ABE

      Pandemic really is such an era which has not been particularly nice,

lots of lives had been lost, livelihood and businesses had been on

pause, people are trying to keep living despite the 360 degrees turn

around of their lives. Last lockdown period, when the economy was down,

everyone had been forced to stay inside their house, or if they

weren't home, stay where they are until the cases had died down a

little or when the curve had flatten, no one was out but military

people and health care workers, people had to depend on the stock of

food they had on their homes or the little help and food packs from

their LGUs. In this trying times, the need and importance of food had

been highlighted. The mass was able to appreciate more those who

work on the agriculture sector. They are basically who feeds us, but

years and years had people belittle their profession, often

associating them as Leni Robredo’s associate with her former

campaign, “mga nasa laylayan”. But guess who people depend on now

that they cant dine out on fancy restaurants and cant snack on some

imported chips and crisps? Imported goods distribution was on hold,

we had to depend on our local farmers, on whatever is available on

market. Life had been hardest to most of us, when surviving and

living was being divided by a tiny little thread, when fear of the

virus, of our future, of our loved ones are enveloping our whole

being. When we were all basically just striving to live just another

day after another hoping that tomorrow we will just be able to wake

up from this nightmare and everything goes back to normal.

     This pandemic indeed has been an eye opener of the significance of

agriculture in our society. And we, as ABE, as a part of the

agricultural sector, also plays a great role on harnessing the future

of this country, of uplifting agriculture back to its glory days,

when people think so highly of farmers, such well respected

individuals, our modern day’s heroes. ABE for me is like Agri 2.0,

agriculture with a little twist of innovative technology, so cheers

to you too, my fellow Bayaw, we’re on our way to better and brighter

tomorrow. There are a lot of great things our chosen profession can

do, a profession I am proud to be a part with. And I can encourage

the youth to engage and be a part of such great community by

highlighting the contributions, the possibilities of what we ca do

together. I think it would actually be easier since a lot of people

are plantitos and plantitas. We can encourage them to join local

activities, attend free seminars that harness the importance of

agriculture. Also, by sharing a platform and letting us, those who

are in the agricultural sector, share our voice of how inspiring and

self-fulfilling it is to know that everyday you are waking up

contributing to something more meaningful than life itself.

Personally, it gives me a sense of purpose knowing that I am not just

a speck of dust in the universe, a living organism wasting out oxygen,

I am a part of something meaningful. And I think that is what most

teens are trying to seek with their emo and sad posts online, not

that I am invalidating their feelings and mental health but if they

can engage to something meaningful, life would be better for the

benefit of the many and the betterment of the future.

Once again, we can encourage the youth, who are very much engaged in

social media, to use their platform and promote agriculture, to

schedule a public agricultural related events free for everyone to

join, to make seminars and webinars entertaining and engaging.