"Green Revolution" revisited

From a rice-importing country, the Philippines
became a rice exporter in 1977, for the first time
in the 20th century. This was credited to the
“GreenRevolution” which promoted the
Masagna 99, a highyielding rice variety developed
at the InternationalRice Research Institute
(IRRI). The “GreenRevolution” was wildly
acclaimed by industrializedcountries, in particular
the USA, the usual financialand technical
assistance agencies like the World Bank(WB),
USAID and the Asian Development Bank (ADB),
not to mention certain multinational corporations.
Yet, after three decades, here we are again
importing rice in massive quantities.

Although the Philippines was no longer
a“showcase of democracy” in 1977,
( Pres. FerdinandMarcos had imposed
martial rule ), it was undeniably a “show
window” of the “rice revolution”and that was
considered an achievement both the Marcos
dictatorship and the IRRI. Anachronistic as it
may sound today, the Cold War was the
backdrop of the“Green Revolution” which was
but a clever device toehance the superiority
of the capitalist system through “miracle rice”
production in areas of chronicpoverty and
hunger, fertile grounds for communism.Perhaps,
that was why the “Green Revolution”ultimately
foundered on its own avowed goals.

Landholders big and small had to be transformed
into dynamic capitalist entrepreneurs,producing
the modern commercial way, with incredibly
new technologies, extensive credit and marketing
systems that, inevitably , reduced the peasants’role
in agricultural development. “Green Revolution”all
but abolished the traditional way of rice farming.

Strikingly, the miracle was short-lived. Excessive
use of chemicals rendered the soil infertile and threw
ecology off balance. while small landholders were
either forced to sell their plots (awarded through
land reform) or work for a pittance as tenant
farmers and sharecroppers until big landholders
mechanized their plantations. It became obvious
that “Green Revolution”intensified poverty
when it was supposed to generate livelihood
specially in non - irrigated areas. Once landless,
peasants fled in droves to urban areas for survival.

Some people remember that the Philippine government
relaxed its efforts at rice production much too soon
and contrary to the strategy of WB,ADB and
USAID which favored continued increase in staple
food outputs. The three million hectares devoted to
rice were reduced to two million by the Ministry of
Agriculture in favor of IRRI’s “production
intensification” scheme of having four crops a year.
On top of that, there was an irreversible shift to
more remunerative export crops like winter vegetables
and fruits and grains like corn and sorghum
for livestock and animal feeds. Although rice output
was kept at par with population increase, targets for
agriculture growth were deliberately lowered.

In 1983, UN agricultural consultant Ernest Feder
published PERVERSE DEVELOPMENT,
(Foundation ofNationalist Studies , Quezon City)
where he dissected the “Green Revolution” and
its impact. He predicted that in the long run,
“…more important economic factors adverse to
rice production are likely to make their appearance.
A relevant factor affecting thefuture of the
rice sector in the Philippines will turnout to be
government policy which will by necessity be
coordinated with the production priorities set by
monopoly capital operating in the Philippines.
Monopoly capital in agriculture is only moderately
interested in rice [production].” How true, the
“farmer as rice importer” policy drove the
Filipino peasant to despair and to greener pastures
abroad.

an invitation

You are cordially invited to visit

manilaheritageiscool.blogspot.com

Yes, Manila heritage is cool!
is the blog of the Manila Historical &
Heritage Commission which was
revived by Mayor Alfredo S. Lim
in July 2007. He is the honorary
chairman.

Chairperson is Mrs. Carmen G.Nakpil
Vice-chairman is Vice-Mayor
F. Domagoso, better known as
Isko Moreno.

Latest post is a guide to the Flores
de Mayo and Santacruzan.

Saving Pila

The Pila Historical Society Foundation, Inc. was
founded during the incumbency of Mayor Q. Relova
who made sure the town council would appoint it the
official  caretaker of the plaza.That made possible
the demolition of historically irrelevant and
illegal structures that had mushroomed on 
the Pila plaza.

   By that time, Apollo del Rio was mayor the town
council  had become allies of heritage so
conservation work was on track. Parish priest
Fr.Melchor Barcenas did  such a remarkable job in
restoring  the Pila church which  was declared the
Diocesan Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua. 

   Happily, incumbent Mayor Wilfredo Quiat
believes in continuity.Upon request,he demolished
a mini police station, an eyesore tucked under the
right wing of the municipio and built  new one near
the public school. Even if it means losing votes,he
has not allowed vendors to reclaim the plaza to
peddle their wares.Once, Mayor Quiat invited Santiago
Bacelona, then mayor of Escalante, Negros Occidental,
to take his staff to Pila to exchange ideas and
experiences about heritage conservation.

     Yet, Pila’s inhabitants  have not let their
guard down as heritage conservation is always under
threat. Last year, they battled  a cellular phone
company  which posted banners on all the  lamp posts
around the Pila plaza, just when Pila had become a
must- see  for cultural tours. Advertising blitz  was
also tacked on the trees along the main road leading
to the town and also along the national highway. 

     The Pila Historical Society appealed to its
friends in and outside Pila and the ensuing campaign
was so heart-rending it sparked a blaze of unsolicited
assistance from champions of“corporate responsibility”.
Banners and streamers were taken down,ugly food stalls
and push carts were replaced with donated ones designed
by Pila residents; electric posts were suddenly
reminiscent of the First Philippine  Republic.

     When you visit  Pila, never be in a hurry.
Prepare yourself for a leisurely,tranquil day where
there is  nothing more delightful than to stroll up
and down its shady roads, tracing  the medieval
“cuadricula”. If you let the Pila Historical Society
know about  your visit, they will most probably
arrange for merienda at Cora Relova’s living-room 
or at  Monina Rivera’s two-storey home.  The
St. Anthony of Padua Church is worth a visit,
admire its retablo and intricacies of its wall
designs. After you have rested under embracing
coolness of its nave, find your way to the
Escuela Pia and marvel at the Chinese, Thai and
local earthenware excavated in ancient gravesites
of Pinagbayanan. 

     We could very well have more  Pilas in the
Philippines but the race against the ravages of time,
ignorance and indifference is so perilous that one
sighs with relief when  national andmarks like Pila
are saved through tireless community effort.

from Laurence T.Gayao, MD

I have read your thought- provoking articles all these years and thank you
for the nationalistic insights, above the political forays of our self serving
leaders. I have often wondered why multinational
corporations don't invest in Philippines as much as in Japan, Korea,
and Japan? I would think that we have the man power, who are
well- educated, English -speaking and motivated to work. I don't know
how true it is that Philippine law requires that a corporation to operate
in the Philippines it has to be 60% owned by Pilipinos and be headed
by a Pilipino. Tell me who in their right minds would invest billions of
dollars and have some body else have the controlling interest. much
more run it. In Japan, Korea, and China they are more investment friendly
they realized that multinational corporations have the capital and have
already marking network to sell their products.

United States the largest economy has several corporations owned by
different nationalities. Sony corporation is a good example they own
Sony entertainment which controls Hollywood movies, music productions
and distribution world wide. Many Japanese car companies have
manufacturing plants scattered around USA giving jobs to thousand of
Americans. Why could this not be done in the Philippines? More
employment and greater tax base, this is a no brainer.

Our leaders should have an understanding of the global economy to
stop our brain drain. Not just say "Mabuhay ang Pilipino" but
do something upang mabubuhay ang ating kapwa Pilipino.
(Mansfield, Texas)

from Arnold Arnaiz

I have written countless emails and made phone calls
to try to save what was left of the school where Rizal
was first formally educated. Unfortunately none have
been answered and as time goes by its condition has
deteriorated all the more. A friend who reads your blog
referred me to you. I pray that you can be of some
assistance knowing that we share your passion about
our nation's history.

The place where Maestro Cruz taught Pepe the basics of
elementary studies at age 9 in Binan Laguna has been left
to decay, the foundations has fallen to the ground - what
remains now I assume are lumbers waiting to be disposed.

I have been traumatized by this experience that I have
decided to create a blog and called out some friends who
would be willing to help, as you can imagine this is not an
easy task for someone without connections.

What remains of the small kubo is still there, I'm very sure
that it won't be there forever. At this point the kubo
has been completely levelled its material being lumber
and nipa made it worst, I was thinking that maybe the
reason people don't hear me out is because they've felt
that 'it cant be helped' but I feel we can still do something
with what remains of the school.

Your thoughts?
http://withonespast.wordpress.com

Charming Pila

When she returned to Pila, Laguna, after
fourteen years of living in New York
and San Francisco,the redoubtable
Corazon Relova  was horrified  that the 
once charming plaza of her childhood was
smothered  by a decrepit  museum building,
broken plants boxes, a grubby basketball
court, an unfinished water reservoir turned
garbage dump,  food stalls cum informal
dwellings with TV antennas and adding to
the sordid mess were uncollected remains
of ferias and peryantes.

Cora Relova  knew that she  had to knock some
heritage sense into the mayor’s head; happily, 
he was Querubin Relova,  a second  cousin. 
With contagious enthusiasm she recruited
Monina Rivera,another cousin, and historian
Luciano Santiago (his history of Pila later
helped make  it a landmark). The owners of 
ancestral homes  around the plaza are all
relatives so when a house goes up for sale,
another relative buys it.

Cora herself was born in a charming chalet
at a corner of the plaza,  with a spectacular
macopa tree that literally turns pink in the
summer. The main staircase  is outside,
in front of the house, gracefully curved,
ornamented with flowers and leading up to a
cool veranda. Like other houses of that period,
it is almost transparent and  a perpetual
breeze flows through  windows with no  grills,
spreading the fragrance of  a tropical garden
through discreet ventanillas and finely carved
rafters of dividing walls.

The ancestral homes of  Pila, Laguna,  are
expressions of Filipino identity, culture
and beliefs;their  architectural style blends
with the environment and  has evolved over
a period of time to address the community’s
changing needs. Most of the ancestral homes 
are inhabited by families of their original
owners who graciously welcome visitors  but
are hesitant to enroll in the
“bed and breakfast”program of the Department
of Tourism,for fear of losing their privacy.

Pila will be four hundred thirty-three years
old this year but it  is really much older,
originating from a seaside settlement,
Pinagbayanan, even before Ferdinand Magellan
found his way to Mactan; perennial floods
drove it to  Pagalangan and in the 17th
century, perhaps for purposes of
Christianization,the natives were grouped
into  a “reduccion” (hamlet)  by the  early
Spanish missionaries.In 1613, it became 
La Noble Villa de Pila;in our colonial history,
only eight towns were given that supreme accolade. 
Amazingly,  Pila’s “cuadricula” ( town-planning
according to the 16th century“Leyes de las
Indias" remains intact to this day.

Before  Cora’s cousin, Mayor Querubin Relova,
finished his term as mayor,  the Pila Historical
Society Foundation, Inc. was founded, duly
registered and appointed official caretaker of
the plaza.That made possible the demolition of
historically irrelevant and illegal structures
that had mushroomed on the site. As heritage
conservation took root, Pila began to attract
more advocates. Senator Rodolfo Biazon paid for
a pathway along the perimeter of the town plaza
and funded the restoration of  a  water fountain
built by American engineers in 1911. Almost a
hundred years old,  this is  fed by a “bukal” or
subterranean stream. Not to be outdone,then Governor
Jose Lina  donated a welcome arch, street lights
and park benches. 

Pila attained national  celebrity on 17 May
2000, when this  fourth class municipality was
declared a National Historical Landmark by the
National Historical Institute.







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Bencab's dream

   When Ben Cabrera left for London in 1969,
we his fans thought  that that was the last we
were going to see of our icon. He was in pursuit
of  Caroline Kennedy, blonde British writer
and hippie,whom  he had met at Indios Bravos Café
in Malate.She had gained some notoriety after
a local magazine published her article,
“Filipinos are clumsy lovers”;
yet,she married Bencab.

    A journey to the West is really a journey 
to the East, a poet once said, so Bencab did 
come back in 1986, sans Caroline, settled in
Baguio, continued to paint, exhibit and 
travel the world,  created the Tam-Awan artists
village. At the same time, he  began collecting
and accumulating Cordillera artifacts and
to no one’s surprise,  he became  National Artist
in 1996.

     Bencab is constructing his Cordillera
fantasy in Asin,Benguet. Why Asin? Could it be
because Benedicto Reyes Cabrera (Bencab’s  real
name) was born in Malabon and grew up in the
constricted urban hinterlands of Mayhaligue,
Santa Cruz and Bambang, Tondo?  Bencab’s private
preserve  in Asin  is on a superlative
promontory that gives you a stunning  glimpse
of the South China Sea. Besides, you are
enthralled by the sound of waterfalls, 
brooks and gurgling hot springs; no wonder there
are so many vegetables and flowers with names not
easy to remember—heliconia, anthurium, bromeliad, a
riot of lilies, orchids and azaleas.
  
     Bencab  has about seven Cordilleran  houses.
His collection boasts of huts from Ifugao and Bontoc
and a rare octagonal one  from Kalinga. To him, that
is the only feasible way of saving these inimitable
highland ancestral homes from certain destruction.
Respectful of authenticity, he has fitted them with
modern hot water baths and converted each one into a
into a unique guest house. In heritage parlance, that
is  adaptive re-use, an acceptable, if not laudable
method  conservation.

   Looking back, Bencab must have been  stricken
with conservation mania,  incurable it seems, while
living  in London where he loved to  browse at
antiquarian bookstores  and stalls. He came across
a lot of prints, maps and old photographs of the
Philippines which probably shocked him,  as did the
books of Antonio Morga and sundry European travelers
disquiet  Jose Rizal and his fellow  Propagandists.
  
    The first spark, according to  writer friend Krip
Yuson, was in 1971,  when Bencab  came across  a
fading daguerreotype —Portrait of a Servant Girl—taken
at the end of the 19th century. In his book about
Bencab’s works,  Krip Yuson described how Bencab
reproduced the daguerreotype on canvas  to blur “the
evident and  purposeful servility” and project  “the
innate dignity”  of  the Filipino servant girl.
  
     I might add, just like Jose Rizal’s painstaking
annotations of Antonio Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas. That was the start of Bencab’s
incomparable “ Larawan “ series  and his
nationalistic outpouring about the
Philippine-American War--“A page of and Officer's
Diary” and “ Bandit and Gentleman”.





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