Lowly sweet potato goes high

TO REDUCE the incidence of virus-complex attacking sweet potato, farmers in Tarlac and Albay are using tissue-culture clean planting materials (CPM), the quarterly publication of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD).

"Pathogen-tested, tissue-cultured sweet potato seed pieces are produced in the laboratory and then grown in net houses and multiplier farms for distribution to a wider number of growers," The PCARRD Monitor reported.

Food makes the better lover...

... It gets sweeter with every encounter, loves you unconditionally through thick (read: fat) and thin, and it never disappoints you, ever, not unless it isn’t prepared right. In which case, the chef will always give you a replacement and/or not let you pay for the whole meal.

This Valentine’s week seems to prove my point why food is the best company (aside from good friends) in singledom (by choice), at least from my point of view.

Fashion fun under the sun

JUST because the summer heat is unbearable doesn't mean we have to surrender style. Now that the hottest season of the year is just a few weeks away, Davao City's top fashion bloggers show us how to be effortlessly fashionable under the heat of the sun.

Getting Ready is the Key

Beyond durian and orchids

ON MARCH 6-9, Davao City will host the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions/events conference (MICECON), according to Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).

"MICECON will bring together delegates from the Philippines and foreign MICE industry comprising meeting/event planners, destination management companies, incentive tour operators, hotels and resorts, airlines, convention and exhibition centers, local tourism offices, and association executives, among many others," said TPB Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III.

The most romantic place in the world

SIPPING coffee in small cafe by a quiet alley in Marais in Paris, France, sitting on a bench by the busy path of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain, strolling under the heavenly Cherry Blossom trees in Kyoto, Japan, wading on the shallow waters of a deserted beach in a South Pacific island, shaking your bodies to the Salsa beat at the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, riding the elephants through the forest of Chiang Mai, Thailand, or the Ferris wheel magically stopping at its highest point facing the setting sun in some theme park...

... you stare at each other's eyes, lips curled in smiles, time stands still...

Calm as the Pacifico

AS THE Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan started his voyage en route Moluccas (Maluku Islands) in Indonesia or what is known in the history as Spice Islands, he came across an ocean, the largest in the world, and that he gave it a name Pacifico.

It was named then Pacifico as the voyager and his crews happened to traverse the vast ocean with a very fine and tranquil weather in the absence of fearful howling winds in quest of the most-coveted island of spices, but completely oblivious to what possible danger it can give.

Kingsbridge (Part Two)

WHAT changed? Simply put, the purpose of the game changed for me. Before the attacks came, I was content with the quests and the tasks. Some were difficult to do; others required waiting and waiting especially when your energy ran out. But after raiding other villages, I found out that you could get what you wanted without waiting or working. You merely had to have force.

Steak Wizard of Oz

WHILE other international franchises “test the waters” first in Manila when choosing where to open in the Philippines, Hog’s Breath Cafe, an Australia-based company, boldly took the other route and set up its first restaurant in Davao.

“Davao is a place where cultures of different origins meet. It is a place where everybody is welcome. And that is why we opened here in Davao, a place where our “Hogster” is welcome and everyone would be proud that Hog’s Breath Cafe’s “Hogster” first stepped foot in Davao,” says Sly Camba, general manager of Hog’s Breath Cafe Davao.

Mercato: An architectural highlight

DUBAI has so many shopping malls but there is one that appeals to me.

Mercato Shopping Mall is a shopping centre in Jumeirah - around 45 minutes by Metro train from my second home in Muhaisnah 3.

Coco sweeteners as healthy alternative

ONE thing health conscious individuals have in common is avoiding sugar intake. For some of them, foods are better off blunt in taste rather than putting in more sugar and worry about weight gain.

Organic farming gains ground

IN SULTAN Mastura, Maguindanao, most farmers are now growing rice organically. More farmers are following suit as they have seen the sweet harvest of those who went ahead of them and practiced what was earlier was less popular.

"Organic agriculture is the answer," pointed out Jessica Reyes-Cantos of the Manila-based Rice Watch and Action Network. "It won't only retain soil productivity but it can make farming viable. If farmers will have additional income from their land they will continue to plant rice."

Smile like a donut, love like a child

WASN’T it yesterday that we met the first day of 2013? And now it’s already February? I don’t know if you feel the same way I do, doesn’t time rush by too quickly? No, it’s not my age that concerns me but how twenty -four hours can pass with a blink of an eye. It rattles my brain and makes me ask myself – Where did the day go?, Did I do enough?, Was it a happy today?, Did I make anyone happy today? Which leads to more questions — Have I traveled enough? Have I loved enough?

Students nationwide 'Jump In' to Smart

THOUSANDS of students have made the big switch to Smart and are now enjoying the affordable and best-value offers of the wireless leader's "Jump In" prepaid SIM.

Designed specifically for young barkadas, the Jump In SIM gives users unlimited texts to all networks for two days; or unlimited texts, 30 minutes of calls to five friends on the Smart, Sun, and Talk 'N Text networks, and 10 MB of data for one day all for just P15.

Les Mis

SO WE finally got to watch the film. We ended up in Abreeza for the viewing. We were early by just a few minutes so we settled down and looked around a bit. I was half expecting a standing room scenario with all sorts of people raring to make the theater one big karaoke sing along.

Taking a stand

"IT IS a beggar's pride that he is not a thief." - Japanese proverb

Saving ayungin from extinction

ALTHOUGH ayungin is two to three times more expensive than tilapia and bangus, it is still in great demand.

January musings: art & design

THE year kicked off with “everything beautiful” for the home. It won’t be until 2016 that I will finally be living with myself (I know that’s kind of late) but like the old cliché goes- it’s better late than never.

Huang-Teves: A Bollywood birthday bash

THE charming Lalaine Aportadera Visitacion, now Lalaine Gedal, spent three unforgettable months backpacking in India with her husband Dan in 1997.

“It was a love and hate relationship with India. However, toward my last day prior to leaving Delhi, I was sobbing so hard, I didn’t want to go. India just grows on you!” Lalaine exclaims.

Abat: The running doctor

METICULOUS in his chosen profession and passionate in his sport, Dr. Ricardo B. Audan talks about how he promotes healthy lifestyle not only within the hospital premises, but on the road as well.

Jabbawockeez weaves magic spell in Davao

JABBAWOCKEEZ is an all-male, hip-hop dance crew who once auditioned and was eliminated in America's Got Talent, but later emerged as America's Best Dance Crew first season champion, bringing the underground dance culture mainstream, and to a new level of respect.

Instant discovery of Calabash juice

IT'S a fruit that looks a lot like a coconut and watermelon in appearance and size.

Last destination!

ASIDE from the postcard-perfect remains of Guiob Church, waterfalls, and picturesque landscapes, the locals of Camiguin also boast of another most-frequented tourist spot in the island.

The young and the stylish

GET into where your passion lies. This, I believe, is the key ingredient to a successful venture. What you are passionate about you are keen in absorbing whatever there is to learn about your field, hard work will become its twin, and along the way, you hone a good business sense.

City's outstanding librarian retires

AFTER four fruitful decades of serving the city government of Davao City, librarian Nora Fe V. Alajar retires from service on her natal day on January 24.

Giving hope to children

HEAVY rain brought by Typhoon Pablo could not stop selfless men and women to extend a helping hand for those who are in need, most especially the children who have no families to celebrate Christmas together.

Pinoy rules in watching Les Mis

OKAY, I have long been waiting for this film. So please do not make a pest of yourself when you watch this movie. And just to make sure what nuisance is, please read carefully. No, this is not copied from those rules pasted on Facebook but there are some similarities for obvious reasons. I shall list down the rules, some will be in English, others in Visayan and in Tagalog. Here are the rules when watching Les Mis.

The beginning of a new pact

"I LOVE espresso, I love latte, I love mocha Gatchpuccino. I love choco, I love caramel, I love Oreo Larcepuccino. I love, love coffee. I love, love Blugre" says the jingle of Blugre Coffee.

Growing strawberries for food and health

WHEN it comes to preventing cancer, can what you eat make a difference? Certain foods are high in antioxidants, which mop up the free radicals that contribute to cancer. But in studies it’s been a challenge to tease apart the effects of diet alone on cancer risk, since people who eat foods rich in antioxidants also tend to exercise more and avoid smoking, other factors that are known to lower the chances of developing cancer.

The other ‘family’ dinner

THERE is always a better cook among the siblings in any family household. In the case of my ‘other family’ (read: family formed through friendship), at least to me they are, Dina is the better cook, baker and the hostess with the mostest. She just loves to make us try what new dish she has learned. These episodes, everyone wants to take part in.

Moms' bucket list

2012 was a year of realizations for me. One of the many things I learned is that even if I want to prioritize being a wife and mom, I should also find time for other activities and people in my life on a regular basis. In addition, it is indeed true that “love and care for others starts with love and care for the self”.