Science and Technology-Based Farm

Into service with farmers is not at all boring, tiresome, but can be interesting sometimes. Lately, I was tasked to assist the implementation of Science and Technology-Based farm (STBF), as Farmers Information Technology Services (FITS) Manager, of our Magsasakang Siyentista (MS). This is a program of Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, & Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) that aims to hasten the transfer of technologies by tapping the expertise of farmers, identified as farmer-leader in the community, and given the title MS after some intense deliberations based on merits and qualifications set by PCARRD. The transfer of technology through the STBF is based on the commodity and practices of the MS, identifying the technology gap that needs to be addressed to improve productivity or enhance package of technology on post production.
On the stage of site evaluation for the implementation of our MS STBF, I went ahead of the group to pre-evaluate the site and familiarize the area for the convenience of the evaluating team on the schedule of visit. I thought the pumpboat ride to Magallanes cruising the Agusan River via Butuan City was the highlight of my trip. Arriving Magallanes, I was looking for a service motorcycle of our MS. He announced that we will be riding again another boat - smaller boat with 4 person capacity- going through the Agiasan River, one of the tributaries of the Agusan river. What? Looking through the murky river that was within my reach, I did not feel any fear or wild imaginings of water accident. But my excitement was lessened with the hot mid-noon sun. With my "sawwal", I wrapped it to cover my head and face and slipped on my jacket. And we were on our way.
On our way, breaking through waterlillies, I remembered the song 'Lusay", a cebuano song referring to sea weeds,. Though I am not so found of waterlilies because its like garbage on the water, I like to watch the blossoming flower in the middle of a bunch of waterlilies. What excited me most was the soothing coolness of trees touching each other from opposite banks and lots of nipa palm at the side of the river. While cruising the narrowing river, I can imagine myself boating along Nile or Amazon River.
We stopped in our destination through a small wooden platform at the bank of the river. From the boat we proceeded to the proposed site for the STBF. In my assessment, it wont pass the qualification for STBF because of the issue on accessibility. Though there is a wide road near the site if we will be passing by land through Cabadbaran, still, the path going to the site from there is yet to be established. One will pass through the ricefield connecting the site and the road. The road is not yet visible from the site. I requested Nong Moroy to look for another site.
One site I found more acceptable for evaluation. So we set the schedule to be pushed through on the following day.
During the evaluation of the site... Let the pictures tell more of the story.

Goodbye Rheann

October 4 was a good day as we are talking the improvement of my mother. Around 6:30 in the evening, Dr. Voltaire called up and informed me that Rheann was dead.
For a moment I was speechless, wondering if I heard it right. This cant be true. I cant move. I felt dizzy. Two days ago I even gave her a good bath using the new LORI shampoo. I chased her before that because she teasingly "common get me mode" while running outside the compound. There was no hint that something was wrong with her.

Lying on bed that night, I recalled how i brought Rheann to Agusan from Iloilo. Funny but true, I remembered how she fitted in to a small plastic basket, settling in the sense of defeat when she could not get out after some struggles. She was a cute curling brown fur inside a blue basket, quite smaller than her age of 2 months. She did not grow with her siblings together with their mother. She was nursed by my sister since birth after their mother was brought to the veterinary hospital for medication. The owner gave her to my sister since her mother cannot accommodate her litter.

I remembered how she left the bed, and went outside our tourist accommodation in the ship from Iloilo City to Cebu City, went to the comfort room alley to pee. I was sleeping soundly when I woke up and found she was no longer in the basket under my deck. Looking for her, I found her playfully cajouling with one passenger. On our way to Nasipit from Cebu City, I placed her at my foot part to sleep and she slept earlier than me. I bet, she loved the warmth of the bed cover. Again I woke up and found her playing with one passenger who carried also a bulldog pup. I was wondering then, was she a good bitch?

I left her for almost 6 months when I went back to UPLB for schooling. My young cousin taught her some tricks, though she learned fast, she did not have focus. On the other hand, my mother was already worried because she grew fast big and strong. She could barely restrain her when she was playing. My mother was already afraid for little children passing in our house, for she might be threatened and bit them. So I ordered a cage for her.

When she was on her second "in heat", I brought her to Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte to 'Rocky d Pogi', but oh our Rheann was not a bitch. She was quite a Gabriela Silang. Poor Rocky, he did not score on her. For her 3 days stay with Rocky, she went home still intact. She was been paired and introduced to other two stud, yet, she maintained her being pure and bliss.
Her death though hurts was not as painful as the death of Russel - her supposedly lover. It was the lack of time and our failure to meet her needs especially on that fateful day. Two weeks ago, I went home and found her like a typical Somalian animal affected with famine. Ribs poking out, big eyes bulging out, with tightening hips - obese ladies would really envy the slim waist of Rheann that time. Yet, after I told the one who fed her to increase her intake. Last two days ago, she was returning back to normal.
Her death presumably was due to heat stroke. That day the temperature was high and it was really hot, accordingly. Before, she showed typical symptoms of tendency to be suffering for heat stroke during hot days. Once, my sister found Rheann to be convulsing and salivating, led Rheann out from her cage and brought under fruit trees, and became well some time. My mother also noticed that she panted and salivating vigorously. She gave her ice to lick and placed ice on her water. And also wet her cage by drenching with water. These all in one way or another improved her situation and Rheann returned to normal.
October 4, a month away on her 3rd year birthday, Rheann bade us goodbye. She was buried without us seeing her body for the last time. I dont know how I slept that night. All i noticed was the sun was shining brightly passing through the curtains by the window.