The last time I was in Congressman Gener Tulagan’s farm in Rosales town was in 2003. From where we parked our ride, we had to walk then on a muddy earth dike surrounding a freshwater fishpond to reach Kaaron Gener’s bahay kubo, which was strategically built in the middle of the farm.
Last week, I had a chance to visit the farm again when I covered President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s visit to the town to hear Mass at the grotto. To my surprise, its surroundings have changed a lot that I thought I was in a resort.
From the highway, there is now an access road wide enough for light vehicles to travel on. Inside the farm, there is also now a wide parking space where visitors can safely leave their vehicles. On the way to the bahay kubo are one-room bamboo cottages that may be used by guests staying overnight. Then, there is a covered function hall, where indoor games and small seminars may be held. Beside it is a screened structure that looks like a restaurant. To top it all, there is now a swimming pool.
I never had a chance to go to the bahay kubo again. But from a distance, I could see that it has now more amenities than before. After all, it is where Kaaron Gener and wife spend the night whenever they are in town.
But what makes the place attractive is its very rustic setting. It has tall acacia trees and vegetable gardens, aside from the hito, tilapia and dalag ponds that dominate the scenery. It must be truly refreshing and relaxing to spend a weekend there, away from the hustle and bustle of urban living. No wonder, Kaaron Gener worked very hard for its development. It is in this place where he must have been recharging in the past many days after his tension-filled sessions in Congress.
From what I gathered during a short conversation with Kaaron Gener, he built his farm with the technical support primarily of the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. These agencies have helped develop his farm into a model farm to serve as the province’s show window on how technology and proper farming methods can enhance agricultural and fisheries productivity.
As everybody knows by now, Kaaron Gener is a farmer’s son and he himself grew up helping his parents in the rice fields of Talang in San Carlos City. By having a model farm, he wanted to show Pangasinenses a sample that farming not only helps in the food sufficiency program of the government but it can be a good source of income, too.
We will not be surprised if in the coming days, farmers, government officials and even politicians, will frequent Kaaron Gener’s farm to see for themselves what can be replicated in their own places. During her visit, President Arroyo herself expressed her admiration of the place. She was especially attracted by the papaya plants bearing several fruits and even had her photo taken beside one those plants.
And who else would be a better endorser than the President?
ENDNOTES: A fake anti-biotic was discovered in a hospital run by the provincial government. This isn’t the first time. We just hope no one at the Urduja made a lot of money out of it. . . A friend, Mary Ann Tamayo, who is now working in Baltimore, Maryland, celebrated her birthday last week. Happy birthday, Mary Ann. She used to work with the defunct Helping Foundation in the city until she was “pirated” by Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez to work in his office to jumpstart the computerization of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. But because she is so good with computers, she was noticed and eventually hired by the One Stop Business Center of the city government. How did she find her way to the land of milk and honey? Talent, determination and luck. I’m so proud of you, Mary Ann.
QUICK QUOTE: He who knows enough is enough will always have enough. — Lao-tzu
(You can reach Gabriel L. Cardinoza at windows@digitelone.com)
