#OfftheLand: ‘Organic’ is More than a Fad

In our recent trip to Northern Mindanao for the 6th Bloggers’ Event for Organic Agriculture, we asked the participating bloggers to describe their three-day experience in one word. The responses were ‘inspiring’, ‘awesome’, ‘enlightening’, ‘change’, and ‘amazing’. For me, the trip was an ‘eye-opening’ experience especially on the technicalities of organic agriculture and of farming in general.

I’ve been working in the agriculture sector for more than five years now but I’ve never really had a good grasp of the many layers of farm development and management. Thankfully, I got to work at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) where I am given a chance to interact more with farmers in their farms. Eventually, the 6th Bloggers’ Event for Organic Agriculture is also an eye-opening trip for me in terms of the success stories in Philippine agriculture and of the ATI’s efforts in the ground.

July 3, 2016July 7, 2016 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OfftheLandTags: agricultural training institute, agriculture, alomah’s place, binahon agroforestry farm, blogging, blogging for development, buhian diversified farm, bukidnon, camping, conservation farming, farmers, farming, fertilizer, fishery, food, forestry, fruits, jaya secret garden, land, learning site, livestock, misamis oriental, northern mindanao, organic, organic agriculture, Philippines, sustainable, vegetables, veranda Leave a comment

#OfftheMark: In My Shoes

I’m not much of a shoe person. It would usually take me months before I buy a new pair. I would only do so out of need or when there’s a sale (I bought my most pricey kicks for only a little over a grand). But I buy shoes more often than I buy jeans.

June 25, 2016June 27, 2016 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OfftheMarkTags: clothing, fashion, happy, keepsakes, Ketsana, memories, Philippines, rainy season, shoes, shopping, travel, Tzu Chi, vegetarian, white, work Leave a comment

#OFFTHEMARK: THE ILLUSION OF LIFE

Life is a tricky place to be in. The Christian point-of-view tells us that life is a test, a trust, and a temporary assignment. Where are you at in this place called life? Are you on top of the world or at the bottom of a pit? Is it a roller coaster sort of ride?

June 8, 2016June 27, 2016 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OfftheMark, UncategorizedTags: Life Leave a comment

#OffthePage: Ye Shall Not Break

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

— Joshua 1:9

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November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OffthePageTags: Faith, God Leave a comment

#OfftheLand: Surge

In the middle of catching up with deadlines at work and my impending resignation came our trip to Guiuan in Eastern Samar on September 24. Guiuan is a small town where fishing and coconut farming are the main sources of livelihood. In November 2013, however, super typhoon Haiyan pummeled the town. Thankfully, it has now sprung back to life. Housing areas are gradually developing. Trees have also grown lush. Economy is slowly thriving.

September 28, 2015June 8, 2016 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OfftheLandTags: Eastern Samar, Faith, Guiuan, Haiyan Leave a comment

#OfftheStage: Not a Riot, a Release

Because back flips and truss climbs

I didn’t think that I’d be able to write about this one day.

To all the Pinoy Clique, July 18 and 19, 2015 have surely been two emotional days for us. I hadn’t really believed that we’d deserve it, but Tyler, Josh and the Crew gave us our dream. It was more than a show. It was an encounter of sorts. And even though I didn’t get to meet them or see them up close and personal, I felt their force all the way through the second floor where I stood. And yelled from. And jumped, flailed around and sang my heart out in the midst of a handful of teenagers and in the face of a straight-arrow security guard.

These are things I don’t normally do, you see. It’s a point in time that I forgot I was a grown woman and I apologize to all the poor kiddos in front and beside me who endured my wild screams, aggressive moves, stale breath and smelly armpits as I rocked out to twenty one pilots’ music. I apologize to the parents for setting a bad example.

I also apologize to the security guy who mistook my over-the-top rockin’ as a threat to security that he was forced to rally us back by the barricade.

Incidentally, I wore my newest favorite shirt that day which said ‘Excuse us while we sing to the sky.’

August 6, 2015August 7, 2015 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OfftheStageTags: twentyonepilots Leave a comment

#OfftheMark: Words of Wisdom from Jerry Greenfield

To celebrate the conclusion of my three-week no-added-sugar challenge, I share this insightful quip from Jerry Greenfield,  co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Holdings, Inc.:

“Ice cream is the perfect buffer, because you can do things in a somewhat lighthearted way. Plus, people have an emotional response to ice cream; it’s more than just food. So I think when you combine caring, and eating wonderful food, it’s a very powerful combination.”

#MakeYourLicksCount

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June 9, 2015August 7, 2015 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OfftheMark Leave a comment

#OffthePage: Come, Holy Spirit (A Pentecost Sunday Reflection)

Author’s Note: Below is my non-expert translation and interpretation of a Filipino Sunday reflection essay that a Catholic priest wrote for the mass booklet for May 24^th which enlightened me just as I was feeling depressed by what I was seeing around me. I just thought that if someone does feel the same, this might help, too.

“Science tells us that the simplest solutions are often the best. God, who has a much higher intellect than any scientist on earth, has one simple solution to all the problems of the world. This solution is none other than love. The opposite of love—sin—is very complicated. This contradicts the truth. Sin begins with lies: lying to oneself, to others and to God. Lying is not to be taken lightly. Once you start, you would not be able to stop twisting falsehoods into truths. The result? Confusion, affliction of the mind and blindness of the heart. Lying spreads its reach. Lying, or killing the truth, is the very reason for the chaos in today’s world. We have no order—and without order, beauty is lost. It is no wonder that, in today’s world, instead of order and beauty, we see nothing but: chaos and hideousness. It’s beginning to feel like this is not the world that God created.”  –Enrico D. Gonzales, OP, Sambuhay Misalette (May 24, 2015)

I can feel it. I do feel it, see it, hear it and smell it.

May 25, 2015May 25, 2015 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OffthePageTags: God, Holy Spirit, Love Leave a comment

#OfftheMark: Let Love Light You Up

Sometimes, I feel really down for reasons I could not figure out. Yesterday was one of those times. Not even my go-to 8tracks playlists could cheer me up. I thought cleaning out our office paper storage would do the trick but all I got were sore muscles and a dirty shirt. I thought I’d write about something that normally makes me happy but thinking only made my head hurt.

May 13, 2015May 13, 2015 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OfftheMarkTags: Flyte Leave a comment

#OfftheRecord: What Does Sam Say?

“Making the world a better place only happens when we take the step to accept not just our best qualities but our totality and, in loving ourselves, we are untouchable.” – Sam Oh, “The Untouchable Sam Oh” by Karisma Louella Kasilag (2007)

The nicest feeling in the world is to be at the receiving end of someone’s kindness especially when you least expect to be so. But even if such kindness isn’t directed at you, or one’s greatness has nothing to do with you, your heart still swells when you get wind of it.

This world, as we know it, is a harsh one and nothing and nobody is perfect. We are not without our flaws, mistakes and ugly deeds. This is why kindheartedness, compassion, generosity, self-sacrifice, among others, have become rays of warm sunshine to humanity.

Her kindness is, indeed, one of those rays of sunshine in which her virtue grows.

May 5, 2015May 13, 2015 by The Kid in the Corner Categories: OfftheRecordTags: Sam Oh Leave a comment