The 3As: Appreciating Agriculture thru Arts was institutionalized by ATI-RTC 8 to discuss the importance of agriculture for food, source of livelihood, and economic growth through student-friendly learning activities. For the past years, in collaboration with DepEd, 315 students from Baybay City engaged in artistic outputs and inter-school contests. As health protocols loosened and small gatherings have been allowed, after 2 years of being conducted online, 3As is back to showcase talents and awareness to the youth, this time, in Southern Leyte.
This year’s 3As focused on coconut. With the past typhoons hitting the region, Southern Leyte was one of the provinces badly hit. Through various government efforts, coconut farmers from the province are, until now, rehabilitating their farmland and recovering from their losses. With the theme, “YouthCORE: Youth in Coconut Rehabilitation Engagement”, 3As encouraged the youth to take part in raising awareness, and increasing appreciation for the coconut industry and its contribution to the economy, through various creative outputs.
On August 26, 2022, the 3As was held in Bendicar Farm Agri-Ecotourism in Sogod, Southern Leyte. More than 20 participants, mostly students and 4-H club members, from the province of Southern Leyte attended the activity. A tree-planting session opened the activity wherein participants planted coconut seedlings around Bendicar Farm. They were also provided with coconut seedlings as giveaways during the activity.
The program also paved way for attending farmers to be informed about the National Coconut Research Center’s #NCRC Coconut Technologies and R&D Initiatives as discussed by Ms. Crislin B. Cruz. to the farmers learned more about coconut, the new technologies being developed for the commodity, and the different products one can get and even produce from the tree of life.
Highlighting the activity was the Coconut Cookfest wherein five (five) teams showed off their cooking prowess in making dishes incorporating coconut: from its meat, juice, etc. For four hours, each team prepared dishes for their appetizer, main course, and dessert. In the end, Ronnie and Raffy Baldera were hailed winners of the coconut cookfest. “I was happier not just because I won but I saw how my cooking skills improved and how it was recognized by others,” said Ronnie as he recalled his experience during the activity. “That’s why I did my best not just to win but to make St. Bernard proud.” Ronnie revealed that it was just his first time joining such a competition making him quite pressured.
The one-day activity also recognized the winners of the contests conducted prior to the 3As which were the jingle-making contest, photography contest, and handicraft-making contest. Karen Haguimit recalled her experiences and how fun it was when they took their photos. “This activity was educational because while we were having fun watching our friends in the cooking competition, we also learned new technologies for the coconut,” she added.
Kevin Vales won this year’s 3As Handicraft Making contest. Using materials from the coconut, he created a beautifully furnished lampshade. “Honestly, I really feel that I really do have a talent.” Kevin expressed. “I just tried doing it but then, I won. It was an honor to be chosen as the winner of the contest.”
The activity also allowed the collaboration of various agencies including VSU-ViCARP, Philippine Coconut Authority in Region 8, and the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte. “If you don’t see yourself being a farmer, or somebody who would climb coconut trees to harvest their fruit, it’s okay.” said Ms. Melinda Petalcorin, OIC-Section Chief of ATI-RTC 8-ISS. She said that there are a lot of ways the youth can help in the coconut industry and one of them is to disseminate information about the commodity. “If all of us take small steps for the coconut industry, it will have a huge impact on the tree of life.”
