“Ang urban gardening ay napakahalaga sa akin. Ito ay para palakasin ang food security dahil abot kamay ang masustansyang gulay dahil ito ay nasa tabing bahay lamang,” Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, stressed at the 9th Las Piñas Urban Gardening and Cooking Festival Inter-Barangay Competition held recently.
Villar, a daughter of farmers whose father was a long-time mayor of the same city, is also chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
The competition brought together 13 barangays, 26 schools, and 22 homeowners’ associations bringing the participants to a total of 61.
It also brought together the veteran legislator’s passion for agriculture, food, and environment and natural resources.
The event also held a CookFest, to showcase our natural knack for cooking delicious food through local ingredients immediately available: meat, vegetables, fruits, and fish.
“Ang pagkain ng gulay ay pagbibigay pansin din sa kalagayang pang-nutrisyon ng ating mga ka-pamilya at ka-barangay.”
“Ang pagkain ng gulay ay pagbibigay pansin din sa kalagayang pang-nutrisyon ng ating mga ka-pamilya at ka-barangay,” the lady senator said.
“Dahil ito ay may fiber, ito ay nakakatulong na matanggal at malinis ang ating intestinal tract, mapalago ng mga mabubuting bacteria sa ating katawan, mapabuti ng ating blood sugar level, lower blood pressure, at iba pa,” she stressed.
The lady senator walks her talk: she has been eating more mindfully and making healthier eating choices since the pandemic began. She is also a mother and grandmother, and this competition is an extension of her nurture and care to the city which she considers home, and its residents her family.
Villar wants her legacy to be farming, food security, and nutrition.
She continued by pointing out how vegetables lower the risk of heart disease, prevent cancer, and reduce chances for a person to develop diabetes. Incidentally, these are the top three causes of mortality of Filipinos today.
The competition is also Villar’s way of extending support and appreciation to food producers, and reminding Las Piñas residents to do the same.
“Ang pagsuporta sa local food producers o sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda ay diretsong tulong sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng steady buyers ng kanilang mga tanim.”
“Ang pagsuporta sa local food producers o sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda ay diretsong tulong sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng steady buyers ng kanilang mga tanim,” she said.
Winners of the cooking competition brought home the following prizes:
· Grand winner – P20,000.00 in cash and a trophy
· 1st runner-up – P15,000.00 in cash and a trophy
· 2nd runner-up – P10,000.00 in cash and trophy
For the urban gardening competition:
· P30,000.00 for the champion
· P15,000.00 for the 1st runner-up
· P10,000.00 for the 2nd runner-up
Here are the winners:
URBAN GARDENING
Barangay Category
· Champion – Talon 4
· 1st runner-up – BF International CAA
· 2nd runner-up – Talon 2
Homeowners Association Category
· Champion – Castillan Village, Talon 2
· 1st runner-up – Marulas Tenants Livelihood Association, Inc., Manuyo 2
· 2nd runner-up – Almirante Neighborhood Association, Talon 2
School Category
· Champion – Las Piñas North National High School, Pulang Lupa 2 (reigning champion)
· 1st runner-up – Captain Albert Aguilar National High School, Barangay BF International CAA
· 2nd runner-up: Las Piñas National High School, Barangay Daniel Fajardo
COOKFEST
· Champion – Barangay Talon Singko
· 1st runner-up – Barangay BF International CAA
· 2nd runner-up – Barangay Talon Kwatro
Villar lauded Manuyo 2 for being inclusive in their urban gardening campaign. They involved women, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and even senior citizens.
“Talagang nakakatuwa,” she said.
“Tayo ay dapat magtanim ng gulay at kumain nito,” Villar concluded.
The Villar Foundation Farm School in Las Piñas – Bacoor will hold an Agricrops Production Training on May 21 to 24, in partnership with East West Seeds Foundation.
Visit her Facebook page for the final schedule and other announcements, or agridevt.ph. Tarpaulin announcements will also be made throughout the city.
