t’s the Christmas season, arguably the most anticipated holiday of the year. But instead of concentrating on the festivities, many Filipinos will be wondering how to make ends meet amid the rising prices of basic food items. This, alongside the longtime complaint of farmers and fishers not making...
AVANT GARDENER Yvette Tan The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) plays an important role in regulating the country’s natural resources, which includes agroforestry. DENR Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo Loyzaga outlines the department’s thrust: Ethical stewardship....
'The Christmas Toys' has the makings of a classic Christmas story, and indeed, deserves a place in the bookshelves of all families. The first time I read "Peter Pan," I was maybe eight or nine years old. I was wonderstruck. Peter Pan, Wendy, The Lost Boys, Tinkerbell – the denizens of Neverland,...
The Singapore Writers Festival 2022 was spread across different locations, including the Arts House. (Photo courtesy of Arts House Limited) The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) is an annual event that celebrates literature and its adjacent disciplines. Started in 1986, aside from being one of the...
AVANT GARDENER Yvette Tan The Mandanas-Garcia Ruling, or Executive Order 138 (EO 138) is a Supreme Court ruling petitioned by Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas and former Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia, Jr. that, according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) website, requests “the...
AVANT GARDENER Yvette Tan I attended a talk given by Cielito F. Habito, director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development and the secretary of Socio Economic Planning heading the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) during the late Fidel Ramos’ presidency. Titled...
AVANT GARDENER Yvette Tan The agriculture sector is in a weird state. Not enough Filipinos are worried about the declining industry and its implications on the nation’s food security, yet everyone can feel — and complains about — the rising prices and lack of supply of certain food items,...
AVANT GARDENER Yvette Tan With the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the largest trade agreement involving many countries since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), due to be brought up in the Senate soon, the question remains: will the agriculture sector be...
AVANT GARDENER Yvette Tan I sat down with Arsenio “Toto” Barcelona, president of Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. As anyone who’s met him knows, he’s fun to talk to and is a font of knowledge. He was also a good friend of former Manila...
(From Left to Right) Vice Consul Fatima C. Mueller, Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon-Abalos, Ms. Paula Gutierrez Salangsang, Ube Fiesta Project and Social Media Head “Ang ube ay ang kulay asul at kulay pula ng ating bandila. Kaya sa isang banda, ang ube ay masasabi nating “pambansang kulay ng...
AVANT GARDENER Yvette Tan We need to focus on ensuring national food security now to prevent shortages in the future. Various groups and individuals have been sounding this alarm, particularly in the last few months. As the country transitions to a new administration, with President Marcos also...
AVANT GARDENER Yvette Tan The blue ternate may finally be getting its moment. The blue ternate (Clitoria ternatea), also known as butterfly pea, also known as Asian pigeonwings has been the darling of small farmers for a while now. Its scientific name comes from the word clitoris because that’s...
