Pleasant surprise

Attending the general assembly of the goat raisers’ association provided a pleasant surprise in meeting two women farmers who were raising goats. Menka and Ian were all smiles when we shared the joke that goat-raising can be likened to managing a harem from a man’s point of view. Their presence encourage the rest of the members to do their best to behave properly.

The meeting proper focused on reporting to the Department of Agriculture the results of the dispersal of breeders to the members.  Initial reports revealed the depressing results of high mortality affecting the imported breeders.  This data encouraged other raisers to prefer island-born or born-in-the-Philippine breeders for their farms.  We also had a interesting time discussing the challenges in securing technical assistance from the Municipal Agriculturist’s Office and the Provincial Veterinarian's Office in terms of scheduling farm visits when the concerned public servant’s position is from a of lack of logistics for travel and so forth and so on.  So the farmer has poor technical support because the concerned office has poor logistics.  A member suggested that the farmer should shoulder or invest expenses for the public servant services.  I opined that we should change the public servant or the attitude of the public servant to focusing on the available resources of time and talent.

In the small group discussion with the women farmers, we listened to them share how they were coping with repairing and replanting the damages areas of their farm due to the visit of typhoon “Sendong”.  We were reminded that we should do our best to persevere or, as said by a Chinese man, “…fall down seven times, stand up eight times”.

Back at the rural bank, another series of pleasant surprises occurred.  Clients with past due accounts came to agree on a plan of payment while a group of sugar farmers with modest hectarage came to secure credit for additional working capital.  Interestingly the sugar farmers had differing forecasts for the next crop year.  Some foresaw gloom with low production, increasing costs, low prices.  The others saw opportunity and were

expanding their farms.  Such is how interesting, as well as contrasting, and challenging life is and your chosen perspective will affect how one responds and appreciates the circumstances.

Let us end with messages from my sister whose chosen-filled with humor- approach to life is revealed in the following: At an old vineyard, the regular taster died.  A drunkard, looking ragged and dirty, came to apply for the job of taster.  The manager wanted to send him away, but tested him anyway.  They gave him a drink in a glass.  He swirled, smelled, and tasted the wine.  Swallowing a bit, he paused and declared, “It’s red wine, three years old, grown on the north slope, matured in oak barrels.” “That is correct”, said the boss.  Another glass. “It is still red wine, eight years old, from the southwest slope, stored in steel vats.”  The manager was amazed.  He winked at his secretary.  She understood and brought a glass of urine.  The alcoholic tried the drink and said, “It is blond, 26 years old, 3 months pregnant and if I don’t get the job, I will also tell who the father is!” He got the job.*