Update on the Mango Growers Association - they are on a roll!!

The latest on the Mango Grower's successes in Manila!  My 'thing' in life is to help people find their voice - especially when the legal system or general situation isn't "fair".  Being here, I've realized that 'being fair" has no meaning in this culture...except within certain strata of society (and then it may not really be a sense of 'unfairness' but rather that they are being needlessly hampered by the law; I'm not sure).  The Mango growers that I've worked with, however, have been shut down without a market to sell to - for 24 years - and billions of pesos have been lost, as well as thousands of employment opportunities.   I'm just so happy that I was able to be involved in a tiny part of their efforts which will rejuvenate the entire economy of this island - for everyone.

But, you can tell by the title that things are different here - in America, it would be "Persistence of Mango Growers of Palawan pays off" with a subheading: "Petition acknowledged and forward action taken by DA head" at the least.  I guess media in every country has a "spin".  Here, "fairness" doesn't matter and people at different levels have different abilities and rewards- and power at the top is acclaimed - thus the "DA Rescues".  My life here may be frustrating, but it is an incredible learning experience on the topic of humanity and truth - fascinating.

Pouring rain for the last 2 days - they've even closed the PC offices in Manila due to the typhoon...if it doesn't let up soon, the mango orchards will have a different problem to deal with!!!

DA Rescues Palawan's Mango Industry 
September 25, 2011

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (5th from left) assures the mango growers association of Palawan and other industry stakeholders that the government is ready to extend aid to the province's keyplayers to address the 24-year old problem caused by Mango Pulp Weevil (MPW) which prevents local farmers to trade their mangoes outside Palawan. During a recent meeting at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Office, the group requested Alcala to re-align the P100-million budget from the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) of DA for treatment facilities such as x-ray machine, hot water treatment equipment (inset) and processing plant rather than the eradication of MPW which has been futile through the years. Alcala suggested that the group, together with concerned DA officials, draft a roadmap to come up with steps that will be advantageous not only to mango farmers in Palawan but for the entire mango industry as well. With Alcala are: (R-L) Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Clarito Barron, DA-High Value Crops Development National Coordinator Jennifer Remoquillo, BPI Assistant Director Dante Delima, and mango stakeholders. (Photo by: Kathrino Resurreccion, DA-Information Service)