No to GMO: Organic Agriculture Act to be signed by GMA

Organic Agriculture is the production of crops and livestock that relies on the ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of chemical inputs and in-organic fertilizers.

It fosters the principles of Care, Health, Ecology and Fairness.  Care for this generation and the future; promote a truly Healthy food (albeit: free of pesticides, hormones, chemicals); preserve Ecological balance; Fair in giving equal opportunity to non-conventional farmers.  These principles and more are learned from our Study Tour in an Organic Farm (Lakbay-Aral sa Bukid Organiko) which is facilitated by a professional pool of resource persons/specialists who provides lecture on organic agriculture, farming practices and hands-on technology demonstration. The study tour is tailored according to the level of the audience and requirements of the group.  Study Tour is for everybody just as the protection of earth is by everybody. 

Some of the Organizations that have been to the farm are CFA Homeschoolers with parents and teachers; De La Salle Lipa faculty and students; United Nations Filipino Consultants and Expatriate Staff; Medical doctors and practitioners of Alternative medicine; Agricultural Development and Marketing Officers from Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Japan and Philippines.

We support and assist farmers who would like to switch to Organic Farming!  The real farmers are those who have taken on the vital role in the health of people, economy of nation and balance of ecosystem.  They deserve to be rewarded with increased income, lower cost of capital, higher production yield and empowered network of supporting components.  For non-agriculturists, be informed of the benefits to you and family of going organic. 

Let's do our share in protecting our Mother Earth, join us tomorrow as we switch off our lights from 8:30PM to 9:30PM!  As one people, we are united in raising awareness and taking action to fight climate change.

Chef with a green CAP (Chef Apprenticeship Program)

It's no joke that there is this moniker, "Green Chef," floating around the Culinary industry.   Like everyone else on earth, everybody is trying to do their share in the green revolution, moreso, the chefs and restaurateurs who are at fist to fist with food quality and safety, poverty reduction, zero-waste management (average of 260 kg per person or 676 kg of waste to landfill, much of it coming from the kitchen).

The Chefs and Restaurateurs are faced with greening responsibilities  from cooking technologies, real-fresh produce, hormone-free meat, energy-efficient kitchen equipment and appliances, environment-friendly cleaning aids.  The Villegas Organic and Hobby Farms SAGE Learning Center, with it's expertise on sustainable agriculture and zero-waste management, has cooked-up a special program to produce a culinary leader who embraces a healthy lifestyle and cares for the environment.

Dubbed as Green Chef Apprenticeship Program, it's objective is to imbibe the values of CHEF (Care, Health, Ecology, Fairness) in becoming a responsible chef, experiencing food first hand from its origins and gain understanding of how it affects the environment, thus, show respect to the ecology of life.

This whole day orientation and forum is set on May 29, 2010 Saturday at Malvar, Batangas City (approximately an hour from Magallanes). 

We can only accomodate 50 persons so get your slots early :
Reserve by April 20 avail of the discounted rate Php1,200.00
Reserve by May 10 avail of the discounted rate Php1,400.00
Last day of reservation  (if there are available slots) May 27 with rate Php1,800.00

For group discounts:
EMAIL  activeculture@Ymail.com  activeculture.club@Gmail.com
CALL  774.84.72    SMS 9088.858.656

Spiritual Heritage Tour: Bisita Iglesia 2010

What is Bisita Iglesia?  It is a Filipino family tradition, said to be a penitential activity,  that involves visiting of several Churches.  This is the laity's way of taking part on the passion and death of Christ. 

Every year, Nature Awareness and Conservation Club (NACCI), in its service to members and special guests's spirituality, takes you to quaint historical churches on holy week.  This year it will lead the spiritual journey on the road to LAGUNA, on March 31st (Wednesday) and BULACAN, on April 1st (Thursday).   

Laguna Bisita Iglesia, March 31 Holy Wednesday
San Antonio de Padua Church
St. Mary Magdalene Church
St. James Parish Apostle
St. Gregory The Great Parish
St. Peter of Alcantara Church
St. John The Baptist Church
St. Bartholomew Parish

Bulacan Bisita Iglesia, April 1 Holy Thursday
Divine Mercy National Shrine
Barasoain Church, San Gabriel
Basilica Minore de Immaculada Concepcion
Santiago Apostol Church
National Shrine of Saint Anne
San Agustin Parish Church
Simborio Chapel

For inquiries, itinerary and more information, please EMAIL activeculture@Ymail.com  or  activeculture.club@Gmail.com

Waiting on... A time...

90% of our time is spent waiting.  Waiting on the sun to come out (or more rain to come down this El Nino), waiting for the coffee to brew, waiting for the bread to toast, waiting for the car to warm-up, waiting for the traffic light to go, waiting for a parking space, waiting for the elevator, waiting on the person you have a meeting appointment with, waiting for lunch and waiting and waiting...

And half the time we circumvent around waiting. We take instant coffee, biscuits instead of toast, running off without warming up the car, beating the red light, illegal parking... We take matters into our hands. The same holds true in our lives, we have the I-want-it-now mentality driven by conveniences and technology. What we need to be reminded of is that waiting is still a big part of life.  And the best things in life happen from waiting:  waiting for the crop to grow, waiting for the child to become independent, waiting for original buko pie to bake, waiting to cross the marathon finish line, waiting for the Cebu mango to ripen or dry up, waiting for the hard-earned investment to yield, waiting for that mahogany tree to be a shade, waiting for that Big Yes!...

This season of lent we remember the sacred waiting on the Lord. "..waiting gives experience; and experience, hope: and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:4-5

As we reflect into our lives and renew our commitment to Christ this season, let us make time to "partake" of His passion and death, so that once again, we experience His holy resurrection.

To Every Thing There is a Season - Ecclesiastes 3. 1-8

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Mr. Green Chef: Moringa "malunggay"

Malunggay or Moringa oleifera Lamk dubbed as the "best bio-food on Earth" has taken part of the main stage in agricultural programs in Asia and worldwide. Known for its various medicinal and culinary usage, many by-products of Malunggay are being discovered on a regular basis.

Containing four times more calcium and two times more protein than milk, seven times more vitamin c than oranges, four times more Vitamin A than carrots, three times more Potassium than banana, three times more Iron content of Spinach, aside from being heavy HDL (high density lipo-protein-- a rich source of amino acids, omega oils, and anti-oxidant properties), the capacity of Malunggay to be at par or to top other leafy green vegetables and other fruits is tremendous.

In the Philippines, Malunggay has been a part of the alternative/ therapeutic practices of the Filipinos. Grown as a vegetable tree or a border plant, its tree can easily grow in one's backyard and will not require a high toll on maintenance. Being geographically conducive for Malunggay propagation and production, the Philippines is now among the top Malunggay producers in the world, just running behind India, Nicaragua, Madagascar, and Hawaii.

Due to extensive proliferation of the miracle tree and the recent discovery of its healing and medicinal capacities, the Philippine Government launched in 2008 a massive campaign on Malunggay planting and by-product production. Congressman Villafuerte of Camarines Sur spearheaded the governmental initiative of propagating Malunggay thru tree-panting by utilizing 700 hectares of land devoted to the growing of the trees. The Quezon City government is urging its constituents to plant Malunggay to curb hunger and diseases. Gov. Arnaiz of Negros Oriental has 350 hectares of malunggay farm.

Testimonials:

Jubbie Deocos of Iloilo had sun-burned and flaky due to living in the province. Upon working and living in Manila, the flakiness of the skin worsened. After using the MORINGA LOTION, his skin started peeling the dry flakes and resulted to a fairer skin. (Jubbie Deocos/Contact Information available upon request).

Mr. Renato B. Guevarra, a 76 year-old retired captain started using the powder for 2 months. His cholesterol level went down from 225 to 170 and his uric acid went down from 6.8 to 5.6. (Contact Info available upon request).

SOURCE: Partner - DS Pinoy

For orders, please email us  activeculture@Ymail.com  or  activeculture.club@Gmail.com