February: Art month in Davao City

BY ALEX ALAGON

Abstract Sense proposes an artistic statement of pure human freedom and yet grounded to one’s artistic manifestation of their soul. The exhibit hopes for greater appreciation and connection with the arts while developing a greater and wider mind-set in understanding diversity and humanity, according to Mr. Rob Tanedo, the administrator of La Herencia Davao.

The ribbon cutting of the opening reception was attended by Davao City

Vice Mayor Atty. Jay Melchor Quitain Jr., Mrs. Josie Tionko President of DAFI, Ms. Brenda Barba of PWC, Mr. Kevin Mejos representing NCCA.

Davao City Vice Mayor Quitain who is also a visual artist said he was delighted to see the growing Davao arts community visible through continuous art shows all over the city, all year round. He further encouraged everyone to make more art

RECOGNIZING that the cacao industry is an ever-growing market globally, MS3 Agriventures Corporation, a Davaobased award-winning Halal chocolate producer, eyes forging a livelihood partnership with a Department of Science and Technology XI (DOST XI)-assisted agricultural organization in producing a wide variety of cacao products.

The MS3 Agriventures Corporation targets to partner with the Lumiad Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (LUFAMPCO), an organization assisted by DOST XI through the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology

(CEST) program. DOST XI has provided LUFAMPCO with cacao bean crackers, winnowing machine, grinding machine, hydraulic oil press machine, roaster machine, chocolate melanger, and various choco-making equipment to boost livelihood and productivity of the community.

MS3 Agriventures Corp. CEO and Managing Director, Mr. Neil Santillan, met with the Cacao farmers and discussed the variety of products they can make with cacao such as tea, chocolate spread, cacao vinegar, and cocoa butter.

Sharing his humble beginnings as a chocolate producer, he encouraged the farmers to start their production bit by bit,

“Unta makahatag ni ug inspirasyon sa inyoha ug paningkamutan namo na matabangan mo, sama ang DOST (We hope this will inspire you and we will see to it that we can help you, together with DOST),” Mr. Santillan said.

Mr. Santillan also assessed the harvested and fermented cacao beans in the community and provided direction on the proper fermentation process of cacao which is also based on the standard procedures of MS3 Agriventures.

“Once masunod ninyo ang procedures na gitudlo nako sa inyoha, diri na mi mismo magpalit sa inyoha ug cacao beans kay gwapo ang quality sa inyohang cacao ug sa inyohang yuta (Once you can follow the procedures that I taught you, we will directy buy cacao beans here because of the good quality of your cacao and soil),” he added.

LUFAMPCO actively participated in the discussions led by Mr. Santillan and expressed commitment to work harder so

“Salamat kay nakaabot mo diri para magtabang ug para mas mapaayos namo ang among mga pamaagi sa pag process sa cacao (We are thankful because you came here to help us improve our cacao processing),” said Mr. Rolando Camus, a farmer and a member of the LUFAMPCO Board of Directors.

Mr. Santillan conveyed that he will return to the comprocedures.

“I hope in the future maglambo and managhan ang cacao ug iba pang produkto kay abundant ang inyohang mga tanom diri (I hope in the future, your cacao and other agricultural products will prosper because your crops are abundant here),” Mr. Santillan concluded.

Since 2021, DOST XI has been providing multiple services to LUFAMPCO to help them with their cacao production such as Good Manufacturing Process training and Plant Layout Consultancy service for their chocolate processing center.

DOST XI also has an ongoing project with the MS3 Agriventures Corp. on developing a traceability system using Blockchain Technology to ensure that the cacao products comply with the Safety and Halal requirements. DOST XI

QUAKE...(frompage2) pass was also closed by the barangay after noticing additional cracks. The CEO already committed to prioritize the assessment for the overpass. The CDRRMO chief said that despite these reports, he was thankful that the infrastructure damage

“So far, magpasalamat ta sa Ginoo kay wala gyud ta'y major infra damage, wala pud ta’y loss of life or injury due to the shaking (So far we are thankful to God since se we do not have major damage, and we also do not have a loss of life or injury due to the shaking),” he said.

As to disaster management in schools, Baloran said that those with four stories or more should ensure that the students were guided correctly at the onset of the

ALL ... (frompage2) year 2023.

“We have plotted out our activities by having a conference in July where we will be inviting different stakeholders from the academe, local government units, and people’s organizations where we will be presenting management of plastic wastes and a roadmap for plastic waste management in Davao Region,” Bacaltos said.

She said they already talked with Digos City May- quake, and teachers should remain calm because it may also lead to panic among students.

Baloran also said that the safety of students gathering near roads after the quake should also be considered. He said that re-orientation of teachers, especially the newly hired, on disaster risk reduction and management is a must.

However, the Department of Education has already institutionalized its disaster risk reduction and management measures.

“Gina-practice gyud sa DepEd during ground shaking nga dapat safe gyud ang estudyante (DepEd really practices that in the event of ground shaking the safety of the students are ensured),” he said.

Baloran advised Davaoeños to immediately or Josef Fortich-Cagas about possibly banning single-use plastic in the community through the formulation of local legislation and lobbying for an ordinance to stop the practice among local businesses. report even hairline cracks they observe on their buildings.

Bacaltos said all state colleges and universities in Davao Region are expected to come up with their study about single-use plastic to include information dissemination and behavioral change.

“ Kung naay mga ground-shaking, kagabii especially earthquake 6.1 epicenter, expect gyud ta nga naay mga aftershocks kung naay paglihok sa yuta , ground shaking. Dili lang gyud ta mag panic and always gyud tan-awon nato atong safety. After shaking, mugawas ta adto ta sa safe area before nato tan-awon pagbalik atong establishments, amping ta kanunay labi na sa panahon sa kalamidad (If there is ground shaking we must not panic and always check our safety.. after the shaking, we must go out to safe areas and then go back to check on our establishments. We should always take care in times of calamities),” Baloran said.

“We need to change the mindset of the people, to be able to be mindful of the plastic waste management, as part of their lifestyle the reducing or recycling of plastic wastes,” she said.

Bacaltos stressed that people must now consider the ridge-to-reef approach because whatever plastic waste is thrown from the ridge area would end up in the coastal area. (PIA XIJoey Sem G. Dalumpines)