BALUD

(The Feature Story of Legazpi Farmers & Fisherfolks Association, Brgy.

Legazpi, Marabut, Samar)
by Teresa De Asis-Tijol, PIO DARPO Samar

Brgy. Legazpi, Marabut, Samar - The natures twist of event has it that two
years after Typhoon Yolandas fatal giant waves wrecked havoc
to the
Village, it is now the villagers turn to making waves in the industry of
Organic Fertilizer Production.

Rey and Ignacio were sacking the ninth

sack of the freshly harvested vermi
compost while Claro and four other members of the Legazpi Farmers and
Fisherfolks Association (LEFFA) were busy sifting the compost to separate the
worm before the organic fertilizers are transferred and sealed into the sacks.
They have to harvest at least 10 sacks of the organic fertilizer to meet the order
of CARITAS, an NGO, who will be coming anytime that day to get their order of
10 sacks. This was the scenario when I arrived at the associations bodega of
vermi beds.
While waiting for the men to complete the ten sacks, I roamed around the area,
accompanied by Crisanto, the associations secretary. From him, I learned that
the lot where the two Kamaligs (the Store House and the Meeting Hall)
are
erected, is lent to the association, free of rental, by one member who is a
grand daughter of a deceased agrarian reform beneficiary. The agreement is
bound by a Memorandum of Agreement. The use of the lot which is good for ten
years forms as the capital build up of this member.
As I roam around, I see other members watering the newly planted veggies and
weeding the areas around the newly planted coconuts and cacao trees that were
granted them by the Department of Agrarian Reform late last year. These young
trees are intercropped with gabi, carrot and ginger. The village is long known for
bountiful glutinous gabi. And the mass production of this crop is what the
association is trying to revive after the Super Typhoon Yolanda struck many
areas in Visayas where this small village was not spared.
On the other side of the 1.5 hectare lot, are two empty mini-ponds. The 105member association is also eyeing to venture into tilapia or bangus culture.
Turutibwayon ta nala mentras mayda pa hinabang ngan mentras kaya pa hit
lawas naton, said 27 years old Crisanto in vernacular that means they must
take advantage of the chances while their health warrant. Raising his arm
with the Bolo he is holding and hilariously mimicking Gat Andres Bonifacio, he
shouted Strrrayk wayl da ayorn is hhhat!,
uttered in Waray accent but
seemed not sure if he was saying the right English as he asked me, ahw, tama
ba adto, Mam? to which I nodded with a smile.
He guided me to the area where the Shredder and the tractor are parked. Like
the African night crawlers, these equipment were likewise given as grant by the

Department of Agrarian Reform under the Complementary Assistance

Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE) program.

for

The men in the other kamalig were already done with the sacking when we got
back to the Meeting Hall. Then several other members were coming and finally
we were all in place for a light conversation. The conversation started with me,
introducing myself to the group and vice versa. When I asked the group how
was the association doing, the ball started a nonstop rolling. Everybody were in
high spirit and wanted to give their share of story about the association, from
how it was organized, rose up high just to flop down, then again, re-organized,
re-strengthened, and like balud, tossed up again; but unlike balud , this
time, no more falling down.
Mano Vender, the Chairperson, while opening the ledger of their business,
was proudly telling us that in a span of three months, the 30 kg of African Night
Crawler, a specially bred worm that convert organic matter into compost, has
multiplied in multi folds. From the five vermi beds in December 2015, the
number has blown to twelve so that as of March 13, 2016 they were able to
dispose more than 3,000 kgs. of vermi compost, sold at 10 pesos per kilo. For a
lower price, the members get their fertilizers from this association for their own
farms and backyard gardens.
Every Saturday, all the members are required to come to the area and get
involved in the
Pintakasi. Every member has its own share of task from
weeding to sowing, sifting to sacking, et cetera. This is aside from the regular
monthly meetings they are required to comply.
The brisk sales of their product is giving them the motivation to work joint hand
to form a cohesive force and attain the sustainability of the new-found
livelihood for they see a brighter future from this venture and eventually hastily
make up for the lost livelihood.
Apparently, the agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) dominated association is now
making name for this, once quiet and sleepy village of Marabut, as producer of
organic fertilizer.
Farmers and gardeners in adjacent towns flock to this village to get their
product. Just two weeks before this interview, the Farmers Field School that the
DAR had conducted in the adjacent town, had successfully culminated, and a
harvest festival was concluded showcasing the high yield and quality product of
high valued veggies raised from the vermi compost organic fertilizer they had
produced.
The conversation went smooth and very light and at times hilarious jokes are
cracked by Crisanto. What I notice, there was no sentimental or painful story as
remnant of the devastating deluge that crumpled this village more than two
years ago; no traces of pains and agony on their face.

At the back of my mind, I know I am being bad and I know it is inappropriate of

me to have them recall those that are supposed to be buried in their deepest
memory, yet my curiosity grew more as to how this remote and small and
seemingly helpless village was able to survive from the monstrous giant waves,
flood and winds brought by Typhoon Yolanda.
I was expecting a serious and somewhat emotional tale but on contrary, the
story seemed to sound funny we didnt even know where was that instant
extra ordinary powers were coming from that brought us to
the peak of that
huge mountain, Crisanto recalled as he was pointing at the rocky mountains
around. We tied ourselves with water jugs and anything that would keep us
afloat. When the water subsided, it was again a problem on how to descend from
the summit, the joker member added. Everybody laughed as we were watching
from afar the huge range of rocky mountains where they had discovered some
caves that had served as their temporary shelter. The short tale was told in a
rather lighter and hilarious mood. Again, there was no trace of grief. What I
see are faces that had totally weaned from the trauma left by the catastrophe.
Those waves and surges had made us ever stronger. It exposed us to
the realization that we were not alone; we felt loved; we were not
forsaken. All that we have to do is to accept the fate with stronger
grip on
faith and learn to
nurture and flourish the
surges of
assistance coming our way, this time, in a rather serious mood,
Mano
Berdin closed the conversation as he
shared his
word of wisdom to his
members.
The interview culminated in the usual selfie selfie and groupie groupie.
On my way home, I cant help reminiscing my moment with these villagers.
They are the picture of a typical Filipino who tend to be oblivious of frustrations
and griefs of the past and who good at making fun and beam to smile even in
the midst of painful experiences.

Approved for Press Release:

LEOVIGILDO M. MONGE
PARPO II
March 16, 2016