This song is dedicated to all farmers who have successfully tried the System of RIce Intensification (SRI) and are now trying to convert their neighbors to the method. Sing to the tune of “Magtanim Ay Di Biro”.
Awit ng SRI-Pilipinas
isinulat ni Roberto Verzola
(sa himig ng Magtanim Ay Di Biro)
Refrain:
Halina, halina, mga kaliyag,
tayo’y magsipag-palay lahat.
Magbago tayo [...]
Last November 27, I was invited by SRI-Pilipinas trainor Aga Milagroso as guest speaker at the graduation ceremonies of 36 farmers of Alaminos, Pangasinan, whom he had trained over a whole season on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), organic fertilizer making, indigenous microorganism (IMO) activators through rice fermentation, and other useful knowhow for the [...]
I just learned from SRI-Pilipinas trainor Aga Milagroso of Malolos, Bulacan that Malolos mayor Danilo Domingo has adopted a city policy which, in my opinion, sets an example that every mayor in the country should follow.
Mayor Domingo has declared that Malolos residents are authorized to plant food crops on any idle piece of land in [...]
I had written earlier about the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a new method of growing rice that reduces costs, raises yields and minimizes the use of poisons in the farm. The method is being promoted in the Philippines by an NGO consortium which I coordinate, SRI-Pilipinas, as well as by other groups advocating sustainable [...]
Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture announced on Nov. 5 his commitment to expand organic production in the Philippines, starting with 400,000 hectares of rice lands.
Five years ago, I led a 30-day hunger strike of the Philippine Greens and other organizations against Secretary Yap’s predecessor, DA Secretary Cito Lorenzo, to ask him to [...]
I’ve gotten some encouraging comments about my English translations of Filipino folk songs. This is probably because my translations can be sung with the original tunes. So far, I’ve done four: Bahay kubo, Paru-parong bukid, Leron Leron sinta, and Sitsiritsit alibangbang. I think my most appreciative audience is elementary school students, who have to do [...]
Hey, hey, butterfly
English translation by Roberto Verzola
Sitsiritsit, alibangbang
Traditional Filipino folk song
Hey, hey, butterfly
beetle me, oh, beetle my.
Watch that girl on the block;
she poses like a fighting cock.
-
Blessed child of Pandacan,
Rice biscuits on a stall.
Why won’t you give me a loan?
The pesky ants will get you soon.
-
Miss, miss, with parasol,
keep this baby in the shade.
When [...]
A new method of growing rice is now spreading in many rice-producing countries. It is called the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The method was initially developed in Madagascar by a Jesuit agriculturist, Fr. Henri de Laulanie and continues to be refined by thousands of researchers and farmers all over the world.
In the Philippines, the [...]
Butterfly from the field
English Translation by Roberto Verzola
Paru-parong Bukid
Traditional Filipino folk song
I just saw a butterfly,
flitting and floating by;
waiting by the main trail,
fluttering in the air.
Sari wrapped around her,
sleeves as wide as my palm,
Skirt’s a trifle oversized,
ends dragging on the ground.
-
Her hair held with a pin
Oh!
Her hand twirling a comb
Oh!
Decorated half-slip,
drawing others to peep.
Then she [...]
Leron-leron my love
English translation by Roberto Verzola
Leron, Leron sinta
Traditional Filipino folk song
Leron, leron my love,
papaya seeds above.
He took a bamboo box
to keep the fruits he’d get.
Then as he neared the top,
the entire branch broke up.
“It’s not my lucky day;
I’ll find another way!”
-
I offer you my love,
my courage suits you fine.
I’ve got me seven knives,
I’m keeping [...]
How does one design a farm so that it is environmentally-friendly and economically viable as well?
To many Filipino farmers, this question has not even occurred. Most tenants and farm workers have little say in running the farms they work in, much less in redesigning them. Even farmer-owners often simply take the existing farm set-up as [...]
According to most estimates, some 85% of the entire Philippine national budget now goes to debt payments – principal and interest. This is often cited as the reason more taxes, such as the VAT, the E-VAT, and now the R-VAT, have to be collected.
Consider the significance of this fact: it means that 85% of any [...]
Although I wrote this situationer (download Philippine environmental situationer, 150kb) several years ago, much of what it says remains valid; and the situation is probably worse today.
What should be interesting about this situationer is that it reflects the unique analysis of the Philippine Greens, a political movement that I belong to. It is especially useful [...]
Translations of Paru-parong bukid and Leron, Leron sinta also available.
My Humble Hut
English translation by Roberto Verzola
My humble hut
may look tiny,
but the veggies around
it, sure are many.
Yam beans and eggplants,
wing’d beans and peanuts,
string, hyacinth and lima beans.
Winter melon and loofah,
bottl’ gourd, squash, et cetera.
There is more, amiga,
radish, mustard, yeah!
Onions, tomatoes
garlic and ginger.
If you look all around,
sesame [...]
