Letter from the Editor

In good times, in bad times

People get together to celebrate or to sympathize with one another.  This is the reason it is so heartening to witness how a sense of community is fired up when people come to one another's aid in the midst of a disaster or to hear of inspiring stories that extol their heroism and generosity of spirit.

A survivor of the December 2005 tsunami from Thailand wrote about how he and his village mates - alarmed by the unusually extreme low tide - rushed to higher areas and camped out for two nights.  They did not completely understand what was happening but amid the fear and anxiety, sympath and concern for others spread among the community members.  He said: "Prior to the tsunami, some of us barely talked to each other.  But, during that time, we felt that we needed to protect and look out for each other.

A village leader in a severely flooded area of China spoke with pride about how his fellow villagers helped each other after the calamity.  He said:"There were some people who lived in other families' houses.  When a 92-year-old villager and his wife were forced to live in a shelter that was only five square meters - since their houses and those of their relatives were all destroyed - neighbors came to the rescue by helping the husband cook meals."

Closer to home, a Bicolano wrote to the Philippine Daily Inquirer after a series of typhoons wreaked havoc on his region late last year, how he "felt most deeply touched by what the province of Southern Leyte did".  He went on to say:  "The day after typhoon Reming passed, Southern Leyte dispatched two teams to Albay to assist in the rescue and retrieval operations.  This was meant to reciprocate and demonstrate its appreciation for the assistance it received from many places after Guinsaugon (a barangay in the town of St. Bernard) was buried by a landslide.  As Gov. Rosette Lerias put it: "We know how they (in Albay) feel because we have experienced it more than anybody else.  It's our turn to hel;."

It is this desire to contribute to one's share in a time of need that led to the crafting of this issues of AgriChampion. We at Jardine Distribution, Inc. take to heart our mission of  "Partnering of Filipino Farmers" - in good times and in bad times.  Our Crop 'Recovery' Seminars held in Bicol early this year are proof of this commitment.  We believe that celebrating the resilience of Filipino farmers can boost their morale and help them regain the strength to rebuild their lives after hazards and calamities beset them.  We also wish to share with them some lessons farmers have learned from whatever series of unfortunate events "graced" their lives.