PRPH Interview with Dito Sa Laguna

The PRPH team (L-R: Ara Bagunu, Dada Mercado, Jabez Flores with host, Chad Roble) at the set of Dito Sa Laguna. Photo from the Dito Sa Laguna Facebook page.

Two months ago, the Permaculture Research PH (PRPH) team was interviewed by Dito Sa Laguna--a local TV show showcasing development-related work in Los Banos and surrounding communities. 

The team discussed what permaculture is all about; how to apply it in daily life; and the challenges of conducting research on such a multifaceted topic. This was the team's first exposure to a mainstream audience. 

The show is produced by the College of Development Communication-UPLB and airs every Saturday, 10 AM on Community Cable Vision Corp. Channel 8. 

Watch the full episode here by clicking the link: https://www.facebook.com/DitoSaLaguna/videos/2182797071994505/

Special thanks to Enimal for our t-shirts and Kayu for our wooden sunglasses! Support local! 

Welcome to Bukid ni Bogs

by Bogs Castro
Farmer, Peace Builder, Music and Arts Advocate

Bukid ni Bogs (BnB) is a PermaFarm based in Dumingag Zamboanga del Sur run by no other than the PermaTito himself Bogs Castro. Apart from being an organic farmer, he also works with the LGU of Dumingag as a music, arts and culture advocate since February of 2018. The inspiration behind BnB is simple - compassion. 

Bogs was introduced to organic farming and permaculture when he met Mrs. Elgyn Pacalioga of Umaleng Farm, the wife of Jun Pacalioga who started the Genuine People's Agenda revolution in Dumingag back in 2007. This collaborative endeavour provided the foundation that helped save the Dumingagnons from poverty, hunger and sickness. A monumental movement and success story that continues to gain recognition from all over the world. 

The organic practice and culture of interconnectedness has been the backbone of BnB ever since it was established last March 2018. Dedicated to spread awareness and inspiration, BnB promotes a culture of energy exchange where people who visit the farm can gain knowledge and experience about organic farming, permaculture, organic soap making and meditation in exchange for anything the visitor feels his/her time in the farm is worth. Everything is free, even the seeds, because the farm believes that seeds come from nature and should be enjoyed and cultivated by all. 

True to the farms advocacy of promoting fair share, they provide additional livelihood opportunities for our local growers through the handmade organic bath bars that BnB and Umaleng Farm is producing and now distributing all over the country. All of the organic ingredients that are used in the soap come from the farms in Zamboanga del Sur. With more than 50 resellers from every corner of the Philippines, it would seem that the farm's goal of providing an affordable and eco-friendly bath for all the Filipinos will be realized soon. Bukid ni Bogs is still in its early stages, but Bogs believes that there's no rush in promoting a sustainable lifestyle. Slow is still progress as long as it's moving forward. And to continue learning and growing each day, in the space between no longer and not yet. 

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Have a permaculture story to share? E-mail us at permacultureresearchph@gmail.com (150-300 words only with photos or videos). Thank you!

Using Drones for Permaculture Research

In this video recorded in Rome, Italy, YPARD Philippines representative and Permaculture Research PH drone operator, Jim Leandro Cano, talks to FarmingFirst TV about using drone technology for studying permaculture systems. Jim joined the team in our trips to Cabiokid Foundation Inc. in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, and in Tara Farms and Jubileeville in Bay, Laguna. He will visit The Justice German Lee Jr. Nature Sanctuary in Carcar City, Cebu in December. He uses a DJI Spark drone.

DJI Spark drone photo of a permaculture site called Tara Farms in Bay, Laguna. Photo by Jim Cano.

Escape to Antique

View of the sea, the house, the garden, and the restaurant at Alpas. Photo by Dada Mercado.

First of all, our trips to 12 permaculture sites around the country is finally over! We've been on the road since August 31. For the next 20 days we will be in our "office" processing all the data we have collected. There's quite a lot. And we're excited to work on this phase of the project. Plus we have to catch up with the blogs, there's 5 more site including this one. It's just about sharing our experiences, no scientific data to share yet. You have to wait for that in 2019!

We went to Antique via Iloilo last October 15-16. It was all our first time in this place, specifically in Tobias Fornier (formerly Dau). Our Antique respondents, Kim and Ken, have been helpful with promoting our research endeavor on social media in the months leading to this visit. Prior to this trip, we haven't been to a permaculture site on a beach! It was either in the middle of a rice field or a peri-urban area.

We arrived safely in a place called Alpas. Super thanks to Kim for making all the arrangements. Alpas is Kim and Ken's project to provide people with a place where they can just be themselves and experience the peaceful beach, good food, and great company...and also the cute dogs. When we got there, the couple and their staff were working on their all-bamboo restaurant which, by the way, will open on December 1! So if you're around the area, be sure to give them a visit and experience Ken's cooking. 

Studying this site was our closest to having a vacation. The pace of life was slow and relaxed. True to its name, Alpas, it was a place to get away and be free. Maybe the sight of the sea helped us relax. We toured the small town of Tobias Fornier, ate local food, walked on the beach, played with the dogs, did some hiking, and data gathering, of course. 

The town is an agricultural community. People here are either farmers or fishermen. But only a handful practice organic farming. So hopefully Kim and Ken would be able to influence the community by making Alpas a source of inspiration and ideas. They've been here for only a year but we love their energy, enthusiasm, and hope for the local community.  Wishing you all the best!

We would also like to say thanks to Feedspot for compiling all the best permaculture blogs around the world. We're happy we landed at number 26 out of 50 blogs! So we would like to thank all our followers on Facebook and Instagram, our subscribers, and our readers here on Blogger. We're hoping to post at least 1 blog article a week to generate more content on the local permaculture movement.

If you're a permaculture designer from the Philippines, please do send us your story at permacultureresearchph.blogspot.com. Thank you!

Fishing boats docked on the beach. Photo by Jabez Flores.

Permaculture in the City

The eco-house and it's open-air dining area. Photo by Jabez Flores

All of the permculture sites we've been to so far are in rural areas. This gave people a wrong impression that permaculture design can only be applied in rural farms. On the contrary, the Eco-house in Marikina, Metro Manila is not a rural farm. It's not big and it's in the city! 

Located in a 250 square meter residential lot, the Eco-house is the home of veteran permaculture designer and educator, Bert Peeters--a respected figure in the Philippine permaculture movement. And true to its permaculture design, the multi-purpose structure also houses the Philippine Permaculture Association (PPA) head office, a bamboo bike workshop, and a backyard garden. 

During our short visit in the eco-house, we were able to talk to the PPA staff and talk about food and the permaculture movement in the Philippines. 

We would like to thank Bert and the PPA team; to Sandino and Olga for touring us around the house and showing us its design features. Looking forward to see you guys in the 2nd Philippine Permaculture Convergence! 

Sandino Guinto and Olga Marquez of PPA photo by Dada Mercado