Britania Seaweed By-Products

Surigao del Sur is home to a variety of forest, land and marine resources. It prides itself of having virgin forest and untapped mineral resources. Of its 19 municipalities, 17 are coastal towns possessing an abundant array of marine faunas and floras.

Surigao del Sur, being a coastal province, has great business potential for marine culture. For many years now, lot of Surigeños got their livelihood from fishing. Many also tried seaweed farming – a lucrative business since there is bigger demand for seaweed worldwide.


Understandably, only few farmers were able to earn a lot of money from marketing their farm harvest while a lot of middlemen profits from peddling the poor farmers’ harvest they bought at unreasonable prices but sell them at a higher one.

Britania Peebles Cooperative (BPC) located at Brgy. Britania in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, through the suggestion of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) staff, ventured into food processing. The cooperative usually sell their harvest to middlemen.

With the help of DTI’s Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Program (DTI – RuMEPP ) and Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (DTI – CARP), BPC members were able to appreciate the profit they could gain by processing their farm output.


The group has started to manufacture seaweed by-products since Britania’s water is home to cultured seaweed (euchema). The group produces liquid agar – a semi-processed seaweed. Initially, they are processing and marketing seaweed yema (milkballs), nata de guso and seaweed pickles. Processing other seaweed-based products, i.e. seaweed cookies and candies, are on their lists.

The group first market exposure was during the 2nd Kaliga Festival or Araw ng Surigao del Sur. An Agri-Tourism Trade Fair was held on June 19-20, 2006. They are scheduled also to attend the Kaliguan Festival ’06 which will run from June 21 to June 25 at Cagwait White Beach.


The group dreams of being the largest producer or processor of Nata de Guso – a product that could compete and substitute the costly Nata de Coco and Kaong.

From my standpoint, BPC’s dream will soon be a reality. I am fortunate that, in one way or the other, I have been part of this dream and their transformation. I believe that one day, they would not be mere farmers but successful businesspersons.

For inquiries and orders, you can contact BPC Chair Antonio Bag-o at (0910) 367-1174 ; BPC Manager Nora Sarmiento at (0920) 828-6376 or you can contact DTI – Tandag and look for Neneng Bautista at (086) 211-3029.

How Modern Love Letters are Written

I saw this at the net and i think it's worth posting here:

SAMPLE OF A MODERN LOVE LETTER

Things on the love landscape sure have changed
over the years...

Dearest Julia,

I am very happy to inform you that I have fallen in
love with you since Tuesday, the 17th of August
2001.

With reference to the meeting held between us on
the 17th of August 2001 at 1500 hours, I would like
to present myself as a prospective lover. Our love
affair would be on probation for a period of no less
than three months and depending on compatibility,
would be made permanent.

Of course, upon completion of probation, there will
be continuous relationship training and relationship
appraisal schemes leading up to promotion from
lover to spouse. The expenses incurred for coffee
and entertainment would initially be shared equally
between us. Later, based on your performance, I
might take up a larger share of the expenses.

However, I am broad-minded enough, to be taken
care of, on your expense account. I request you to
kindly respond within 30 days of receiving this
letter, failing which, this offer would be cancelled
without further notice and I shall be considering
someone else. I would be happy, if you could
forward this letter to your sister, if you do not wish
to take up this offer.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely,

Hugh




REPLY TO THE MODERN LOVE LETTER:

Dear Hugh,

Please refer to your letter dated today. I am
pleased to inform you that I hope to accept your
proposal for romance.

However, you should be informed that there are
certain conditions of acceptance. Promotional
prospects are to my satisfaction. However, please
enlighten me as to your retirement benefits.

Gratuity should be generous.

I also need to be assured that there is sufficient
security with regard to this commitment. If there is
any chance at all of retrenchment or consequent
disinterest on your part, then I should receive
monetary compensation according to union
standards.

Due to the nature of my position, I am sure you will
agree that an expense account should be arranged
for my access in light of the VIP I shall be
entertaining. In addition, housing and transport
allowances should be in order and nothing less
than a Jaguar is in order.

Please also note that there should be no
moonlighting restrictions placed on myself. If you
are still interested in the relationship, please reply
on an urgent basis as other prospective lovers have
sent letters of interest.

Please also note that my sister is happily employed.

Yours perhaps,

Julia

CARP at 18

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) turned 18 this month. The program originally runs for 10 years but was extended for another 10 years through the enactment of Republic Act 8532. CARP was first implemented in 1998 under the Aquino Administration.

CARP is the debutante this year.

At age 18, a person is formally presented to the society. It is the transition of people to womanhood or manhood. A time often called in legal parlance as the entry to legal maturity.

As in every debut celebration, it is welcomed with a great feast – sumptuous foods, overflowing drinks and a never-ending merriment.

After 18 years, should we hold a party tantamount to the feast we prepare in every debut of our loved ones?

Of course, we should!

Debut celebration signifies independence. CARP debut also indicates independence. If not to all, it is for many Filipino people who are recipients of this program. An independence from the choking hands of the capitalists. An independence from the bondage of soil. An independence from the grip of poverty.

This month, it is not the CARP implementers who celebrate the founding of this program. This is a celebration of farmers and fisherfolks for the economic liberty they have achieved through the CARP program.

It is an understatement to judge that the program has failed to deliver its true purpose to the people. It is an understatement to say that the program has deeply buried the poor into poverty instead. It is an understatement to contend that apparently the program has favored the rich, influential landlords. It is an understatement to claim that the program is used just to access the wealth of the Marcoses.

Truly the success of CARP doesn’t lie on the hands of the implementers. Program implementers sweat blood to deliver the services to people even to outskirt places only accessible by foot. They have traversed rough seas, climbed mountains and hike, uphill and downhill, three to five kilometers just to bring the needed services.

The program success deeply resides on the values and acceptance of the beneficiaries. It flourishes in areas where people have developed a heart for their economic undertakings.

I am grateful that I became part of the program, as a CARP implementer, in our province. It is heartwarming to see big smiles on the faces of our beneficiaries. It is overwhelming to experience that somehow we have become one of the instruments for their economic independence. It is amazing that these people have hundreds of thousands or millions of pesos gross annual income and we only earn a meager amount.

Indeed, the 18th Anniversary of CARP is worth celebrating.

Happy 18th Anniversary CARP implementers and beneficiaries! Mabuhay tayong lahat! Mabuhi kita tanan!

SDS version of Hundred Islands

Many people, Filipinos and Foreigners alike, have known the famous Hundred Islands of the Philippines. Philippines, of course, being an archipelago. Currently, the so-called grandiest tourist destination of the country has adopted a program wherein certain people or group can adopt an island and name it to themselves. He would then be responsible for the preservation of the faunas and floras native to the island.


Surigao del Sur also prides itself to have its own version of the Philippine's Hundred Islands. Nestled at Barangay Britania in the Municipality of San Agustin is a seascape backdropped by 24 islets. Accessible? It is a kilometer motor-ride or hike from the national road.


A tranquil surroundings and fresh breeze from the Pacific Ocean welcomes every visitor. Its prestine clear waters are inviting, nobody can resist to take a dip into the blue.

It is best to enjoy island hopping during high tides. If your interest is to frolic in sand, a number of islets proffer fine coral or white sands. The "Naked Island" commonly known as the "White Beach" is highly recommended for beach lovers. It hosts white coral sands, however, the island doesn't have natural trees to shade you when the sun is at its piercest heat. It is also best to visit the site during low tide.


Various water activities and sports can be hosted in the area. The coral reefs are good for scuba diving. Kayaking between islands provides another alternative aside from swimming on the beautiful beaches.

On the 1st day of June 2006, I and a couple of friends a sea junket, touring the 24 islets.
Barangay Britania has already come up with the Britania Tourism Development Plan and they are inviting interested people or groups to help promote and develop the area. This might put Surigao del Sur on the Tourism Map of the Philippines.