CapSU FITS Center personnel publish brochures

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

On May 16–17, 2012, some 20 personnel from the seven Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers monitored by the Capiz State University (CapSU), including managers, information services specialists and technology services specialists, joined the IEC Materials Workshop for FITS Center Managers, ISS and TSS at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Capiz FITS Center at Mabini and Bilbao Streets in Roxas City.

INFORM, EDUCATE, COMMUNICATE

(Clockwise from top left) CapSU's Dr. Cora Navarra shares pointers on how to best package IEC materials; OPA Capiz FITS Center Manager Audie Belargo lectures on IECs to  fellow FITS center personnel; TSS Ulysses Bendicio of President Roxas FITS Center; Panay FITS Center Manager Juan Hecita, Jr.; Jamindan FITS Center's Lota Vijar; Dao FITS Center's Genes Estialbo and Susan Dordas; and TSS Teresita Badilla and ISS Bernie Protacio of Dumalag FITS Center.

It featured the expertise of its own FITS Center personnel, Mr. Audie Belargo, senior aquaculturist detailed at the OPA Capiz FITS Center, who lectured on IEC materials preparation and shared pointers on how to publish readable brochures. For two days, participants were taught the basic concepts of IEC materials and were also taught basic skills in using Microsoft Publisher, a user-friendly software which can be maximized by any user for dektop publishing.

Representatives from CapSU's seven FITS Centers joined the seminar, including the personnel of CapSU Mambusao FITS Center, which is monitored by the Philippine Coconut Authority. Led by Manager Ronelyn de Tomas, Dumalag FITS Center came with five participants including Bernie Protacio, information services specialist; Teresita Badilla, technology services specialist; and Gerlie Catalan and Christine Alvero, staff. Three personnel from Jamindan FITS Center, namely: Mary Grace Llanera, Ma. Lota Vijar and Ma Glenda Castro; Ulysses Bendecio and Marjorie Fuentes represented President Roxas FITS Center; while FITS Center Manager Juanito Hecita, Jr. and Editha Dollete represented the Panay FITS Center. Susan Villar, Jonedel Buhat and Fely Bermudo represented Ivisan FITS Center. Dr. Raul Ticar, CapSU's director for extension; TSS Ceferino Lizada, and ISS Rector John Latoza represented CapSU Mambusao FITS Center.

Participants from eight FITS Centers maximize the opportunity to enhance their skills which they can apply in their respective offices. The training team was joined by Mr. Antonio Llorente (top, far left), Agriculturist II of the Agricultural Training Institute Region 6 based in Banga, Aklan.

Dr. Cora F. Navarra, former coordinator of the Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) shared input on preparing IECs like brochures and flyers. She also gave tips on how to best package the said materials.  

On the second day, Belargo was joined by RACG Coordinator Navarra and CapSU Extension’s Niño Manaog in the critique of the output by the participants. The Dumalag and CapSU Mambusao FITS centers submitted profiles of their respective Magsasaka Siyentista (MS). In particular, ISS Bernie Protacio designed a threefold brochure featuring MS Randy Fancubila's engineered bamboo initiatives and livelihood prospects for his cooperative members; while ISS Rector John Latoza produced a brochure highlighting MS Pio Vergabera's coconut production technologies. Susan Dordas of Dao FITS Center prepared a brochure promoting their four-in-one organic concentrate produced by their farmers led by their TSS Genes Estialbo. The FITS Centers of Ivisan, President Roxas, Jamindan and Panay submitted their municipal agricultural profiles.

According to Eduardo Navarra, Techno Gabay Team Leader, Capiz State University (CapSU) has designed the said capability building initiative not only to enhance the skills of their personnel but also to draw input materials which can be used to disseminate information and technologies across the province. The materials submitted during the workshop will be fine-tuned and will be widely disseminated as IEC materials, Navarra said.

The facilitators and participants of the capability building initiative by CapSU Techno Gabay Team.

Grooming Leaders for Life

CapSU faculty, students join Ayala youth leaders’ camp

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

Student participants engage in group dynamics
that requires cooperation and teamwork
to accomplishing the needed tasks.

“Grabeng experience (It was such an experience),” Rizza Andutan, president of the Supreme Student Council (SSC) of Capiz State University (CapSU) Roxas City Campus had this to say, citing how the activities in the recently ended Leadership Communities (LeadCom) Camp created impact on her.

Sponsored by the Ayala Foundation, Inc. and LeadCom Capiz, an alliance of four higher-education schools in Roxas City, the three-day youth camp gathered some 130 students and teachers from four schools across Roxas City, namely: Capiz State University (CapSU), Filamer Christian University, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion and College of St. John - Roxas on May 9–11, 2012, at the Filamer Christian University in Roxas City.

As one of the 35 participants from the CapSU Roxas City Campus, Andutan said that they did not only learn how to be a leader or how to be a good follower. Nakilala din namin ‘yung sarili namin; anong purpose namin bilang isang lider hindi lamang ng ibang tao kundi higit sa lahat ng sarili namin. (We also came to know ourselves, our purpose as a leader, not only of other people, but most importantly, ourselves).

For the 18-year old Education major, in order to lead well, one must first be a leader of himself or herself. She also said how an activity focused on trust touched her. From the said exposure, she learned that one must trust others in order to achieve their goals. According to Andutan, the SSC will replicate the LeadCom activities in a leaders’ congress in July 2012, this time catering to the student leaders across the ten campuses of the CapSU System.

LeadCom activities were designed to engage students
to discover themselves and how they perform
in group-oriented tasks.

Joining Andutan were 12 fellow Education majors, namely: Arlyn De Pablo, Chris Balbona, Ellen Mae Delos Santos, George Distura, Jane Vega, Jeffry Arceño, Jolyn Palma, Kirby Dadivas, Louie Denosta, Mei Diaz, Preesym Joy Denosta and Rica Celiz.

Representing the College of Business Administration (CBA) were Valerie Ann Ballos, Katrina Bautista, Kelvin Rey Barcelona, Meriam Grace Bernas, Michelle Ann Borres, Shena Dapitan, Clint Rovie Dequiña, Cresly Jean Donguines, Chineelyn Domingo, Roshelle Genoves, Ronalyn Lobaton, Christy Mae Marcelino, Jeremy Nicko Mendoza, Melodelyn Progio and Silfritz Valenzuela; while electrical engineering majors Nordel Bartolome and Aaron Paul Caacbay represented the College of Engineering and Architecture.

Helping the facilitators team were five teachers from the same campus, namely: Mr. Rogie Dadivas, director for Office of the Student Affairs (OSA); Mr. Vicmar Solano, Faculty Regent; Mr. Mark Glenn Villamor, faculty and coordinator of the Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship Program of the CBA; Mr. Leo Andrew Biclar, SSC adviser and Ms. Mary Vicentia Olilang, English faculty. The faculty joined and helped facilitate in lectures, workshops and group dynamics activities all designed to draw the leader in the participants.

According to Mr. Biclar, “the LeadCom youth camp served as venue for students to become good leaders.” Through the camp, participants were trained on how to foster effective leadership in their circles. They were also taught to envision, plan and implement activities that will best benefit their respective communities.

“I have never seen such fiery and vibrant energy from the youth leaders of Capiz,” English teacher Mary Vicentia Olilang said.

For Olilang, LeadCom wants to “build a leadership community among the best student leaders of four partner schools.” Using a process-oriented and reflective approach to create, develop, and strengthen the leadership potential of these chosen students, the camp gave the students the best opportunities in which they take active roles before, during and after the activities. It also opened bigger and wider doors of understanding, friendship, and unity between and among the student leaders of four partner schools.

Mr. Mark Glenn Villamor, who is recognized as outstanding leader himself, the youth camp was “a different experience for the students because it focused on activities rather than lectures.” For Villamor, since the activities are experiential, the learning they tried to impart has been more heartfelt.

For his part, Mr. Rogie Dadivas, director of CapSU Roxas City Campus’s OSA, recognized the substance of the capability-building for the potential leaders.

According to Dadivas, the camp did not only help the facilitators see potential leadership skills of students; it also helped them determine dynamic leaders for the community, to the extent that participants will be made to commit to themselves to this statement—“Ask not what CapSU can do for me, but what you can do for CapSU,” hinged on the popular phrase attributed to American President John F. Kennedy in the 1960s.

Dadivas also saw how the experience-based activities instilled in the participants the core value of mastering the self in order to be of service to others and the community, which is very Christ-centered, one quality which is indispensable in the success of any organization.

If at all, CapSU’s involvement in the LeadCom Capiz not only ushered in active participation from among the city schools and universities—having been the most represented contingent of the four campuses with 35 participants—but also helped draft prospective leadership-enriching activities which will be ­offered to the CapSU System students in the upcoming school year. 

LeadCom Capiz is an alliance of four higher-education schools in Roxas City, namely:
Capiz State University (CapSU), Filamer Christian University,
Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion and College of St. John - Roxas.

Dumalag FITS Center subsidizes seeds to 200 hybrid rice farmers

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

The Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Dumalag, Capiz led the distribution of 88 bags of hybrid rice seeds allocated to some 200 hectares of rice production area across the municipality.

Dumalag farmers take stock
of the opportunity spearheaded by their LGU.

Led by Mrs. Ronelyn De Tomas, FITS Center manager, the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist of Dumalag facilitated the “Plant Now, Pay Later” seed subsidy program in partnership with SL Agritech Corporation, a producer of hybrid rice seeds based in Sta. Cruz, Laguna and represented by Mr. Claro Santos and Mr. Tomas Jimenez, national officers.

Assisted by Mr. Rhian Labrador and Mr. Jess Seposo, SL Agritech’s field sales officers for Capiz and Iloilo, a number of Dumalag farmers were given opportunity to buy SL-8H Super Hybrid Rice Seeds at 500 pesos less than the price of 3 hybrid seed bags; with the slashed cost paid for by the local government of Dumalag. The Plant Now, Pay Later scheme forms part of Dumalag FITS Center’s seed subsidy program which also includes partnerships with other hybrid rice brands such as Pioneer and Bigante.

Information Services Specialist Bernie Protacio said that in 2011, some 400 hectares or roughly 10 percent of the total rice area (3,779.5 hectares) in Dumalag, capiz was planted to hybrid rice; while the rest were planted to inbred variety. According to Protacio, Dumalag farmers prefer to grow hybrid rice because they plant two times and harvest four times across the year. “Farmers enjoy higher productivity and increase in yield,” Protacio said.

In this FITS center initiative, farmers are taught
how to manage their hybrid rice and increase productivity.

For her part, FITS Center Manager De Tomas said that this is only an initial figure, as they expect increase in the future, owing to their current seed subsidy programs and similar campaigns promoting hybrid rice production in Dumalag.

Supported by Ms. Teresita Badilla, technology services specialist and Gerlie Catalan, research staff, the Dumalag fits Center is monitored by the Capiz State University under the auspices of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development (WESVARRDEC) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

HEADS UP HIGH (Clockwise from top left) "High breed, not high blood," says Jess Seposo, of the advantages of hybrid rice production; Dumalag FITS Center Manager   Ronelyn De Tomas promotes the payoffs of hybrid rice; an SL-8H sample variety comes in polypropylene plastic sack; and SL Agritech's Tomas Jimenez shares best  practices to farmers.

CapSU showcases farmers' products in 2012 Manggahan

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

In the 2012 Manggahan Festival held on April 16–22, 2012 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in San Miguel Jordan, Guimaras, the Capiz State University (CapSU) Techno Gabay Team led by Mr. Eduardo Navarra, Team Leader, brought the products of its Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers for showcase and sales.

Farmers products from Capiz included the
engineered bamboo technologies of MS Randy Fancubila
(top photo) and coco shell products and items (lower photos)
by Roosevelt Villarde, prospective farmer scientist of 
Ivisan FITS Center.

For the first ever Mango FIESTA, or Farms and Industry Encounter through Science and Technology Agenda led by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), CapSU’s Navarra brought and promoted the coco shell products of Mr. Roosevelt Villarde, prospective farmer scientist of Ivisan FITS Center. CapSU also brought the samples of engineered bamboo materials produced by Randy Fancubila, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of the Dumalag FITS Center.

The products of the FITS Center from the Province of Capiz formed part of the regionwide exhibit featuring the processed mango products of MS Rebecca Tubongbanua of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Guimaras and the coco coir products of Tubungan FITS Center, among others.