my friend’s uneasiness and seemed to read what he was thinking. To comfort my friend, he took the birdie in his own hands and said, “Bay-am sa. Wa-ay siya nga talaga nan gasat na. Egay mu met ginagara” (Don’t be troubled. Maybe it is its destiny. You did not mean to do it). My friend said it just did not feel right but Coby tried to assure him some more. Despite his troubling thoughts, my friend continued on his way to Bontoc. He arrived safely at the NIA office in Bontoc. Hours passed. The wind blew. The rains fell and fell some more with greater intensity. In the evening, my friend received a text message that Coby was in the hospital in Besao. Accordingly, when the drizzle turned to rain, Coby found shelter in an excavated cave-like ground beside the canal. Without warning, a large stone from his supposed shelter fell on his back. He slumped into the irrigation canal they constructed. Coby’s injury was so severe that

the hospital decided to transfer him to a more equipped hospital in Baguio City. For several days, Coby laid at the Baguio Hospital, his body half-paralyzed. He recovered a bit and was discharged from the hospital. He was brought home

to Bauko where he was to continue his recovery. He was not meant to recover. My friend realized that what happened to the bird was not a premonition to him but rather, it was meant for Coby. He felt guilt. For him, it seemed like he had a part for what happened to Coby. What if he could have just taken the jeep parked near the field office? What if he just stayed and not proceeded to Bontoc? What if he could just have passed by the construction site without talking to the laborers for long? Maybe, just maybe, Coby would then not have had the accident. Coby’s death increased my friend’s anguish. Nobody ever noticed it. On the outside, he seemed as normal as he could be, however, deep inside he was suffering

Coby, Anguish and HealingBy Winston Daoas

Turn to page 7 ...

from guilt. The initial trials he faced as a project-in-charge were nothing compared to the suffering within him. Days turned to months, he still could not get over his guilt. During that time, the words of Coby kept ringing back in his ears, “Bay-am sa. Waay siya nga talaga nan gasat na…..” Months turned to more than a year, Coby’s words kept coming back to him. To my friend’s surprise, the more Coby’s words come to him, the more he feels at peace with himself. Maybe it was Coby saying to my friend that it was not my friends fault. It was Coby’s destiny. Those same words, “Bay-am sa. Waay siya nga talaga nan gasat na….”, that failed to assure my friend back then was comforting him in a way no one has and no one probably will. The wound within, which he has kept for himself for more than a year was healed by those same words. My friend completed the project, overcame his guilt and continued his journey in life more at peace with himself. My friend is ME.

As they always say, go back to the basic. These basic things are the least to be given much attention and we still have the gall to say we knew better. And this has been it until that most trying time gripped me. I had my lesson the hard-est way and I was not still at peace with myself until a book made a reconciliatory answer to my shattered perspective of a happy contented family life. This sounds so stereotyped but “It’s better late than never”. Maybe it’s God’s will that my dear sister, Helen lent me a book. Looking at the title, “THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES, The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Dr. Gary Chapman, my first reaction was huh, there’s nothing wrong with my marriage brushing aside what the book really has to offer. I really did not bother to read because my impression on the title alone was rather peeved. I was even suspecting that something must be wrong with my friend Helen’s marital status by just looking at the title of the book. Then that most dreadful tragedy that befell my family. It all happened so quick that caught us flatfooted. After the burial of my daugh-ter, I’ve been restless and felt choked with ever ready tears rolling down until I got hold of the book and it became my refuge. According to the book, there are 5 love languages with many dialects. Specifi-cally, they are (1) Words of affirmation, (2) Quality Time, (3) Receiving Gifts (4) Acts of Service, and (5) Physical Touch. Going on with the chapters, guilt began to creep. It was not about my husband and me. It was all about my children and me. Page by page, topic by topic, I began to look back, assessed and made reflections. It was then that I real-ized that regardless of how busy we are, as if indispensable and all and as always imbibed in us that “PUBLIC SERVICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST”, folks, we still and must give our family even a second before we give all

of ourselves to public service for even the constitution mandates us to look after the welfare of our own children. I’m not saying that we should not give our best performance. We must always put performance above all since it is the lifeblood of an organization. What I’m saying is alongside giving our best performance in our workplace is making sure our domestic performance is well observed. It’s not enough that we are around, we must at all times keep the LOVE TANK full in our homes. Quoting from the book of Dr. Gary Chapman, he believes in the metaphor which says that “Inside every child is an emotional tank waiting to be filled with love. When a child

really feels loved, he will develop normally, but when the love tank is empty, the child will misbehave. Much of the misbehaviors of a child are motivated by the cravings of an empty love tank”.

I’m not saying that I never gave attention to my children nor showed love to them. I did and I believed I gave them much of it but after internalizing the con-tents of the book, I’m convinced that it was not enough and was not done at its best. I never checked if the love tank was full all the time. It seemed normal nowadays that parents are one in saying that most children are irresponsible, lazy and what have you. Most mothers’ favorite topics are the misdeeds of their children despite the fact that advice and guidance are always given to them and all the material needs of their children were provided at all cost but what about their love tank? Is it full or empty? According to the book, their misbehavior was a misguided search for the love they did not feel. They were seeking love in all the wrong places and in all the wrong ways. I know now that WORDS OF AFFIRMATION AND QUALTY TIME are the languages that were most wanting in my family. I’m not telling this for the sake of telling a story but it is done to give you brothers and sisters an insight to start

picking up the pieces. I wish you could also read the book so that you could relate what the love languages are all about and to have an in depth assessment of the real status of your relationship with your children, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends friends, officemates and everybody. In retrospect, what’s so basic and simple will always be the ones keeping you standing and surviving. In fact, the five love languages are so basic but they were not taken in the truest sense of the words. I’m just thankful of the state of mind that Helen had when she came across the book. What seemed to be a not so interesting topic made an impact on my life after it was shattered and damned. Keep your love tanks full at home and at your workplace with the five love languages and your relationship with your love ones will always be in place!!! “I would like to take this opportu-nity to thank you, my NIA Family, for all the comforting words you poured to us that kept our emotions at bay, the financial and material support that you have extended to my family during the time of our bereave-ment”. Sincerely, on behalf of my family I say THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAY GOD BLESS US ALL!!!”

COBY...from page 6

FEATUREJuly-September 2012

By Rita Afidchao

Tebteb ni Cordillera 8

Ehemplo ti MannalonGawad Saka Awardee

IA President Teddy:

NEWS FEATURE

Mr. Teddy Kub-ao, Gawad Saka Awardee who just received his plaque from DA Secretary Alcala, strikes a pose with NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo, Tabuk City Mayor Ferdinand Tubban, NIA-CAR EOD Manager Benito Espique and other DA staff.

Teodoro G. Kub-ao Jr., President of Bulo-Burobor Farmers

Irrigators Association (BBFIA), Regional Gawad Saka Awardee

1997, 1998, 2011 and 2012.

Maysa ni Teddy G. Kub-ao Jr. iti Brgy. Bulo, Tabuk City nga immawat ti Gawad Saka Award ita nga tawen. Isuna ti nangala ti “Outstanding Farmer Adopting Rice-Based Farming System” award. Ti certificate ken cash award na ket inyawat ti Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala idi August 9, 2012 idiay DA-RFO, BPI Compound, Guisad, Baguio City. Engineer ni Sir Teddy ngem pinili na ti nagbalin a mannalon nga iprakpraktis na ti Integrated Farming. “Awan limit ti income ko. Malaksid iti pagay, ado a klase ti mula kas iti nateng, prutas, karaman ti ado a taraken ko (livestock and poultry) ken dagiti ado a tilapia nga karga ti fishpond ko,” isu ti nakunana. “Dakkel ti panagyaman ko ti padanum (irigasyon) ditoy siyudad ti Tabuk. Gapu’t kaadda ti irigasyon maaramid ko dagiti plano ken arapaap nga mangpadur-as ti biag ko ken ti familiak. Ket no am-amirisek dagiti ar-aramidek isu daytoy ti Programa ti Gobierno nga Nawadwad a Taraon iti Papag a Panganan wenno Food Self-Sufficiency Program ni Pangulong Pinoy. Saan la a kompleto a taraon ngem nawadwad pay a panguartaan. Daytoy ti kategoria a maysaak a nangabak iti Gawad Saka 2012,” inyebkkas na a siraragsak. Naipakita na nga ti husto a wagas a panagsukimat ti daga ken talon ket artapan na pay ti swueldo

ti level ti supervisor iti uneg ti opisina, maikompara iti gross sales na iti maminsan laeng nga apitan a panaglako na. Ti talon na nga four hectares ket maus-usar payen nga pagfieldtripan dagiti mayat nga agadal ken agobserba kadagiti teknolohiya nga iyap-aplikar na kas ti Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) ken ti naudi nga impabuya na ket ti panangpraktis na ti ratooning a nakaapitan na ti 25 cavans kada hectaria. “More income on rice for a short period of time,” kunana. Ti naadal na ti water management ken farming technologies ket inyaplikar na. Dagiti best farming practices nga inusar na su met iyad-adal na ti membro na iti asosasyon. Pagwadan ti napintas a padas ken skills ni Sir Teddy. “Ti naapit ko kada hectaria ket dakkel ti cash equivalent na ta awan met ado a gastos kon ta pinasayakak laeng ken pinurwakak ti abuno, additional income ti naalak” inbaga na.

“Permi ragsak ken panagyaman ko, umuna keni Apo Diyos, sumaruno ti DA-NIA a tumultulong ti panagdur-as iti mannalon,” kunana py. Nadamag met suna ti makunana iti Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) Model Contract Orientation nga inatendarana ita laeng September. Kinuna “Napintas ta naidiscuss ti obligasyon mi ket papigsaen mi’t IA tapno maited mi ti participation ken suporta mi ti NIA. Nagprogreso ti biag ken ti communidad rebbeng met nga ipakita mi ti kabaelan mi a tumulong ti NIA”. Ni Engr. Teodoro G. Kub-ao Jr. ket natibker, nasalukag ken adda prinsipyo na. In doing his daily tasks in the farm, he gets inspiration from his supportive wife and three children. IA President Teddy is the pride of every Filipino, a city farmer- landowner, UCRIS farmer-beneficiary and IA officer. Congratulations and God bless you, Sir Teddy! Indeed, you form part of the backbone of the country.

Mang Teddy’s farm is visited by agricultural technicians and fellow farmers. Photo courtesy of DA & Mang Teddy

His palay yield increased from 10.75 MT/ha in 2010 to 12.2 MT/ha in 2011. Photo courtesy of DA & Mang Teddy

He is also engaged in fishery, livestock and poultry, and his orchard is an intercrop of several fruit trees and vegtables. Photo courtesy of DA & Mang Teddy