Bohol farms dry up due to El Niño

Wake-uppers:

Scene: For the faithful, the presence of the heart relic of St. Camillus de Lellis last week placed inside a glass casing also mean the visit of the saint himself. The relic was brought to the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral last March 8, which was followed by a Mass officiated by Bishop Albert Uy of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. After the Mass, Boholanos who are known for their intense Catholic faith, started lining up to get close to the relic. They took turned in either touching the glass that housed the heart or wiping it with their handkerchief while uttering a short prayer.

Scene: Boy Pernia on the Bohol Poll 2019:  For all the 23 years of conducting surveys HNU poll forgot to include to survey the 2nd dist? First of all they have a pre-survey where questions are carefully crafted to cover all bases;We have been an active participant and supporter of HNU poll enough reason for them not to forget; We were never given the courtesy of an explanation except during the public consultation. They even wrote us a letter informing us of the presentation and they could not even explain the situation to us? This incident has left a black mark on the integrity of HNU poll. They should not prostitute the process.

***

Farmers reaping the grains and the noise of “bulhot” (manual threshing machines) were usual scenes this month as rice farmers in Bohol who planted early their crops are now reaping their first harvest for 2019.

For the 35 -year-old farmer Ruel Barrete, the golden grains were mature enough to harvest, a sign of good harvest.

 "Maayo nga panahon, naka-una mi og tanum mao wala maapsi sa El Niño," said Barrete who farms near Barangay Buenos Aires in this town. He was able to harvest 17 sacks of rice in his 2,000 sq meter rice paddy last week.

He was happy with the quality of grains because it was bigger and heavier compared to last year’s harvest which dropped to only 9 sacks while the grains were smaller. Barrete, 35, also helped in harvesting a nearby 1-hectare farm with other farmers which would yield to 60 sacks of rice.

The effects of the El Niño phenomenon
affecting Bohol has been draining the Malinao
Dam in Pilar town, Bohol province, with its
water level dropping to a critical spot.
 Large cracks appeared in some parts of waterbeds
of the dam. Photo by Leo Udtohan

Farmers also harvested their palay in Dimiao, Ubay, Carmen, Batuan, Bilar, Pilar and Sierra-Bullones.

“Based on our observation, we have a good harvest this year. We are 90 percent in our harvesting season hitting a rice sufficiency in the province,” said acting provincial agriculturist Larry Pamugas.

Farmers are expected to produce a total average of 200,000 metric tons of palay (paddy rice) which could generate at least 100,000 metric tons of milled rice that can feed about 1.1 million people for one year.

However, not all farmers were fortunate.

Many of the farmers who lost their newly harvested and ready to harvest rice to the dry spell already suffered from the impacts of dry spell in 2016 and 2018.

The rice bowl of Central Visayas has been reeling from the drought brought on by El Niño phenomenon.  Farmers reported that their palay had either wilted or literally burned due the intense heat of the sun.

The lack of water caused the palay of Orcesio Amoy planted in a 8,000-square meter farm lot in Sitio Camanayon, Barangay Buenos in Carmen to wilt. His rice paddies had cracked due to lack of water while the palay had turned yellow as these started to wilt.

 Amoy said he was expecting to get a huge financial lost. Last year, he was not able to recover the P20,000 he invested in farm inputs after suffering from the brunt of a dry spell.

Gerry Quita, a farmer from Sierra-Bullones, said that the intense heat literally burned down some of the stalks while others had wilted. Those that survived did not grow as tall. “It is very hot. I planted late so my palay were burned,” he said.

He relied on rains that didn't come due to the drought. Bohol is known as the rice bowl of the Central Visayas.

Pamugas said the farmers and their crops were insured by the Philippine Crops Insurance System. For palay, the coverage is P30,000 per hectare.

Several ricefields in Bohol have dried up
as palay seedlings have turned yellowish green
due to the dry season made intense by the El Niño
 phenomenon. Photo by Leo Udtohan

Farmers are expected to produce a total average of 200,000 metric tons of palay (paddy rice) which could generate at least 100,000 metric tons of milled rice that can feed about 1.1 million people for one year.

The average daily consumption of Bohol is 9,020 bags a day, according to National Food Authority (NFA) Bohol Manager Maria Fe Evasco.

For NFA, they will buy harvested palay for P 20.70 pesos from farmers’ cooperatives, and P20.40 from individual farmers. NFA targeted to buy 13,840 bags from local farmers for the year.

 “We hope we can buy more,” said Evasco.

The agriculture sector in the province remains to be the major source of employment and livelihood, with 42 per cent of the province’s population working or dependent on agriculture.

The province has a total of 46,587 hectares for rice farming, which is 25 percent of the agricultural land area of the province at 185,276 hectares.

Of the 46, 587 hectares of rice field in Bohol, 24,000 hectares are irrigated through dams, small water catchments, and diversionary canals.

The rest of 23,000 hectares rely on rain.

In 2015 and 2017, Bohol produced 66 percent or 149 percent thousand metric tons of Central Visayas’ rice production and 10 percent of corn production.

A total of 238,728 metric tons in 2017 and 252, 816 metric tons in 2015, according to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The production lowered to 161,003 metric tons in 2016 due to a prolong dry spell.

The effects of the El Niño phenomenon were felt in some parts of the country including Bohol province.

The water supply in various irrigation systems - Malinao Dam in Pilar town, Bayongan Dam in San Miguel town, Capayas in Ubay town and Zamora Dam in Talibon town- have also dwindled.

Acting Provincial Agriculturist Larry Pamugas
said the water levels in Bohol dams could last
until May. He said their office would conduct cloud
seeding operations in May to protect possible damage
 to croplands and in preparation for the next cropping season.
Courtesy: GMA News

In Malinao Dam, the water level continues to drop to ”critical” spot. It is now lower than the 152- meter normal water level.

Some parts of waterbeds of Malinao Dam were already exposed, creating island-like grounds or large cracks on the dam.

Some springs and creeks in the province are drying up.

Pamugas said the water levels in these dams could sustain until May.

He said their office would conduct cloud seeding operations in May to protect possible damage to crop lands caused by dry spell and for the preparation for the next cropping season.

The cloud seeding operations have a budget of P2.3 million from the funds of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).

 There is no escaping the fact that the prevailing dry weather is more severe than was probably expected.

The dry season intensified by the El Niño is now felt in Bohol.

***

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Miss Intercontinental Karen Gallman eager to promote Bohol

UBAY, Bohol- Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Juanita Gallman is ready to take on the task of promoting tourism in the country, with Bohol province as her launching ground.

The adoring crowd jammed Ubay’s streets
and snapped pictures of Karen Gallman,
the first Filipina to win the Miss Intercontinental
title during the homecoming parade in Ubay,
Bohol on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Photos by Leo Udtohan

Gallman, back in her home-province after winning the country’s first Miss Intercontinental crown, said she wants to share with the world the beauty and wonder Bohol has to offer.

 Bohol, the 10th largest island, is the home of the world-famous Chocolate hills, the smallest primate tarsier and miles of white-sandy beaches.

“Of course, now that I have a platform and I have this voice that a lot of people will and can listen to, I can always showcase the beauty of Bohol. And I love that too to show everyone how beautiful Bohol is. Everyone should visit, it is such a beautiful island,” she told VRS.  

At the Bohol Dairy Farm in this town which was part of her homecoming on Tuesday afternoon, Gallman loves yogurt, a product made by local farmers. Since Bohol positioned as dairy hub in her hometown, she would like to promote including other local products and other sights and sounds of the province.

Her other advocacy is better education in the rural areas.

At past 1 p.m. on Tuesday (March 5, 2019) hundreds of thousands lined the streets as residents here welcomed home Gallman who won the first Miss Intercontinental for the country after 46 long years.

Gallman, 26, rode a float that snaked through streets in the town, at least 124 km from the capital city of Tagbilaran.

She basked in loud chants and cheers as she was welcomed by her fellowmen and pageant enthusiasts during the parade.

There was no parade for Gallman in the city.

Her two-day trip to Bohol province was sponsored and organized by the municipal government of Ubay headed byMayor Constantino Reyes and Bohol 2nd district Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, a relative of Gallman.

For Karen Gallman (of course, with your VRS),
the first Filipina who won the first Miss
Intercontinental title, home is where the heart is. 

People stepped out of their schools and offices to wait on both sides of the normally busy streets in Barangay Poblacion, snapped pictures of Gallman, the first native of Bohol to win an international title.

Some fans unfurled tarpaulins, carried cutouts of a pageant crown and face of her, congratulating her for bringing honor to the province while waving flaglets of the Philippines during the parade.

Gallman, however, had only sash during the parade since the original crown was in Panama.

As for Ubay native Leah Cutamora, she's happy to finally see Gallman in flesh but hopeful that the latter would be back soon.

 "I admire her and she's an inspiration to us. She deserves all what she has now as the first Filipina to win the crown," she said.

Police and traffic aides were deployed to keep order and secure a parade route of about 1 km that began at the town hall and would end at the gymnasium for the two-hour program a fitting welcome and recognition to the new queen.

Gallman received a plaque of appreciation and a cheque from the municipal government of Ubay through Mayor Constantino Reyes.

She elicited chants from the crowd when she seized the moment with her attention-grabber catwalk.

“

Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman
with her relative Bohol 2nd district Rep. Erico
Aristotle Aumentado and wife Vanessa
during her homecoming. Photo by Leo Udtohan

It feels so good to be back home. This is my hometown and I always love to coming back to Ubay and Bohol. I just feel at home,” said Gallman, who was born and raised in Ubay town.

“I am also overwhelmed by all the supporters. Grabeh I have no words, I want to thank Congressman Aris Aumentado and his beautiful wife, and also the Ubay LGU and also si Mayor Constantino Reyes, for facilitating this homecoming, for letting me experience this and it is such a memorable experience that I will never forget,” she added.

Former Bohol beauty queen Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado, one of the organizers of the homecoming, said that Gallman brought pride and joy to the Boholanos.

She said Gallman is the epitome of beauty, determination and passion that Boholanos were really inspired by her.

“All the people are very happy, overwhelmed. I saw it she really served as an inspiration to all of us especially the young ones, grabeh jud ang impact nga gihatag ni Karen,” she said.

She said Gallman’s traits such as being loving; kind, sweet and God-fearing gave her the chance to be where she is now.

“Kahibaw nako nga (I knew) one day she would become a queen. Behind the pretty face, I always see she has a beautiful soul,” said Vanessa.

Gallman, who was crowned Miss Ubay 2007, was born to Gavin William Gallman, a retired Australian soldier, and Ubay native Editha Boyonas.

.Karen Gallman with Ubay Mayor Constantino Reyes.
Photo by Leo Udtohan

She first joined Binibining Pilipinas in 2012 at the age of 19 and made it to the top 12 of the beauty pageant and was also named Miss Photogenic of the batch. She worked as an operations analyst in a London company for two years before trying her luck again in 2018.

She speaks the Visayan language fluently with her thick Boholano accent.

Her mother, she said, trained her and her siblings to speak Visayan and embrace the Filipino way even if they lived in Brisbane, Australia.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

Bohol welcomes Ms Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman

After winning the Miss Intercontinental 2018 crown, Bohol native Karen Gallman is now back home, even for a short while.

A warm welcome greeted the beauty queen
upon her arrival at the Bohol-Panglao International
Airport on Monday, March 4, 2019. Photos by Leo Udtohan

A warm welcome greeted the beauty queen upon her arrival at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport at 3:55 p.m. on Monday.

A group of fans unfurled a tarpaulin, congratulating her for bringing honor to the province while waving flaglets of the Philippines as soon as she stepped out of the airport in Panglao town.

She was also welcomed by her relative, Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s 2nd district.

Gallman made history when she became the first Filipino woman to win the Miss Intercontinental crown after 46 long years.

Her homecoming was sponsored by the municipal government of Ubay where she is from and former beauty queen Vanessa Aumentado.

According to Vanessa, Gallman would have a homecoming parade in Ubay on Tuesday afternoon.

Gallman was born at Barangay Fatima in Ubay to Gavin William Gallman, a retired Australian soldier, and Ubay native Editha Boyonas.

She spent her childhood at Barangay Bood before migrating to Australia at age 8.

Keep your kids safe from ‘Momo’

Wake-uppers:

Scene:  Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol re-launched on Saturday the Bohol Fish Market and TienDA at the APC Grounds in Barangay Dao in Tagbilaran City. Piñol said it aimed to promote locally produce agri-fishery products, provide market access and bring down the rising prices of basic commodities especially fish products.

Scene: JP Maslog posted on Facebook: The LGU-Panglao acted swiftly to address the illegal structures at Virgin Island. After a coordinated meeting with the Coastal Resource Management, the Municipal DILG and the concerned vendors, the latter voluntarily agreed to remove/detach and demolish the structures at the famous sand bar. Just this morning a team composed of the Coastal Resource Management (CRM),Municipal Engineering, Municipal DILG,PNP-Panglao and Bohol Tourist Pulis Unit inspected the area and was very satisfied with the quick action and result. 

Scene: Rima Aumentado on the sudden death of Bohol’s tattoo and graffiti artist Dexter Bustrillos: May your Soul Rest In Peace Sir. You are such a Good Friend and a Humble Person, despite of all the Achievements and Success that you have right now. We are not that close but you are so respectful magtagbo bisag asa sa ICM or molabay ka diri sa balay ky silingan ra lage sad ta mo smile gyud ka. You are a very family-oriented person, ky bisag unsa ka busy sa Shop you still managed to find time with your family esp your girls (daughters). You are very humble and down to earth kay sharing kayka sa imo blessings esp sa imong natabangan na mga Tattoo Artists. Bootan kaayo. Shocking Sad News but God has a purpose for everything. May you rest in peace Sir Dex. 

***

Schools have issued warnings about
 the Momo challenge, after the grotesque
doll with bulging eyes associated
with the suicide game has been
reportedly seen in the social media.  Internet Photo

Bedtime stories are a beautiful part of our childhood memories. As kids, we have lived all those amazing tales of courage, adventure, thrills and fun, but the ones which remain etched in our memories are the “mumo” (ghost) stories and other scary tales that our grandparents and parents told us.

The “mumo” stories were not meant for very young children who could be frightened more than they should be.

But earlier this week, "Momo" was a top new trending search term on Google for the US, Australia, Canada and the UK.

My friend Jessa Ylanan, a former journalist, shared that her friends were alarmed when their children were talking about “Momo” that someone had managed to scare their children into hurting themselves.

Momo Challenge is the latest viral concern /social media fad/urban legend going around Facebook parenting groups and schools. Authorities described it as a "suicide game".

The game, which involves a terrifying doll with grotesque features, works by getting young children and teenagers to message a specific phone number and then follow the instructions texted to them. 

The orders become increasingly violent and dangerous, including instructions to threaten others and self-harm. The children are threatened if they refuse to comply.

My assistant Helen Castano shared that her neighbors in Lamdagan thanked that their kids are not hooked on gadgets. They added In jest, ‘Maayo gani kay dili kasabot og English among mga anak kay English man kaha ang instruction anang Momo.”

Whatever it is, Ylanan said that the most terrifying aspect of the Momo Challenge is that as much as parents are trying to protect their children  from the slightest danger, somehow, right under their noses, people are still able to get to them.

National Online Safety has released tips (later adapted by the PNP-Cybercrime Group) on how to keep your child safe from the Momo challenge.

1. Tell them it's not real.  Just like any urban legend or horror story, the concept can be quite frightening and distressing for young people. Whilst this may seem obvious, it’s important for you to reiterate to your child that Momo is not a real person and cannot directly harm them. Also, tell your child to not go openly searching for this content online as it may only cause more distress.

2. Be present. It’s important for you, as a parent or carer, to be present while your children are online. This will give you a greater understanding of what they are doing on their devices, as well as providing you with the opportunity to discuss, support and stop certain activities that your child may be involved in. As the nature of each task become progressively worse it’s also important to recognize any changes in your child’s behavior.

3.Talk regularly. As well as monitoring your child’s activity, it’s important for you discuss it with them too.

Not only will this give you an understanding of their online actions, but those honest and frequent conversations will encourage your child to feel confident to discuss issues and concerns they may have related to the online world.

4.Device settings and parental controls. Ensure that you set up parental controls for your devices at home. This will help to restrict the types of content that your child can view, as well as help you to monitor their activity. In addition to this, it’s vital that you are aware of your device and account settings to ensure your child’s utmost safety. For example, on YouTube you can turn off ‘suggested auto-play’ on videos to stop your child from viewing content that they have not directly selected.

5.Peer pressure. Trends and viral challenges can be tempting for children to take part in; no matter how dangerous or scary they seem. Make sure you talk to your child about how they shouldn’t succumb to peer pressure and do anything they are not comfortable with, online or offline. If they are unsure, encourage them to talk to you or another trusted adult.

6.Real or hoax.  As a parent it is natural to feel worried about certain things you see online that may be harmful to your child. However, not everything you see online is true. Check the validity of the source and be mindful of what you share as it may only cause more worry.

7.Report and block. You can’t always rely on parental controls to block distressing or harmful material. People find ways around a platform’s algorithm in order to share and promote this type of material. Due to this, we advise that you flag and report any material you deem to be inappropriate or harmful as soon as you come across it. You should also block the account/content to prevent your child from viewing it.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome atleoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

Volunteers clean Bohol Rivers

Over 2,000 volunteers beat the sunrise on Friday morning, February 22, to participate in the clean-up drive at the Abatan River as part of the simultaneous river clean-up in 10 rivers in Central Visayas.

Volunteers helped clean litter and debris at various river
 and stream sites in Bohol province on Friday, Feb. 22
as part of Department of Environment and Natural Resources
\(DENR)’s Simultaneous River Clean-Up Drive in Central Visayas.
Photo by Leo Udtohan

Among the volunteers were students of Bohol Island University (BISU) and employees of the Alturas Group of Companies who came to respond to the call of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) for volunteers.

They helped clean litter and debris in Abatan River in Cortes town, Inabanga River in Inabanga town and  Manaba River in Garcia Hernandez.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Charlie Fabre said the activity was in line with the “RIVERs for Life” Program of DENR.

Fabre said the rivers and streams in Bohol are already Type B and C rivers which indicates that these rivers are no longer safe for drinking or bathing.

“This is a great event because everybody cares about cleaning up trash, everybody cares about cleaning up the rivers,” said Emmie Roslinda of PROCESS (Participatory Research, Organization of Communities and Education towards Struggle for Self-Reliance).

Roslinda added the event was to show the community the importance of rivers in Bohol.

“It’s a good time for a good cause,” said Guy Bernaldez from the Alturas Group of Companies with other 61 volunteers from the company.

Using a kayak to clean the Bacong River headwaters in Cortes town
in Bohol province on Friday, volunteer Rey Anthony Chiu of the
Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Bohol collected plastic bottles
and bags, discarded nets, assorted cellophane wrappers, rubber slippers
and Styrofoam food packs. Friday’s activity was part of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
simultaneous river clean-up drive in Central Visayas. Photo by Leo Udtohan

Rivers in Bohol--Abatan River in Cortes and Maribojoc towns, Loay River in Loay town  and Loboc River in Loboc town --are famous attractions in Bohol. These serve as the habitat of fireflies and highlight the life of the Boholanos.  

Although rivers and streams in Bohol are still-healthy compared to other provinces, volunteers still scraped tons of trash.

“Plastic bottles and bags, discarded nets, assorted  cellophane wrappers, rubber slippers and Styrofoam food packs, that’s most of what we find,” said Rey Anthony Chiu of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) along with other volunteers who used kayaks to collect garbage at streams.

The country is facing a major environmental problem which may result in unhealthy living conditions, according to Fabre.

He admitted that a number of rivers in the country were biologically dead, destroyed by fecal coliform.

He is encouraging the public to take a ‘bold’ step in protecting the rivers and join the movement to save them.

“Every month activity na ito. Yung sustainability dapat mag-start not for DENR but to start from within sa mga tao sa Bohol,” he said. “Dapat gawing normal activity para walang basura na papunta sa river o walang waste na papunta doon sa river para sigurado na malinis yung tubig natin.”

Karen Gallman to come home on Feb. 28

If plans push through, our very first Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman will be coming home on Feb. 28.

The event organizers have not yet provided her detailed schedule, according to VRS, a beauty pageant fanatic.  

Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman will be
coming home on Feb. 28. Photo courtesy: Karen Gallman IG

She is set to arrive in Bohol province on Feb. 28 (Thursday) at 9 a.m., followed with a brief press conference in the airport.

Feb. 28 will be a very busy day for the beauty queen as she is expected to pay a courtesy call to Tagbilaran City Mayor Baba Yap at the city hall. She will also pay a courtesy call to Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto at the Mansion before rounding out the day with her homecoming parade.

Her grand homecoming parade will take the route from the Mansion to the city plaza. The parade will start at 1 p.m.

After Tagbilaran City, Karen will proceed to Ubay town where a lot of people are expected to see Miss Intercontinental better than at the parade.  In Ubay, Karen will meet the town officials lead by Mayor Constantino Reyes and members of the Rotary Club of Ubay.

“We are praying it will push through,” said VRS, who also relayed the info that Ubay tourism officer Antonette Acedo  and former Miss Bohol Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado are busy preparing for Karen’s homecoming.

How to have a happy life

In this topsyturvy world, one should expect the unexpected. This was what this young businessman learned when he and his partners decide to expand their business. The (globetrotter) VRS said that after doing some pencil-pushing, this businessman totalled his losses to millions.

“Sheer talent is not enough to “stay alive” in business,” shared VRS.

VRS also said that this businessman is very lonely now inside his house.

“A big house or a new car won't actually make you happier; it's the simple joys in life that bring true happiness,” said VRS.

Bohol’s “Kilay Doctor” Karla Tirol Magno shares the 10 simple
ways to start living a happier life.  Contributed Photos

How do we find more joy in our life? Like anything else, it takes practice to cultivate ongoing happiness.

Incidentally, someone shared to me “How to have a happy life” which I learned was originally posted by Bohol’s “Kilay Doctor” Karla Tirol Magno, founder and CEO of Brow Clinic & Beauty Lounge, located at The Alley along J.A. Clarin Street in this city.   

Karla’s mom, the former Internet Princess Leah Tirol (who is running for board member for Bohol’s first district), also shared that by appreciating the things that we already have we will begin to feel happier in our lives.

“Always be thankful,” said Leah.

She also said that sometimes after we've achieved our own personal goals, we still feel empty inside because we haven't made a meaningful contribution to someone else's life.

“When we help others, it feels good to just be of service to someone else. The impact we make feels fulfilling and is a big potential source for our own happiness,” Leah added.

Being happy won't happen overnight. But here are the top 10 things you can do every day to discover the secrets of being happier.

1. Care less about what people say. No matter what you do , people have something to say. Whether you do good or bad, they will have opinions about you. Ignore whatever negativity that they are trying to inject on you.

2. Choose your battles. Not all battles are worth your attention. Not everything is worth your time. If you know the better truth, you have nothing to explain.

3. Think positively. Look at the brighter side of everything. Everything will fall in its perfect places.

4. Believe in yourself. Believe in your capabilities. Believe that you can do great things in life.

5. Never compare your progress with anyone. You have your own journey to take. You have different struggles. You will have your time soon.

6. Do not pressure yourself too much. Success takes time. It takes efforts. It takes hard work and commitment.

7. Do not forget to smile. No matter how tough the journey gets, keep on smiling. You do not own all of the problems in the world.

8. Embrace your flaws and imperfections. Accept your past. Correct your mistakes and learn from them.

9. Love yourself. One of the best kinds of love is self-love. You will never go wrong with it. It takes maturity to be on that level. It takes acceptance. It takes being strong.

10. Do good to other people and good karma will happen. Spread kindness. Forgive people. Life is too short to dwell on hatred. Be a catalyst for change.