2010 election surprise: Binay leading Roxas

ROBERTO VERZOLA, Halalang Marangal (HALAL) http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190631/2010-election-surprise-binay-leading-roxas The most recent Comelec report (May 10, 2010, 11:30 p.m., 57% of all election returns canvassed) as of this writing suggests that the 2010 presidential election is an Aquino landslide. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III seems to be getting roughly three votes for every two votes for Joseph “Erap” Estrada [...]

Smartmatic machines are not so smart after all

We are spending P7.2 billion to lease these “smart automatic” machines. It turns out that they are not so smart after all. In fact, they seem downright stupid. They can’t recognize a check mark or a cross. They can’t recognize ballpen or pencil marks. They need full, dark shadings to be convinced that you want [...]

The issue: failure of automation, not failure of election

The issue is not a failure of election, but a failure of automation. “Failure of election” is a narrow legal term describing a rare situation. The Omnibus Election Code defines it as a situation in which “the election in any polling place has not been held on the date fixed, or had been suspended before [...]

SRI Pilipinas Song

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 [...]

System of Rice Intensification (SRI): failure still counts as success

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 [...]

Malolos sets a national example

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 [...]

Promoting SRI among rice farmers

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 [...]

Philippine commitment to organic production strikes fear among chemical/GMO pushers

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 [...]

Translating Philippine folk songs

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 [...]

Sitsiritsit, alibangbang (English translation)

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 [...]

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

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, [...]

Paru-parong Bukid (English translation)

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 [...]

Leron, Leron sinta (English translation)

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 [...]

Sustainability through permanent agriculture

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 [...]

Worse than colonialism

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 [...]

Philippine environmental situationer

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 [...]

Bahay Kubo, English translation

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 [...]