Category Archives: Philippines

Nutrition Month in the Philippines

Posted on by

She’s not Giada de Laurentiis, but she sure does give a great lesson! This chef is teaching community members how to incorporate more vegetables into their diets.

In its 38th year, Nutrition Month, held every July, is a nationwide celebration of healthy eating in the Philippines. There is a theme each year, and this year, Nutrition Month was used to highlight the importance of eating vegetables as part of a healthy diet.

The communities where IIRR works are plagued by malnutrition, so the activities that coincide with Nutrition Month are particularly useful to help families gain an understanding of the benefits of vegetable consumption, as well as  how to properly grow and cook these vegetables.

IIRR staff and other organizations presenting information about healthy eating (including that student-designed poster).

To make vegetables more exciting, IIRR hosted community members, NGOs, and government agencies to partake in a series of workshops about vegetable nutrition, growing and selling produce, and some exciting cooking lessons from a local celebrity chef.  Here are some photos to highlight nutrition day!

Local medical students perform check-ups and speak with community members about nutrition.

Behind the Trees: Kuyang’s Dedication to IIRR

Posted on by

This post comes from our Philippines Office and was written by staffers Joycen Sabio and Josephina Vicencio.

“Kuyang”, 75, is originally from Imus, Cavite. Upon finishing his degree in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry at Araneta University, he began working with Dr. Yen in the early stages of IIRR. He was one of Dr. Yen’s closest friends, and he eventually became the care-taker of the grounds at The Yen Center.  He worked with IIRR for more than 35 years.

After the structures were built around the IIRR campus in the early 1970s, “Kuyang” was mandated
to plant trees around the Yen Center campus with a $23 budget. IIRR founder Dr. James Yen’s original idea was to have every type of tree that can be found in the country planted on the campus, a challenge “Kuyang” readily accepted because he knew that he was planting for the future generation.

Given the limited budget for his assignment, he became very resourceful in finding ways to get various seedlings. He personally collected seeds found around the area, and asked the staff, particularly those working in the field,  to bring back seedlings for planting.

The eye-catching “Bottle tree” found on campus came from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos, while the Cherry Blossom trees came all the way from Palawan. The Cherry Blossoms were planted by the wives of the Prime Ministers of Thailand, Vietnam, and New Zealand. Former First Ladies Imelda Marcos and Lady Bird Johnson have also planted trees on the campus. Among the many varieties, mango, tamarind, and coconut trees can also be found on campus.

The great effort to bring biodiversity to campus is conducive for learning, and reflects IIRR’s commitment to the environment. Today, these trees serve as a playground for children, a nesting ground for birds, shade from sunlight, and providers of fresh air and a cooler ambiance.

If “Kuyang’s” dedication and hard work for the institution could be compared to a tree, it would be the Fire tree, as Fire trees bloom most in times of adversity. The tree turns the reddest during the hottest season of the year while other trees are weak and dry. With more than 35 years of service, “Kuyang” has definitely proven his unselfish passion and loyalty for his job and to the founder of rural reconstruction in the Philippines.

To this day, “Kuyang” continues to visit IIRR and share his most treasured stories about the campus and his time with Dr. Yen. “Kuyang” was the guest speaker during IIRR’s 51st Anniversary last October 2011, when staff and families gathered to listen as he reminisced about his time of service and how grateful he is for having served the institution.

“Kuyang” embodies the competence, creativity, compassion, and impact made of rural reconstruction workers. These characteristics in “Kuyang” have contributed much to the success of IIRR’s programs and set the institution apart from the rest.

We are thankful at IIRR to have such a loyal friend.

IIRR and Malnutrition

Posted on by

According to the World Food Programme, there are an estimated 925 million that do not get enough food to be healthy and lead an active life. There are a lot of causes hunger-from natural disasters to conflict-but malnutrition, hunger’s much-less publicized counterpart, it also causing major issues in the developing world.

Malnutrition is someone who is “badly nourished”, but it is really characterized as an inadequate intake of protein, energy, and micronutrients.  Malnutrition can also mean frequent infections and diseases, and those who are malnourished can die from common infections like measles or diarrhea.

In industrialized nations, getting enough Vitamin A or Iron doesn’t seem like a big issue, but in developing countries meals often lack many of the components of a healthy meal. The World Health Organization ranks deficiencies in Iron, Vitamin A, Iodine, and Zinc in the top ten leading causes of death through disease in developing countries.  And besides that, malnutrition can lead to wasting (substantial weight loss), stunting (chronic malnutrition), and being underweight (comparison of weight-for-age in children around the world).

Being malnourished makes it difficult to do normal things like growing or preventing disease.  Or going to school and playing sports.  Or just being a kid.

IIRR is working to tackle malnutrition in the Philippines through a pretty interesting and innovating initiative. In the Philippines, there is no shortage of viable land for agriculture, yet thousands of rural children are still under nourished.  Through the Bio-Intensive Gardening programs, IIRR is working with the Department of Education in Cavite to bring gardens and nutrition programs into schools.

The gardens utilize organic methods and local products to grow vegetables and fruits that will not only flourish in the local climates, but will also provide a high nutritional yield.  The vegetables and fruits that are grown are used in school meal programs to help children in Cavite.  Nutrition is also incorporated into the classroom as a means to help children better understand proper nutrition for themselves and their families. Upon the success of the program, more schools in outer regions will begin to benefit from the programs.

While there is still need for additional funding so we can expand to new schools, we have plans underway to do nutrition research on the benefits of the program.

Art to Inspire Resilience in the Face of Disasters

Posted on by

As part of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) of the United Nations International Strategy for Risk Reduction, an 8-feet art installation made of recycled plastic containers and nylon strings surrounding a white figure rotated from the ceiling of Espasyo Siningdikato Creativenue last October 15, 2011 in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines.

Entitled “The Re-Awakening”, the white figure symbolizing the innate resilience of the human soul to any hazard event represented by the plastic containers, was the centerpiece of the “Aksyon sa Pagpapalakas ng Kabataan sa Disaster Risk Reduction” or APAK SA DRR organized by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), Espasyo Siningdikato Creativenue and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

Kigao Rosimo, the artist who did the installation, opened the event by introducing the artwork. Participants and guests lit candles and placed them around the foot of the installation signifying hope amidst disasters.  Arth Ayson of Espasyo Siningdikato then did a poi performance (fire dance) during the opening. Jun Servano of IIRR provided the rationale of the APAK SA DRR event. He shared the five priorities in the Children’s Charter for DRR that was discussed during the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva. These are:

(1) Schools must be safe – education must be uninterrupted,

(2) Child protection must be a priority, before, during and after a disaster,

(3) Children and young people have the right to participate and to access the information they need,

(4) Community infrastructures must be safe, and relief and reconstruction must help reduce future disaster risk, and

(5) Disaster risk reduction must reach the most vulnerable.

May Ann Salvador of Espasyo Siningdikato in her message asserted the important role of artists in building resilience through the arts. She added that their group is very active in environmental and other social issues and that the theme of this year’s International Day of DRR is relevant to their own outreach program centered on children and youth.

Emily Monville Oro, Country Program Manager of IIRR shared that IIRR is committed to building resilient communities through the implementation of DRR as part of its Philippine, regional and global programs. She added that DRR is a significant strategy to ensure that development efforts are protected against the impacts of disaster and climate risks.

Ciony Eduarte, Country Director of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) also shared the relevance and significance of the activity focusing on youth. She noted that as a humanitarian organization, building resilience of children is UMCOR’s global priority. She also added that the said event hopes to strengthen the partnership between the organizers in pushing for DRR.

An acoustic performance by Salvador Eduarte of UMCOR then followed.  Lerio Salvador of Elemento/Espasyo Siningdikato also performed using the instruments he personally invented which he calls sandata (weapons) creating a unique repertoire of music he calls “experimental sound art”.  Other artists who performed during the APAK sa DRR event included Cosmopolitan, Smoke Stabs, Gentle Universe, Jay Cris and Dreaming Jimer.

Music, Art, and Poetry to Raise Awareness of Disaster Risk Reduction

Posted on by

The Philippines’ geographical location within the “ring of fire” and astride the typhoon belt makes the country vulnerable to almost all types of natural hazards. The country experiences an average of 20 to 24 typhoons with four to five of them, destructive. The Philippines is also host to 22 active volcanoes. In 2010 alone, a total of 202 natural and human-induced disasters were reported in the Philippines affecting more than 1.29 million families and causing over Php25 billion (about 575M USD) in economic damages.

In response to these challenges, the Philippine program of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) is pushing for Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) as a strategy in building community resilience.

As part of this year’s “Step Up for Disaster Risk Reduction” International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction, IIRR together with Espasyo SiningDikato Creativenue and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), will be organizing an open-stage music, art and poetry solidarity event.

An installation art called “The (Re)Awakening” will be made to symbolize the resilience of the Filipino people against the impacts of disaster and climate risks.
The event will be held on October 15, 2011 at the Espasyo SiningDikato in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines.

For further information, please contact: mark.cervantes@iirr.org or gonzalo.servano@iirr.org or
call +63 46 4143216 Mark or Jun. www.iirr.org

Rosario, Cavite – A Model Municipality for Climate-Smart, Disaster Risk Reduction!

Posted on by

The municipality of Rosario, Cavite in the Philippines is currently implementing a two-year project on “Modeling Climate Smart and Resilient Communities” in partnership with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

Recently, all 20 barangays of Rosario were trained by IIRR on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation. This training was meant to prepare the barangays to comply with the Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act of 2010 and the Climate Change Act of 2009. Under these new laws, all of the barangays of Rosario are expected to have their disaster and climate risk assessments and plans completed before the year ends. 

As part of their environmental education and action, the people of Rosario headed by the Municipal Government are planning a day of climate awareness on September 24 as part of the 350 Moving Planet Climate Action Day. On September 24, citizens will assemble in front of the Municipal Hall by 6am to be followed by a mass walk and bike along a designated route ending at SM City, Rosario for a short program. The Honorable Jose Ricafrente of Rosario will give a solidarity message to be followed by the reading of the Moving Planet 2011 Declaration. 

 

 


Sustainable Alternatives to Rice Paddies in the Philippines

Posted on by

Recently, IIRR partnered with the government of Guinayangan, in the Philippine Province of Quezon and local agricultural experts to initiate a special training program for farmers. The training covered a healthier, more productive and practical alternative method of rice farming commonly known as “SRI” or “System of Rice Intensification”.   It is a method of planting and growing rice that increases crop yield while avoiding the use of agro-chemicals, thus protecting the health of community members along with that of the surrounding environment.

As part of the initiative, thirty farmers attended a training session led by an organization called SRI Filipinas. Ten of the farmers are also participating in experiments with 6 varieties of rice testing which are best suited for SRI and local conditions. The main principles of SRI covered in the training included:

1.      Water Level – Soil should be kept moist rather than fully saturated so that the seedlings can maintain optimal oxygen levels. The more oxygen, the more root growth, the more root growth, the healthier the plant, and the more rice it will yield.

2.      Spacing – Seedlings should be spaced far apart from each other to allow maximum root growth.  This configuration will not only allow the rice to get more oxygen, but also more sun – creating optimal photosynthesis conditions.

3.      Timing – Seedlings should be planted when less than 15 days old.

4.      Planting – Seedlings should be planted in shallow soil, quickly and carefully to avoid root trauma and transplant shock

SRI is known to yield more rice at a much lower cost than in the traditional method of “paddy field farming” involving full flooding of parcels of arable land. The traditional paddy method discourages the growth of weeds; however, harvest requires large amounts of strenuous manual labor, can cause irreparable soil erosion, and produces a great deal of methane gas.

IIRR pursued this SRI training in order to explore sustainable agricultural systems for local farmers who have suffered due to decreasing rice production.  IIRR hopes that this training was the first step in strengthening ties in this community and plans to continue to support on-the-ground initiatives in resource management and food security in the province of Quezon.

3-26

B is for Bandage! IIRR offers CERT for kids

Posted on by

Global climate change has increased the number and magnitude of natural disasters within the past decade, and developing countries are the most affected by their unforgiving force. Thus, one of IIRR’s key initiatives is Disaster Risk Reduction.  With this initiative, IIRR has taken preemptive measures to reduce the impact of catastrophes in highly-vulnerable communities.  Making disaster-preparedness a cultural norm in these communities is a key objective of the program. As of this month, IIRR has expanded its Disaster Risk Reduction work to include youth. In June, IIRR successfully conducted and completed the first Junior Community Emergency Response Team(CERT) Training for twelve children ages 6-13 at the Yen Center in the Philippines. 

The youth participants were trained to identify frequently occurring disasters in the Philippines (i.e. typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and landslides). They were also taught to make head-to-toe assessments of individuals wounded in disasters, and how to treat them using basic first aid.  They learned everything from CPR, to shock assessment, to the dealing with impaled objects. Along with first aid, the children were taught basic fire safety and Light Search and Rescue (LSAR) techniques.  The kids then applied their learning with a role playing game.

Jrcert

 “IIRR will be offering this new customized training course in Junior CERT to schools, local organizations and other institutions in order to build the resilience of children against the impact of disaster and climate change.” – Jun Servano

The Junior CERT Training is spearheaded by Gonzalo “Jun” Servano, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Risk Reduction Project Officer, assisted by Maggie Rosimo, Learning Community Coordinator and Mark Cervantes, Program Specialist on Disaster Risk Reduction.

For more information or to inquire about Junior CERT Training, please contact: Jun Servano @ gonzalo.servano@iirr.org 

-Mary Ireland, IIRR Fundraising and Communications Associate

Invitation for IIRR Friends and Supporters

Posted on by

The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction and Lutheran World Relief-Philippines will be launching a new manual on ‘Integrating Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) in Community Development and Local Government Planning’.

The Manual is a set of 3 books. Book 1 is all about”Concepts and Principles of CMDRR”. Book 2 is focused on ‘CMDRR in Community Development’ and Book 3 is on ‘CMDRR in Local Government Planning’.

Partners and Friends of IIRR are cordially invited!

February 22, 2011, 3:30pm at IIRR’s YC James Yen Center, Jim Johnson Hall (in Silang, Cavite)

Guest of Honor – Ms Yoko Saito of UNCRD – Disaster Management Office, Hyogo, Japan

We hope to see you there!

Philippines_man-in-river

Coming Soon! A New Community-Focused User Guide with Tools and Know-How for Effective Disaster Mitigation

Posted on by

Revision of United Nations Center for Regional Development’s  User’s Guide on Community Based Disaster Management

(Silang, Cavite, Philippines) Selected Local Government Units and IIRR along with other Civil Society Organizations in the Philippines will be taking part in the revisions of the User’s Guide on Sustainable Community Based Disaster Managementof the United Nations Center for Regional Development or UNCRDthrough a Consultative Workshop to be held on February 10, 2011 at IIRR’s campus in Silang, Cavite, Philippines.

 

The last edition of the User’s Guide was published in 2004 highlighting various tools, methodologies and case studies focused on Community Based Disaster Management. The overall goal of UNCRD’s Community Based Diaster Management work is to achieve safety and sustainability of livelihoods for effective disaster mitigation, focusing on three key elements: self-help, co-operation, and education. 

Recently, UNCRD held an Expert’s Meeting in Kobe, Japan and agreed to update and revise the User’s Guide on CBDM. UNCRD recognized the need to integrate Climate Change Adaptation and new updates related to disaster risk reduction and management into the User’s Guide.

 

As a partner of UNCRD, the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction will take the lead in revising “Tools for Local Disaster Managers” and “Tools for Community Workers” sections of the User’s Guide.

 

The Local Government Units who will be joining the Consultative Workshop includes the Province of Albay, Municipality of Dumangas in Iloilo, Tagaytay City, San Pedro City in Laguna, Municipalities of Silang, Noveleta, Naic, Bacoor and Rosario in Cavite and Makati City Government.
The CSO Sector will be represented by Care Nederlands, Center for Disaster Preparedness, Ecosystems Works for Essential Benefits, and Mahintana Foundation along with IIRR.

 

The Consultative workshop aims to present initial comments on and critiques of the User’s Guide while integrating climate change adaptation and highlighting best practices and case studies related to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.

 

A UNCRD Representative from Kobe, Japan will be arriving in the Philippines at the end of the month during the Validation Workshop to review the draft of the Revised User’s Guide.

For more on IIRR’s Disaster Risk Reduction, please see:

Photo Album – Applied Learning of Disaster Risk Reduction in the community

Kobe, Japan Conference Participation, IIRR

Study on Impacts of Climate Change on Kenyan Pastoralists

IIRR highlights continued need for Disaster Risk Reduction