I would like to congratulate the Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) for being consistent with its name i.e. being hardworking in advocacy to promote organic agriculture and for initiating today the interaction between the academic community and the real world where people live and move. For today until tomorrow, there will be a market not only of your organic products but also of ideas in a forum to follow the opening of organic festival. All in the name of holistic development as gleaned from the vision mission statement of your organization.
This is one reason why the Department of Social Work, Central Philippine University and the Iloilo Coalition of NGOs and POs that I head have been supportive of the endeavors of MASIPAG. For your vision-mission statement is in line with our direction. We believe and aim for a holistic development . One that does not only promote economic growth but the equitable distribution of the fruits of development that would change the socio economic and political landscape or even spiritual ones.
For holistic development covers multi dimensional aspects of human life in line with the belief that humans are bio-psycho-social and spiritual beings. Holistic development does not isolate any other aspects in preference to a particular area. For there are times, when development in infrastructure, golf courses and other edifice has caused aggression and dislocation, depriving people of their dwellings. Hence, we find development sans the people who should benefit from it and are supposed to be the subject and not just the object of development.
Holistic development is akin to sustainable development. One that brings progress which does not harm the people’s health and the environment. A development that satisfies the needs of today but does not compromise or threaten the needs of future generation. It is for this reason that I consider the endeavors of MASIPAG in focusing on organic agriculture a manifestation of nationalism. For being an agricultural country, Filipinos must value the God given resources suited for our particular land and environment.
The richness of our natural resources no longer need foreign pesticides and chemicals in order to grow and produce our local products. But at times the sophisticated advancement in technology and industry which many used as standard of progress has enticed our people to take the easy and quick route to development and later suffer its detrimental consequence. As such many have been fooled or misled in the name of development. Just like us what the traditional politics has done to our people before and during the election: buying votes, fooling the people and thereafter enjoy the fruits of development without the people.
On the contrary, holistic development is a development that does not buy the people, fool the people and later off the people. But a development ( to borrow Lincoln’s line) of the people, by the people and for the people.
_________________________________________
Message delivered during the Opening Program of the Organic Food Festival 2013 held at the Alumni Promenade, Central Philippine University on October 3-4, 2013. The festival is sponsored by the MASIPAG in partnership with Central Philippine University thru the College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Social Work and College of Hospitality Management
lariza.website 